Week 3 of the Chapter Book Challenge + Deadlines and how they help you reach your goals #ChaBooCha

We are now in our third week of the Chapter Book Challenge. I hope you are getting some writing done on your story, and I hope you are not feeling at all stuck right now. I thought I'd re-post a bit of a blog post I did for the Blog Your Book in 30 Days challenge a while ago about deadlines and how they help us, since this challenge is all about giving ourselves a deadline.

Deadlines and how they help you reach your goals

I have always been an expert at procrastination. If I have a task set out in front of me, I will find other things to do instead and put the task off indefinitely, or I will put it off until it can no longer be put off. That is where deadlines come in for me. Deadlines give me that point where things can no longer be put off. For example, if I wait too long to write a draft for a story that is due for an anthology, then I won't be able to write a compelling story before the deadline arrives.

I thought it might be helpful to list some of the ways that deadlines are useful to writers, so I have made a list below.

1 - Deadlines give you a set time to achieve your writing, without which you might put that writing off indefinitely. If you have a deadline at the end of the week, then you know that you will need to start writing and researching at some time prior to that deadline in order to give yourself time to complete your writing project.

2 - Deadlines give you a sense of satisfaction to your activities. Knowing that you are working towards a deadline can give you a feeling of accomplishment as you take steps towards reaching that deadline on time. Each chapter written in the story you have a deadline for, each page or each higher word count you achieve, helps you feel you are getting somewhere with your writing.

3 - Deadlines can give you structure towards reaching your writing goals. Not sure which story , article or post to start working on first? Look at your deadlines and start working on the one with the closest deadline. Need three days to get to the point in your outlining and research where you can do the actual writing? Start your research earlier to make sure it is complete in time for you to start writing.

4 - Deadlines can help you prioritise your writing when life tries to intrude. We all have lives outside of our writing. Some of us have families. Some of us have jobs not related to our writing. Some of us have pets. Some of us have a regular work-out schedule or have classes to go to. The list can go on when it comes to what kinds of things can interrupt and interfere with our writing time. Deadlines can help you say "no" to interruptions, because you know that you only have a set amount of time to complete a project. Yes, we all have to spend time with family, and we can't say "no" to our jobs when it is those jobs that pay the bills, but if a writing deadline is looming, it helps you to weed out the things that interfere with your writing time which can wait or be set aside or can be out-sourced to someone else temporarily. (I'd love to be able to outsource some of the housecleaning! Instead, I let my house get a bit cluttered and messy whenever I'm aiming for a writing deadline.)

5 - Meeting deadlines can improve your confidence in yourself and your ability to meet future writing goals. Every time you meet a writing deadline, you have attained a writing goal. With each goal achieved, you improve your confidence. Also, meeting deadlines can help others to take you more seriously as a writer. They see you working towards your goals and respect that effort.

The usefulness of deadlines is why I run writing challenges such as the Chapter Book Challenge (ChaBooCha) and the Blog your Book in 30 Days challenge. It's also why I join in with other writing challenges such as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the 12 X 12 Picture Books Writing challenge. These give me deadlines even when I don't have an employer setting one for me.

So tell me, have deadlines helped you achieve your writing goals?

ChaBooCha 2014 Guest Post Line-Up

Tomorrow is the first day of the Chapter Book Challenge! I hope you are all as excited as I am!

We have a wonderful line-up of guest posts from some authors you will recognize and some from our own ChaBooCha members too! This list will be updated as more authors and agents are added. 

In no particular order:

1. Angela Ackerman – Angela Ackerman is the author of the bestselling writing guide, The Emotion Thesaurus, and most recently, The Positive Trait and Negative Trait Thesaurus books. Centering on the light and dark side of a character's personality, these new resource books help writers create layered, compelling characters that readers relate to and care for. Visit Angela's website, Writers Helping Writers for friendly support, description help, free writing tools and more!

2. George Ivanoff – George Ivanoff has written over 70 books for children and teenagers, including fiction and non-fiction. He has written school readers, library reference books, chapter books, novelettes, novels and even a short story collection. He has books on both the Victorian Premier’s and the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge booklists.His teen science fiction novel, Gamers’ Quest, won a 2010 Chronos Award for speculative fiction. The sequel, Gamers’ Challenge, was shortlisted for a 2012 Chronos Award. The final book in the Gamers trilogy, Gamers’ Rebellion, was published in July 2013. George’s latest series of books, the interactive You Choose series, will hit the shelves in May 2014.George also writes short stories and articles for adults as well as kids. Of all these, he is most proud to have had the opportunity to write a Doctor Who story for the Short Trips: Defining Patterns anthology (Big Finish, UK, 2008).

