CAP-athon Week 4 -- How Are You Doing?

Well, it's been a strange three weeks. When Capathon began I had high hopes that other writers would post--even the NANO gang, whom I invited. My vision for CAP-athon was to be a place for writers during the month of November, to help each other stay on track by posting about our daily or weekly word counts, writing successes (and failures), etc.

We started out with a bang, and then lost a few posters along the way. However, for all of you who've hung in there during the past three weeks, as well as those who started out with the best intentions, I thank you for participating in the first ever, but official CAP-athon. There WILL BE another one next November as well, and maybe even every six months.

Our family already in the middle of a serious and (near-tragic) family "event" when CAP-athon started. We almost lost a family member. I doubted that I'd be able to participate much, and although I didn't get a lot of writing done, I DID make progress.

I'd been blocked on a project (actually, two books) after recieving some bad advice. One thing I learned is that I should have listened to my gut instinct and then make decisions that are not based upon someone else's personal experiences (or in this case, severely limited knowledge and expertise).

I became "unblocked" on an old project, and the ideas on how to improve it began to flow. I also realized that my first choice of a publisher long ago for a project has ALWAYS been the right one, despite the opinion of someone else.

So...all in all, I'd say CAP-athon has been a success. Some who've posted here have sold projects, completed projects and achieved phenomenal word counts.

This week, let's try to go out with a bang!

Week 3 of CAP-athon! Post Your Progress This Week

Well...it's Saturday, week three! How has CAP-athon been working for you? Did you start out with the best of intentions, only to be sidelined by "real life?" As they say, ahem..."it" happens. Trust me. I know this very well. But...you will endure. Keep on writing. Don't give up. Make a conscious effort to finish those projects--all of them or a few.

Remember to post your writing news, sales, word or page counts, etc, this week. Let's continue to keep each other inspired.

Thank you for participating in CAP-athon and I hope you have a fantastic writing week ahead!

Kimberly Ivey

Week 2 of CAP-athon! Post Your Progress, Goals, Etc., Here!

Well, this begins another new week of posts for CAP-athon.

For some of you, the November writing is going great.

I'd like to thank everyone who has posted here during the past two weeks. You are an inspiration to me and to many others.

I'd like to encourage everyone--from those doing CAP-athon, NANO WRIMO, or anything else, to post your progress, goals, etc.

Let's keep each other motivated and writing.

Thank you participating in my very 1st CAP-athon. May there be many, many more!

Kimberly Ivey

CAP-athon Weekly Blog -- How Is Everyone Doing? It's Time To Check In

Okay. Here are the new changes to CAP-athon. Hopefully these will make it easier.

I'm going to post on my blog once a week on Saturdays, which will extend CAP-athon until December 4th. I hope this will help avoid the confusion of which day's blog post to comment on. Now it will simply be "the week's" blog. Also, for those who can't post daily about their writing progress, goals, etc., perhaps they can stop in at least once a week. Sound good?

I've been a bit under the weather so I'm not making much progress this week. But, slow as it is, I'm hanging in there. I hope you are too.

So....please feel free to comment all week long. Let us know your progress, word count, page count, goals for the week....whatever. Post as often as you wish, but let's keep CAP-athon in full swing and see what we can accomplish.

DAY 4 of CAP-a-thon! Post your goals and word counts here...

Hello all...it's day 4 of CAP-a-thon!

Please feel free to post your daily goals, word or page counts, comment or commiserate with other writers on each day's blog.

Tell your friends about CAP-a-thon, and invite them over. I'd love to have them.

Today's goals: 3 pages on the YA Paranormal Novel

Kimberly IVey

NEW ARTICLE: Author Dean Koontz's List of 5 Preferred Traits for Leading Characters

Author Dean Koontz' List of Five Preferred Character Traits for Leading Characters
by Kimberly Ivey Copyright 2010
(The information in this article is based on Koontz' book, How To Write Bestselling Fiction.)

1. Virtue

Your protagonist should know the difference between right and wrong, and although they can make mistakes, they always end up doing the right thing.

2. Competence

No one cares about an idiot or a fool. Readers want stories about characters who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves and look for solutions to their problems.

3. Courage

We do not identify with cowards. People want to read about characters who face their problems and don't try to run away or escape the consequences of their own actions.

4. Likeability

Most people do not like "snobs." Make them likeable.

5. Imperfection

Koontz says that only James Bond can get away with being perfect. He suggests you give your character a couple of flaws.

November 3rd -- Post Your Progress and Goals For The Day Here

Well, it's the 3rd day of CAP-a-thon ..."complete all projects," or as many as you reasonably can.

Feel free to post your daily goals, word counts or page counts here.

How Is The Writing Going? Please Post Your Progress Here Today

Hi all,

Please post your daily progress (November 2nd) on today's blog post.

I'll try and post a new comment, article, or rambling every day and we'll post on that day's post. Otherwise, it will get too insanely cluttered.

How is everyone's writing (or lack thereof) going today? Be sure to post whether you made progress or not.

CAP-a-thon is FENG SHUI for the brain.

I had a revelation this morning. Or maybe it was a hallucination. Who knows at this point. I have an earache so I'm cranky.

However, what came to me this morning as I was cleaning the crumb tray on the toaster(hey, I live the glamorous life of a writer) is that CAP-a-thon is kind of like FENG SHUI for the brain. THink about it. All of us who are participating in my FIRST ANNUAL CAP-a-thon FOR WRITERS are clearing out the clutter, getting projects wrapped up and put in their place. Getting organized. Making room for the "good chi" to circulate.

So....wouldn't CAP-athon-work the same as feng shui? Clear out the old energy that is stagnating in the corners of our minds (or on the desk) and making way for new "fresh" energy?

At least this is what I'm hoping.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a FAB writing day. Write, write, write. Edit, edit, edit. Polish, polish, polish.

And be sure to post your progress here for all to see. Let's keep each other motivated!

Kimberly

CAP-a-thon is HERE! What is your writing goal for today?

The day you've been waiting for has arrived. CAP-a-thon has officially arrived. Dust off those unfinished works in progress or finished works that need editing (yes, editing counts!), put on your writers CAP and join ME and your FELLOW WRITERS here during the entire month of November as we complete all projects (or as many as we reasonably can).

Today I've set a goal of ten pages. I might not finish all ten pages but I'll work as far as I can get.

Tomorrow it might be different, because I HOPE to have this project finished. If not, I'll begin again before I go to work and get as much accomplished.

What is YOUR goal for today? 2 pages? 5 pages? 100 pages? :-) Doing research? Fresh writing? Edits? Marketing?

Check back and post your progress. If you get stuck, ask for some cheerleaders to get you back on track!

Hope to see everyone here today!

Kimberly Ivey