Saturday, December 26, 2009

It's official: Let's All Finally Finish a Novel!

After talking it over with a couple of people, I've decided to go ahead with a special month for finishing a novel. I don't want to steal Chris Baty's deal, so we'll call it Let's All Finally Finish a Novel...or LAFFN. Clever, eh?

We'll do it a couple times per year, but let's gear up for the first one in January. Remember, the idea here is not to write a whole novel from scratch (like NaNoWriMo), but rather, take a novel you've already started and commit to FINISHING it by the end of January.

This can mean one of three things:

1) Pick up a novel you've started writing and actually finish writing the rough draft to the conclusion of the story.
2) Take a rough draft and rewrite it and prepare it for editing.
3) Take a prepared second draft and perfect it and edit it to being ready for submission (I realize it's not the same as writing one, but some people might need this, and the whole point is get get people moving forward, right?)

So... find a way to measure your successes... a goal meter, percentage of project, etc.

It's not about things being 'equal' for everyone, or to be a competition. It's about a personal goal and challenge to ourselves. It's about finishing something you started, and for some of us, that's really hard. It's about taking that next step toward being a published author. As with any challenge, it will be easier and harder for different folks. YOU decide!

All right, here we go...five days 'til LAFFN. What's your goal? Post it here! We also have a forum for it on the Accentuate Writers forum so we can all cheer each other on. Let's go!

My goal: finish the sequel to Bubba Goes National. I wrote 50k words of it during NaNo last year, so I probably have about 20k to go. Thats 646 words per day. Cake!

17 comments:

Michelle L. Devon said...

I'm in! I'm going to finish one of the novels I started during NaNo. (I started two!) I'm not sure which I will finish, but I will finish one of them before the end of the month! It'll be tough my birthday and anniversary are this month and I have to take down lights (darned housing authority) and and and...

nah, I can do this! :: deep breath ::

Lyn Lomasi said...

I'm in! I have several to choose from. lol Perhaps this will help push me to completing something besides articles. I love writing articles also (love writing almost anything), but I have been neglecting some book projects that should have been finalized by now.

Anonymous said...

Well, as we all know I don't crank out content the way some people can. So I'm keeping my goal small- one because of the research involved in Chapter Four of my book. So- First half of January research chapter- second half of january crank that fourth chapter out. Thanks for inspiring me. I'll keep you posted. LA a hip chic.

LA Nickers said...

Great idea!

By the way, I posted a link to the AC review of Bubba Goes National here: BUBBA’S BOOK IS COMING SOON

Rissa Watkins said...

OKay, I am in- gotta get this book edited!

Jennifer Walker said...

WOO HOO!!!

Megan said...

Came across this on the Facebook NaNo page; count me in. I need to finish my first (and only) NaNo from last month.

M. Lori Motley said...

I've procrastinated long enough! Thanks for organizing this push to novel completion.

rockiesfan4ever said...

I will do it! I am at 24,286 that I wrote during NaNo (My first time) and just ran out of time. I am hoping to get to at least 50K by the end of January.

Jennifer Wright said...

I'm in.

Anonymous said...

Great idea! I love it!

Cindi Starr said...

Ok, this is just the motivation I've been looking for. I have several unfinished manuscripts that I have been wanting to finish. I will pick one today and finish the rough draft by the end of the month. Thanks Jennifer for organizing this. Cindi Starr

Stacie said...

Great idea Jennifer. I'm definitely getting in on this. Is it just my ineptitude or is there something amiss with the forum link?

Anonymous said...

I think this is worth a go, its nice to have some motivation knowing there are other people who are gonna struggle...

Jennifer Walker said...

Stacie, have you tried again? They moved the board to a new host and it was down for a night.

Write Speak Play said...

I'm in! First NaNo, now this - I think I'm on the right path to actually DO this!

Thanks Jen!!!

Jennifer Walker said...

Awesome, another Laffer! Welcome, Nanci!