3. Karen Pokras Toz – Karen Pokras Toz writes middle grade and adult contemporary fiction. Her books have won several awards including two Readers' Favorite Book Awards, First Place in the Children's Chapter Books category and the Grand Prize overall in the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, as well as placing first for two Global E-Book Awards for Pre-Teen Literature. Her books for children include the Nate Rocks series,Pie and Other Brilliant Ideas, and Millicent Marie Is Not My Name. For adults, she recently published Chasing Invisible. A native of Connecticut, Karen now lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three children. For more information, please visit www.karentoz.com.

4. Kimberley Griffiths Little – Kimberly Griffiths Little has written over ten books, including "When the Butterflies Came" and "The Time of the Fireflies." She has won several awards such as the Southwest Book Award, Whitney Award for Best Youth Novel, Bank Street College Best Books of 2011, Crystal Kite Finalist, and New Mexico Book Award Finalist. you can find out more about her at KimberlyGriffithsLittle.com.

5. Becca Puglisi – Becca Puglisi is a YA fantasy and historical fiction writer. Some of her best-selling books are "The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression," "The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws," and "The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes."

6. Adam Wallace – A qualified Engineer and Primary School Teacher, Adam Wallace settled on writing books for children as his career of choice. With 20 published, including Better Out Than In and the How to Draw series, Adam is fast becoming a well-known name in the world of children’s books. You can find Adam's books at Adam Wallace Books and his Facebook author page here.

7. Roz Morris - Roz Morris's fiction has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, although you won't have seen her name on the covers as she ghostwrote for high-profile authors. She is now writing acclaimed fiction under her own name. She is a writer, journalist, fiction editor and the author of the Nail Your Novel series for writers. She is represented by Piers Blofeld at Sheil Land and by Jane Conway-Gordon. She has two novels under her real name: My Memories of a Future Life (Sept 2011) and Lifeform Three (Dec 2013). She is also the author of a series for writers - Nail Your Novel. If you want to get to know her a little better, drop in at www.rozmorris.wordpress.com and her blog www.nailyournovel.com - where she keeps a regular diary of challenges she's tackling in her writing.

8. Anne O’Konski – Anne O'Konski is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. She has designed numerous catalogs and has been illustrating children's books for several years. She founded AOK Studios and has some stunning artwork.

9.  Julie Anne Grasso - Julie Anne Grasso is an Australian independently published author with a background in pediatric nursing.  She spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories about a little girl elf just like them. The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom Trilogy was the result.

10. The Fall Fourteeners - The Fall Fourteeners are a group of fourteen authors who are gearing up for their YA debuts this Fall. Representing different genres, they came together by way of their love of all things books and a publishing timeline. Please check us out at www.FallFourteeners.com for more information about them and their upcoming books.  

11. Amie Borst - Amie and her daughter Bethany are a mother daughter team, writing humorous middle grade fairy tales with a twist, such as "Cinderskella" and the upcoming "Little Dead Riding Hood." When not writing middle-grade books with her daughter, she is busy crafting her own worlds in young adult stories.

12. Emma Walton Hamilton - Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling children’s book author, editor and arts educator.  With her mother, actress/author Julie Andrews, Emma has co-authored over twenty children’s books, seven of which have been on the NY Times Bestseller list. Emma also works as a freelance children’s book editor, and hosts the Just Write Children’s Books home-study courses in writing picture books, chapter books and middle grade and young adult novels, as well as the Children’s Book Hub - a center of resources and support for aspiring children’s book authors.

13. Melissa Gijsbers  – Melissa Gijsbers is a ChaBooCha member, active in the challenge since its inset in 2012. She is also the Chapter Book Challenge's first official municipal liaison and recently helped facilitate a chapter book writing workshop in her region.She has short stories in three anthologies and has been blogging since 2006.

***** 

A sample of some of the topics: reaching kidlit readers, writing for the education market, how to revise your chapter book, writing magical realism, how to get unstuck and write your story, dos and don'ts of writing with an illustrator, and encouraging kids to read as well, amongst other helpful topics.

There will be some posts by me as well, and if there is a topic that you would like covered that doesn't appear to be included, let me know and I'll see what can be arranged.
I posted earlier this year at The Writers' Collective on the differences between chapter books, middle grade books and YA novels, so if you are wondering, you can check out the post here.

Here are some helpful links to some guest posts on the Chapter Book Challenge from previous years:

Breakdown of Daily Word Count Goals for the Chapter Book Challenge

Writing First Pages

On Writing: Imagination is a Wonderful Thing

Humour is the Best

How to Outline Your Novel before You Write

Weather in Writing: 3 How-To Tips

How Conflict Fuels the Story

How to Make Writing a Priority in Your Life

Talent Vs. Learning: Do You Have to Be Born to Be a Writer?

