Back at the end of May I was invited to join a writing challenge. It was a simple challenge:
Write at least 100 words for 100 days.
You are allowed one grace day a week. And you could have one grace week if you needed it.
It sounded great. I was in a writing slump having just spent a lot of time writing and rewriting a story and I needed something to motivate me to write. So I joined. Only, I didn’t join the “official challenge” because I wasn’t planning on working on only one story. I like to change from one story to another if I need to.
Here are my thoughts about it. (And keep reading if you want to know if I completed the challenge.)
Pros:
- It motivated me to write when I didn’t “feel” like writing.
- I was able to get some writing done on different stories.
- It made me realize that I can write even when I am busy or have had a busy day or am tired.
- Having a grace week was a very nice thing! (I used mine on a very busy and crazy week.)
- I liked getting a grace day each week so I didn’t have to write on Sundays.
Cons:
- Forcing myself to write 100 words doesn’t always mean those words are worth reading.
- The challenge felt way too long.
- The pressure of trying to write every day (I did take Sunday’s off most weeks) was irritating at times.
- I felt like I had to hurry and get my words in and didn’t have time to just relax and think about my stories and what came next.
- I often had to write during the time of day when I am least creative just so I could ensure I got my 100 words in.
Overall thoughts on the challenge:
For someone who is trying to write that first or maybe even 2nd or 3rd story but just doesn’t get around to it, this challenge might be motivating. But for someone who is already a writer with regular writing times and a system that works for them, this wasn’t so helpful. I think I would benefit from a different kind of challenge like getting a certain number of words written in a week or two weeks. Something where I can do more on some days and less or none on others.
So, did I make it all the way to day 100?
Yes! I did!
I was seriously thinking of quitting around day 70, partly because it seemed that everyone else who was doing it with me had quit, and frankly, I was tired of it. But one other person was still in it, so we became buddies and together we made our way to the end. Thanks, Bridget!
Have you ever tried the 100-for-100 challenge? If so, did you like it? If not, do you think it sounds like something you would benefit from?
Interesting thoughts. I did participate in the 100-for-100 challenge this year–as I have for about three years–and I certainly didn’t accomplish it (I wrote till the end, but many weeks went by where I missed more than one day of writing). Like you, I was motivated to write (actually *write*) when I wouldn’t have otherwise. Thanks to the challenge, I wrote a short story that would never have gotten written otherwise (the short story arose from my desire to participate in the challenge, and I just needed a thing to write). However, you have an interesting point about words written versus words “worth reading.” In terms of quality content, my short story isn’t very good (it doesn’t have a plot, and was therefore mainly meandering). So was it worth writing? I think many of the writing-advice-givers would say yes. I don’t have a regular writing schedule, as I am in book-publishing mode at the moment. So I tend to agree with the advice that bad writing is better than no writing, because you can’t improve non-writing. And yet I’m not sure I see the usefulness of what I just wrote this summer. So I’m still not decided.
CutePolarBear
Ah, that is interesting. Yes, I also wrote many things and some are don’t worth much, other things actually ended up better than I had thought, but I do (usually) have a scheduled time to write and a time of day that works well for me, so perhaps if the challenge had been for 50 days it would have been good. I don’t know. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I usually have time set aside to write too (mostly in the morning). However, I don’t really do challenges because of the pressure (and that stress sometimes cause writer’s block instead). Instead, I like to focus on a general writing goal. I tend to write more than a hundred words when I work on a story, so I like to aim for around 500 words or more each day (not including the weekend, when I’m busy catching up on other things, or Sunday, where I take the day off.)
Anyway, it’s an interesting approach to get yourself motivated to write.
Thanks for sharing, Julia!
Yes, it was good to get me started again, but then I was pretty much only writing because I “had” to. I would rather write with a weekly goal that can be reached anytime and not certain days I have to write.
I’m glad I gave it a try though.
Aw, way to go on finishing, even if it was hard! I have tried the 100-for-100 before; I think this summer was my third year. But I’ve never actually made it all the way to the end. I think the 100-for-100 is great if you’re drafting; it’s not-so-great if I’m editing or sometimes even re-writing, as 100 words at that stage is sometimes alot harder than when first-drafting. The challenge feels a bit long to me too! Maybe a 50-for-50, or 70-for-70 would be a bit better. And sometimes having to write the same project is kinda annoying. But it probably helps if you’re easily distracted by new ideas.
BUT! It is great to have that motivation to write, and having that grace day, which I also use for Sundays, showed me how helpful just planning for a day away from writing is, even if I do love writing. It makes me much more motivated to write during the week. Overall, I like it!
I think if I do the 100-for-100 again, I might see about finding another writer who is doing it as well, and see about checking in on each other every occasionally, and maybe not doing it officially and doing it only during the summer that I have off school.
Yes, those things sound good. Finding someone to help keep you accountable is very helpful.
I’m proud of you for making it to the end, Rebekah! Especially since it ended up not really being your “thing.” Completing this challenge was no small feat!
Thanks, Bridget! And thank you so much for being my “partner” and keeping me accountable to reach the finish line.