New Writing Challenge for October


Because we're starting a new monthly challenge for October, I wanted to let everyone know ahead of time about this, and we'll send out another notice about it, closer to October. But for now, here's what we're doing.

30 for 30 (OCTOBER)

We're running a 30-day challenge, trying to get more MTBs (Manuscript Time Blocks) for as many of us as need them in October.

An MTB is 30 minutes of manuscript time. That might be thinking, plotting, editing, planning, writing, or researching. It doesn't have to be 30 minutes of writing. It's 30 minutes of progress, whatever that progress looks like.

Our goal is to get as many MTB-completed days as we can. You may not do all 30, and that's ok. But as many as you can, that's the goal. And every day you complete at least 1 MTB, you get an entry into our big raffle giveaway. (More on that in a minute.)

How Does It Work?

  1. Live Launch. We'll start the month (on October 2) with a Live Coaching that will talk about the rules and what the new Kickstarter will look like. We're launching the new Kickstarter on the first day of the challenge. The writing challenge will launch at the same time (and we'll give all the rules at that Live), which will be on the Crowdcast at 7pm Eastern.
  2. Daily Live MTB. I'm saying "Live Writing" every day on the graphc. But the only thing I'm promising is 1 MTB during the Live. Most of them will be on the YouTube channel, but the first and last will be on the Crowdcast. You can do your MTB anytime, though. You don't have to write or do your MTB live with me. I'm just providing some impetus for me and for us to get more MTBs done.
  3. Reporting. You will be directed where to report on this page. And you'll be able to get points in the raffle, whether you get 1 MTB or 30 MTBs. Everyone who gets 30 days will get a coupon for a significant discount on the 2024 Digital Conference.
  4. Prizes. Some of the days will have individual raffles on the Live. (How many depends on the stock we have in the BFA office.)
  5. Grant Prize. We will announce the grand prize on the first live (and then after that, in the newsletter). It's gonna have something to do with the Kickstarter levels, so... it will have something to do with Energy Pennies.

And speaking of energy pennies. Some of you are going to wonder (and rightly so) what I am thinking, doing a live every day, while I'm in burnout. Or in burnout recovery. And you would be wise to ask that.

I've been doing a lot of evaluation with my therapist and my personal coach lately about what really fills me up and what really drains me, when it comes to energy pennies. Part of what I've learned is that I get a ton of energy when I'm able to use my own journey to help other people. And I need to be writing more. It will be easier for me to write if my writing can help other people.

Rather than make myself feel guilty for that, I'm going to lean into it. So I'll be working on writing, every day for the 30 days, and the days I write, I'm going to be happy, but the days I don't write, and do other things, I'm still going to be happy. Because I know I'm making progress. I'm also helping other people make progress, and that will give me a lot of pennies.

Those of you who also like to help people, the more of you that show up to help all of us feel like writing (together!), maybe we can all make some energy pennies together. Plus, a lot of us need to feel hope in something right now, and one of the things that makes me feel the most hopeful about the future is this community banding together to help each other make progress in our author life.

I don't have a ton of information about the Kickstarter right now (because the launch page isn't done), but I'm going to let you know that we'll talk about the Kickstarter in the next email.

I hope everyone will get something out of this challenge. Can't wait to see some of you on the live writing. And whether you end up on any of the lives or not,

And yes, I am still doing BeccaCon in October. So. If you're going to be there, I'm still going to do an MTB on all three of those days, before I go down to the conference.

If you have any questions, make sure to bring them to the Live on October 2.

Let's all get some MTBs in October!

<3 Becca <3

Becca Syme

Becca Syme holds a master’s degree in transformational leadership and has been a success coach (primarily utilizing the Gallup Strengthsfinder®) for over fifteen years. She’s coached over 5,000 individual authors and creatives through her Write Better-Faster and Strengths for Writers classes & coaching cohorts: six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. Becca is the host of the YouTube QuitCast for Writers channel and a mystery author. Connect with Becca at betterfasteracademy.com.

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