Success only flourishes in perseverance -- ceaseless, restless perseverance.
--Baron Manfred Von Richtofen

Friday, September 21, 2012

A New Challenge

My new notebook is ready! 

As you probably know, I finished my third novel, Shattered Skies at the end of August. It took me fifteen months to write it. That's the same amount of time it took to write The Ransomed Returning. I'm thinking, that's just too long! I really need to speed up the process. So, in addition to creating my ideal writing environment, I am giving myself a challenge to write a novel in a hundred days.

That's not quite NaNoWriMo speed, but for me it will be huge. I plan to start in November when everyone starts NaNo. It'll be my own personal NaNo.

At the moment I am working myself into this writing pace with a short Christmas story. Once that is done, I will begin planning the novel. I know that's the only way I'll be able to write that fast. Problem is, I'm not normally a planner. So, this is going to be a big change for me, but I'm excited to try.

Now I just have to figure out which novel I want to write next. Either an LDS urban fantasy demon fighters type thing, (working title: Lions of the Lord) or a straight up sci-fi, alien planet space opera, still religious in nature, but only subtly LDS (working title: Cold Sun). What do you think? Both ideas have been vying for attention for over a year. It's hard to choose, though I'm leaning toward the sci-fi (my first love).

So, what challenges have you taken lately? Are you doing NaNo this year? Do you have any tips for planning a novel?

Don't forget to enter the short story contest! Ends October 31.

11 comments:

Melanie Goldmund said...

I think the straight up sci fi alien planet space opera sounds more intriguing. :-)

I don't have any tips for planning a novel (or anything else, actually.) I'm not doing NaNo, either, as that's not the way I write. I haven't even taken any challenges recently. Sorry to be such a downer.

Jewel Allen said...

Congratulations on all your novels and novel ideas!! How exciting for you. I'd completely forgotten about NaNo. Alas, I won't be doing it this year.

Angie said...

You're not a downer, Melanie! I am leaning towards that one too. And I should point out that I am failing miserably at writing 1000 words a day on the short story. I don't know how this novel challenge will go, because it's not the way I write, either, but I guess it's worth a shot.

Carolyn V said...

Woohoo! I love the notebook Angie! It takes me a while to write a book, I'm thinking I may do the NaNo this year too. But I'm a little nervous about it. *biting fingernails*

Terry W. Ervin II said...

Whichever story you feel is ready to be told (or more ready).

Good luck and hope you're able to pick up and keep the writing pace desired!

T. M. Hunter said...

The space opera sounds more fun to write for me, but I'm biased...ultimately, Terry's right...whichever one you feel is more ready than the other.

Angie said...

Thanks, guys!

Marny said...

Wouldn't that be your own personal NoWri? :) I think both ideas sound interesting. Good luck!

Angie said...

True, Marny. That's a better abbreviation. Thanks!

Julie Coulter Bellon said...

What a great goal for you and a hard decision. I can't even decide which one to vote for! Good luck with it, though. :)

Angie said...

Thank you, Julie. It's going to be quite a challenge!