Engaging the Reluctant Reader

Writer's Block

Using Social Media to Help Your Writing

Scheduling Your Writing Life to Maximize Your Output

Childhood Inspirations

10 Things to Remember when Submitting Your Work to an Agent

How to Successfully Use Crowdfunding for Your Book Project

Happily Ever-Afters: What Makes a Satisfying Chapter Book Ending

Balancing Home Life with Your Writing Career

How ChaBooCha Helped Me grow as a Writer

Nominated for the Liebster Award

 
I am going to have to give a shout out and a heartfelt Thank You to Dani Duck for nominating me for the Leibster Blog Award. The Leibster award is giving to wonderful blogs with under 200 followers. The word "Liebster" Means sweetheart in German. It's a very sweet award.

Please visit Dani's's blog here: http://daniduckart.blogspot.ca

In accepting this award I am contractually obligated to answer 10 questions of Dani's choosing and then command 5-10 other people to answer my similarly worded questions.

 Here are Dani's questions to me along with my answers:

1. What is your favorite thing about writing or illustrating for children?

First off, I wish I was skilled enough to illustrate children's books! I'm thankful that I can write for children though. I love the way every subject can be magical for children, and the fact that their imaginations are boundless, so a story written for a child can go just about anywhere.

2. Who or what inspired you to become a writer or illustrator?

First, it would be my paternal grandmother. She taught me to read when I was only three. I was picked on a lot by my siblings, and she wanted me to have something of my own. She taught me not just how to read at a very young age, but she instilled a love in me for the written word.

Next, it would be my maternal grandfather. He lived with us when I was young and so was a big part of my life. I used to write stories all of the time, and he not only enthused about my writing, but he suggested that I could someday grow up to be a writer. That created the urge in me to write even more, and it was the first time I thought about actually becoming a writer.

3. What is one thing that most people don't know about you?

This is a difficult question for me as I am pretty much an open book. I am willing to talk about any part of my life.

I suppose, although some already know this about me, a lot of people may not know that I was once in a relationship with someone who was verbally and emotionally abusive as well as borderline physically abusive. Escaping that relationship was the best thing that could have happened in my life.  


4. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

This one is easy! I see myself with many published books, doing book signings and book readings.

5. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

No idea! But I've always been pretty skilled at saying the phrase quickly!
6. What do you do when you aren't writing/illustrating?

I spend way too much time on Facebook. I network with other writers and agents. I run the Chapter Book Challenge and think up other things to take up my time. I assemble anthologies and create calls for new anthologies.

7. Color or Black & White?

If it is a movie, then color. If it is a photograph, then black and white.

8. How long?

I'm not sure what this question is asking. How long do I spend writing each day? - many hours. How long do I spend on the bus each day during the school runs? - 4 hours. How long have I wanted to be a writer? - since I was a child. How long have I been working towards making writing my career? - 5 years.

9. How annoying is it that I tagged you on my blog for this?

Not annoying at all! I am weird in that I like answering these kinds of things.

10. Do you have any big events that you are going to or hosting soon?

The anthology "Jingle Bells: Tales of Holiday Spirit From Around the World" will be coming out soon. The anthology "SuperHERo Tales" will also be available before Christmas. Another anthology, written and illustrated completely by children will be completed sometime in December, so look for that on Amazon soon too!

Great blogs I am nominating:
Melissa Writes

Ashley Howland

Jo Michaels

Now I am going to do something a little different and ask different questions of the next two bloggers, my daughters Gabriella (age 11) and Isabella (age 8).

Gabriella's Art

Isabella's Imagination
 
Please answer these questions however you see fit. Since I'm lazy I'm copying and pasting the instructions: "If you choose to accept here are the directions: Link back to the blogger that tagged you. Nominate 5-10 others and answer the questions of the one who tagged you (mine are below). Then ask 10 questions for the bloggers you nominate as well as letting your nominees know of their award. Oh, yeah—and have fun! ☺"

Questions for the 1st three blogs:

1. Why were you drawn to writing?

2. How many years have you been making or trying to make writing your career?

3. Are you published? Where?

4. What is your favorite part about writing stories?

5. What is your favorite genre?

6. Where do you find your inspiration?

7. How active is your muse?

8. If you could have a conversation with your muse, what would you say?

9. What are the latest projects you are working on?

10. What plans or dreams do you have for your writing in the next year?

Questions for Gabby and Bella:

1. What do you like the most about writing stories?

2. What makes you want to write a story?

3. Where do your story ideas come from?

4. How old were you when you wrote your first story?

5. What is your favorite creature or type of person to write about?

6. What's the name of the most recent book you have read or are reading?

7. Does your school give you any lessons on how to write good stories? If so, how helpful have they been?

8. What is the name of the story you are currently working on?

9. Are you published anywhere, and of so, where? Name the book titles.

10. Is any of your writing going to be published in the future? If so, give the titles of the publications.