We’re almost finished.

Are you lagging, or picking up steam? I find I really push toward the end of these challenges, trying to make up for days where my productivity wasn’t so stellar. Plus I like to finish on a high note rather than just giving up or ending with some really bad numbers.

So on this last week of our writing challenge, give it a little push so you can triumph at the end. Even if you’ve had nothing but dreck the entire time, you can still get a lot done in a week.

Start now. You’d be amazed what you can accomplish in a short period of time.

If you’re lagging, give yourself a last minute push.

And if you’re writing steadily, keep going.

Write from the soul, not from some notion what you think the marketplace wants. The market is fickle; the soul is eternal.
Jeffrey A. Carver

I just finished a book at the end of last week. I fought this book hard! I had ideas about where I wanted it to go and it had different plans. This book gave me no end of difficulty! I wanted something funny and light but in the end, after struggling with a few hundred words here and there, I just gave it the reins.

I let the story tell itself and in the end, that’s all I can do. It worries me sometimes because there are some stories that as you write them, you know they will push buttons. As an author you want the story to be easy to read, you want to write it in such a way that readers respond. But sometimes, the story will push buttons, it’ll be dark or emotional and it can only be what it is.

I know the popular refrain is to write to market. But in truth, the business moves slow but trends change fast so unless you’re right there when the trend hits, chances are by the time you finish and get the manuscript subbed, the trend will have moved on.

In the end, all you have is the story trying to get out. Tell that story and you will find readers. Trends are trends, but a well told story can have vampires or secret babies or greek millionaires or none of the above and move mountains.

Tell your story.

The challenge will soon be over. Who’s up for a final, intense push of creativity to reach their personal goal?

Report your thoughts and progress.

Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final. ~Roger Babson

As we approach the end of the challenge, I’m sure that some of us have dropped off, sure we aren’t ever going to reach our goals. Others have finished, and are relaxing (or feverishly doing edits, like me). Still others are striving for that brass ring.

No matter what camp you’ve fallen into, you’ve accomplished something. Maybe you’ve learned that writing marathons aren’t for you. Okay: check that off the list and find another way to achieve your goal.

Maybe you’ve found they work great. Fabulous! Now do it again.

And to those of your still working, huge hugs. Now scoot! You’ve got writing to do!

No matter what you’ve done (or haven’t done), it’s not over. There’s always another day, another page, another chance, another book. Keep your eye on that goal!

“Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book.” — Stephan Mallarme

I love this quote, because it reminds me that there is inspiration everywhere. In the strangest places, in the weirdest situations…and even in the most mundane activities. When I’m blocked, it helps to sit back and just watch the world, because there is a book everywhere.

Happy writing!

We’re getting close to the end now. How is everyone doing? Check in and let Sven know.

Sven III is close to wrapping up.

I’ve wrapped up one book. Getting close to wrapping up another. Even though I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen in the next few chapters, I can tell I’m close to done.

There have been times when people ask me, how do you know when you’re done?

Well, if you’re a writer, I think when you get there, you just know

If you’re not a writer, it’s not something I could explain.

But those keeping up with the challenge are writers. So you know. Are you in that downhill slide yet? Got that mad rush going to get those last words out on paper–or screen? If not, keep going. You’ll get there. If you are close, excellent. Finish it up and maybe we can all go out for margaritas.

“The search for a story is a matter of slowly, calmly, carefully, tentatively coaxing a hidden set of somethings into visibility. Those somethings may be characters, places, situations, scenes, hopes, fears - the unseen possibilities of drama that are lurking in what we know.”

There are all sorts of things that can derail your focus and your enthusiasm for writing. Part of being successful is learning how to ignore all of them. One of the less obvious problems is what I call the falsely concerned friend issue. This is the person (or persons) in your life who tries to sound helpful and encouraging but who really is trying to break your confidence. I’ve been extremely lucky in this regard, but I have writing friends who have experienced this nasty treatment from people they once trusted.

I found this quote from Mark Twain that addresses the issue:

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Bottom line: Remember to surround yourself with people who support you and your dreams. This career path can be hard enough without that added stress.

Just a couple more weeks. Where do you stand?