Club 100

          Remember that 9×99 list I made a few weeks ago? I made it with full intention of concentrating on those 9 tasks. As soon as I made that commitment, though, it seemed I was hit with several not-to-be-put-off tasks, some of which were voluntary, but most which were related to my main ministry in life, that of my family.

          I’ve taken over the accounting in my husband’s business, and the accounting and other tasks for a joint family business. The tutor a student task, which is on my 9×99 list, is taking more time than expected. It is also likely to last much longer than one moth. I’ll probably be helping a mom learn to homeschool her, giving counsel and hands-on help in establishing a method of study.

          All these other tasks have not only pulled my focus away from the 9×99 project, but also from any and all writing except this blog. (I love concrete, made-in-stone deadlines with others counting on me. If not for this blog, I wouldn’t even be writing this little bit.) I want to change that. I have to change that. If I don’t, the people and ideas banging around my head will explode. I doubt that will be pretty.

          In an email loop I belong to, mention was made of a Club 100. These writers commit to writing 100 words a day for 100 days straight (some chose 5 or 6 days/week). If the writer misses a scheduled day, the count starts over. This group spends time encouraging and challenging each other. When they reach 100 days of meeting that minimum, they have a celebration. Sometimes it takes awhile, but the small goal and constant encouragement works to motivate these writers.

          I see this as a tremendous way to jump back into writing, even in the midst of all the extra responsibilities life has brought to me. I will write 100 words per day, 5 days a week. For the first three weeks, I’ll be concentrating on my fiction wip. I’ll cycle through the other 9×99 writing projects and give them their own 2-3 weeks of focus. Even if I don’t finish those projects in the allotted 99 days, at least each of them will be further along than they are now.

          Anyone with me? If you want to follow my progress, check out our new page on Twitter. I’ll send out a tweet for each day I make my minimum goal.