Can you write a novel in a year? 

If you have always dreamed of writing a novel or if you have several incomplete manuscripts languishing in your drawer or if you need some extra help and accountability, well, this challenge is just for you.

NOTE: You can join in any week. The challenge is to write 52 scenes in 52 consecutive weeks. You won’t start with Week 1’s prompt. You will start with whichever prompt has been published for your sign-up week.

Writing your novel does not have to be lonely. Writing your novel does not have to be a mad rush. Writing your novel does not have to suck.

Weekly deadlines, flexible prompts and a supportive community will make the challenge of writing a novel not only possible but fun.    

Sounds good, right?

When you start a new novel it’s fun and exhilarating, but keeping the momentum going can be very hard. That’s where 52 Scenes will help to write and finish your novel over 52 consecutive weeks.

Why will a deadline help?

I started Deadlines for Writers because I needed accountability. I know how hard it can be to motivate yourself because I’m a recovering procrastinator. Now, it’s four years later and I have learnt how effective and productive deadlines can be.

You will receive accountability, productivity, and access to a great community along with 52 prompts, 52 deadlines and a workbook to help you brainstorm your story. You will also give and receive feedback to and from your fellow writers on a weekly basis.

The cost: US$120 per year. This is a non-refundable fee. It is non-refundable because it adds to the accountability. Please read the Terms and Conditions.

But…

There are four reprieves throughout the year. These should be saved for unforeseen circumstances, illness, planned vacations and other serious reasons. Writer’s block, absentee muses and “I’m stuck” are not serious or unforeseen reasons. That’s why you are here.

Please contact Mia before the deadline if you need a reprieve. You will still have to write the scene but you will be able to post on a different date. (But only if you have discussed it with Mia.)

You will receive:

• A profile on Deadlines for Writers.
• Access to the 52 Scenes in 52 Weeks Community. (2021)
• 52 Prompts, published weekly, which will help you to brainstorm your next scene.
• A weekly deadline to hold you accountable.
• An epic workbook.
• And at the end, if you post one scene per week for 52 weeks, you will have a book. It won’t be final and it won’t be perfect, but it will be a story that you can rewrite and polish.    

This is a new challenge, but we know our deadlines work. This is what our 12 Short Stories writers had to say:

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Want to join?

New members:

1. Register and make payment.
2. Complete your profile.
3. Read the FAQs and How It Works.
4. Download your workbook.

Existing members:

1. Login.
2. Go to Account.
3. Show All Membership Levels.
4. Add 52 Scenes in 52 Weeks.
5. Make payment.
6. Read the FAQs and How It Works.
7. Download your workbook.

Dates:

• The first prompt will be published on 30 December 2020.  
• First deadline: 6 January 2021.

You can join in any week. The challenge is to write 52 scenes in 52 consecutive weeks. You won’t start with Week 1’s prompt. You will start with whichever prompt has been published for your sign-up week.

Deadlines:

I will accept and approve posts for the specific prompt from, 8:00 (Johannesburg time | GMT +2:00), on the day of the deadline until, 8:00 (Johannesburg time | GMT +2:00) the following day on www.deadlinesforwriters.com.

Deadline day is always a Wednesday.

Please ask Google to figure out what time that will be in your part of the world.

Bonus:

The first 52 members of 52 Scenes in 52 Weeks will be invited to join Mia for an intensive, online plotting class.

Scenes

For the sake of this exercise, we will write one scene per week. A scene should be between 1200 and 1500 words. We will write 52 scenes. Don’t worry too much about the theory. When you sign-up will receive a big workbook that explains it in detail.) If you submit a minimum of 1200 words per week for 52 consecutive weeks you will have written 64 000 words of your novel. Is it going to be easy? Nope, but you will have the support and enthusiasm of a group of like-minded writers with the same goal. You will also give and receive feedback while you write and learn from your fellow writers.

Prompts

I believe in plotting, but you do not have to plot for this challenge. You can pants through it, wing it, make it up as you go along or you can plan your story. The workbook will be a great help with that. But you can plot all you want and it will help you, but every week you will receive a new prompt. The deadlines make the stories appear, but the prompts add the magic. It is a little of bit of the unknown to keep you on your toes.    

Workbook

When you sign up you will receive an 80-page workbook to download that will explain plotting and scene structure in detail. It also contains lots of writing advice and tips on what to do when you get stuck. You will get stuck. It’s normal. It’s a guide to help you through the year.  

Timing

You need to submit a scene once a week, but that means you need to set time aside to write. Note: you will never have time to write. You have to make the time. I plan on setting aside two hours on a Sunday afternoon. Another option would be to write a little bit every day. On Writers Write you can sign up for daily writing email, which includes a prompt or you can download the monthly writing prompts, which are published on the last day of every month.

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Need more?
 
If you need coaching or a course to help you through the year check out these links: Courses, Coaching and Workbooks.

Questions: write@deadlinesforwriters.com