Novel and Short Story Challenge Again

Yes, Finally Decided…

Just two nights ago I finished reading the last of the novels for the novel challenge and started working on typing up my notes on the short stories and novels from the challenge that started back in September.

And to be honest, I flat loved the reading. Now granted, I am going to be doing a ton of reading for the Anthology Workshop soon. I love that. And Kris and I get to read stories for the Pop-Up story prompts from those who take those.  And I will be doing reading for the few in the mentor program. All that will be fun, but sporadic.

But as I finished the reading on the challenge novels and short stories, something I had done regularly for a couple months now, I realized I would miss it. And a couple of writers have asked me if I will be opening it up again.

So the answer is yes.

30 short stories in 60 days or 3 novels in three months. Your choice of challenges. I will read them and you get two workshops as well. (If you are already a lifetime subscriber, you can use the $600 credit toward Pop-Ups or lectures or Study-Along or Vegas workshops.)

You also must check in with me every Sunday to let me know how the writing is going so I can be a cheerleader if necessary or talk you off a ledge if required. (grin)

I will only take five for each challenge and you can start on any of three dates. January 1st, January 15th, or February 1st. Your choice of start date as well.

Write me if interested. Here is all the information in more detail.

Novel And Short Story Challenge

There are two challenges starting this January. A short story challenge and a novel challenge. The short story writers do 30 stories in 60 days, turn them in to me. The novel writers do three novels in three months and turn them in to me as they finish each one.

I read all the way along and take notes because I don’t want to get behind, but I tend to wait toward the end (or a month or so after) before mailing out my responses because the last thing anyone needs is my voice in their heads while they are trying to do their own work.

After you are done, you get your two regular online workshops ($600 value) to take when you want. (Or $600 credit for something else.)

As a first reader, I comment as a reader and as an editor some. I say what I like, what doesn’t work for me, and general stuff like that. I D0 NOT COPYEDIT or REWRITE your story or help plot a story. However, I did tell the short story people if a short story would work as a novel. (grin)

And more importantly, if I thought a story worked, I said so. Simply and clearly.

Also a fun side detail on this. I have bought five stories for Pulphouse so far from the three challenges. I tell the people to send them off to other markets first, but if they don’t sell, send them back. Five have come back that fit my new magazine. A wonderful bonus for me I had not expected.

So I am going to do this again if anyone is interested to write starting in January and have me be your first reader. Both short story and novel challenges. And you must report into me every Sunday for the length of the challenge.

I WILL ONLY TAKE FIVE FOR EACH CHALLENGE.  So jump in real quick if you want to do this. They fill every time so far, usually very quickly.

SHORT STORY Challenge:

— Write thirty short stories in 60 days. You can take the full time or you can write them in a month. Up to you.

— I will charge $600 to be your first reader. You get two online workshops of your choice, a $600 value when you are finished, just for giving it a try, even if you don’t hit all thirty. (In essence I read for free.)

— If you feel the challenge is not working for you, you can take an off ramp and get the two online workshops at any point. So you can try this risk free.

NOVEL Challenge:

— Write three novels in three months. You can take the full time or you can write them quicker. Up to you.

— I will charge $600 to be your first reader. You get two online workshops of your choice, a $600 value when you finish or the time runs out. (In essence, I will read for free if you do the challenge.)

— Novels can be any length over 30,000 words and at least half of the first one must be written during the time of the challenge.

— If you feel the challenge is not working for you, you can take an off ramp and get the two online workshops at any point.

My duties as first reader will be this:

I will read your story or novel as a reader, comment as a reader and as an editor some. I will tell you what I liked, what didn’t work for me, and general stuff like that. I WILL NOT COPYEDIT or REWRITE your story or help you plot your story.

— A warning… I have a thick skin and Kris can say if she liked a story or not or if it worked or not and I just shrug and write the next story. To finish a challenge like this, you would need to keep my comments out of your head. I might even suggest you don’t look at my comments that do I do send until the challenge is over. I more than likely will be reading, but not sending back comments so you won’t be tempted until done with the challenge.

— Cost is $600. No restrictions. First five signed up and paid for each challenge are in.

So in summary, pay $600 to get me as a first reader for thirty stories or three novels.

This was great fun for me this last four times. I am actually surprised at that.

So looking forward to being a first reader for some of your work. And if you have done the challenge before and want to do it again, fine by me.

Of course, you could always just do it on your own and play along, test to see if you can do it without me reading your stories or you having to check in every Sunday.

Any questions, feel free to write me or ask in the comments section.

Yes, I am this crazy to do this a fifth time. But you all knew that. I love to read.