Summer Reading and Writing Challenge

Hello to all,

  To most, Memorial Day weekend means the 'unofficial' start to summer. I look forward to summer each year, mostly because it means no homework for the kids. Although, I will be taking graduate school classes this summer, so it means that I will still have homework to do!

  I don't know about y'all, but if I'm not careful, summer will be filled with all kinds of fun things - but not with regular writing. So I'm determined this summer to make sure I don't let my personal writing goals get sidetracked.

  I decided to start a summer writing challenge for myself, and thought it would be more fun to get others involved - and help increase my accountability! Plus, because I'm hoping that summer will mean a little more time to read or listen to audiobooks, I thought it might be good to add that challenge to the mix too.

  So for the writing challenge: If you write novels, you can pick a word/page count per day or per week. If you write picture books, mix it up however you want since obviously the word counts will vary. If you're revising a current project, then maybe set a page count or time limit each day or week.

  For the reading challenge: Pick a number of books you want to pick to read this summer or maybe you want to read all the books by a certain author, or all the books on a list (such as the Texas Bluebonnet list or the NY Times Bestseller list or even your kids' summer reading list).

  So here are the rules (although they are really mostly guidelines ;)

  1. Post a comment and let me know you want to participate in this challenge or you can email me at ebgrje (at) gmail (dot) com.

  2. Pick your challenge! It can be the writing challenge, the reading challenge, or both!

  3. For accountability - every week I'll ask for everybody to post or email me their results. I wish I could handle a daily email check-in, but I think with vacations and homework, once a week will work better for this challenge.

  4. Join at any time over the summer - as Flylady says "You are not behind! I don't want you to try and catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are."

  5. Have fun! This is really just a challenge so we don't let our creative juices dry out over the summer or maybe to help restart you if you've been off your writing/reading game for a while.

  My part - in addition to asking for accountability each week, I'll be posting about the writing/reading life to help keep us inspired and moving forward throughout the summer.

 So here are my goals: Writing: 500 words 5 days a week (total 2,500 words a week). Reading: Read all the books on the current Texas Bluebonnet list and the 2X2 Reading list (see my previous post for links to these lists).

  What are your writing and reading goals this summer? Hope you join me in the challenge!

  Take care, McCourt