Two weeks ago, I embarked on an adventure.  I paid good money to have the immensely talented Heather Long and Candace Havens kick my ass.  After their four-week Boot Camp, they said, I would have a finished novel: one week to research, two weeks to write, and one week to revise. 

I am halfway through the two-week Fast Draft, but I am not, sadly, halfway through my novel.   I am, however, a quarter to a third of the way through, and have written almost 18K words in a week.  So even if I do not finish this book by next Sunday, the Boot Camp was money well spent.  Here are some of the things I have learned:

1. I have met some smart, funny, and incredibly supportive people. 
2. I am not a fast writer, but I am capable of writing more than I thought.
3. I write best in the morning.  If I wait until later in the day to write, I won't do it.
4. I can write virtually anywhere.  Last week I wrote 100 words on my iPad while waiting at the doctor's  office.  (For once I didn't have to wait long, which was kind of annoying.)
5. It is easier than I thought it would be to tell my internal editor to shut up and come back later.
6. It is not so easy to turn off my inner researcher--she's very persistent.
7. I do not have to play games on Facebook every day, and I don't particularly miss them.  Who knew?
8. I will probably have some sort of repetitive motion injury at the end of this, but it will be worth it.
9. Writing is work.  (Sometimes it feels like I am bleeding the words, each one takes so much effort.)
10. Writing is SO much fun.  (There are other times when the words come faster than I can type, which is messy, but so cool.)

It is Sunday morning, and my word count still says "0," so I have to get to work.  I will let you know next time how I did. 

In the meantime, if you ever get a chance to hear Candy Havens speak, GO. She is inspiring, and funny as hell. If I finish this book in a month (fingers crossed), it will be because of this boot camp, and all of the people in it who helped push me along. Thanks, peeps.

Marin