I had a very busy week with many different things going on and unfortunately did not write as much as I would have liked. Today is my 30 day mark and my final word count is 16,608. Honestly, I’m still happy with the progress! I really like what @Angela Griffin said about posting when she hits 30k, so I’ll do that too! A big win I just experienced this week was: since I had finally pushed through the writer’s block I had, I have now written perhaps one of my favorite scenes I’ve ever written! It felt so cathartic to write it out, especially after all the toiling. It made me excited to keep going!

Ummmmmm maybe I should have waited to update Week 3 because I FINISHED! My first draft is currently capped at 70,148 words. I wrote a little less than 30k during these few weeks I have been doing this challenge, but my goal was to take this challenge and finish my book and I did it!! 🎉🎉🎉 I'm going to follow Erin Stewart's advice and give myself a week to catch up on a few other things that I've been putting aside while I've focused on this. Especially since I have 25 days until I move to the other side of the planet! Then I'm going to do a spelling/grammar revision before I send this off to my alpha readers (Because I also followed Ayana Gray's advice from the video and just got it out--regardless of how good or bad it was). I would love some beta readers in a little bit to help. If this story sounds like something you would be interested in reading and workshopping with me, please let me know! So here's my pitch for my YA Coming-of-Age Romance, LOST AND FOUND: Kate is about to begin a pre-college tour of Mexico and Belize, but she's not here for the opportunities to get to know her future classmates or professors. She's found the journal of her late mother containing clues that lead to the father she's never met. There's only one problem: the journal is written entirely in Spanish. Desperate for help, Kate looks to the charming Sebastien to translate the entries. Together they go on a scavenger hunt through unfamiliar cities and ancient ruins searching for the only family she has left. But the closer she gets to her father, the more difficult it becomes to ignore what she's been finding with Sebastien along the way.

At the end of week 3, I am at 10,891 words. Woof. I’m really falling behind the goal, despite my best efforts. I’ve had a serious block the last few days and it has really squashed my momentum. I’m trying to find ways to push through the block so I can increase my output again.

How are you enjoying StoryClub? We want to know! Follow the link below to answer a few short questions about your StoryClub experience and let us know what you want to see next. PLUS, all those who respond will get access to our upcoming Editing Course, a guide to editing the first draft of your novel. The class is currently only available to those who complete the 30k in 30 Days Challenge, but if you respond to this survey you'll get automatic access 🥳 The StoryClub Member Survey will remain open until midnight next Saturday, August 1 😎 https://forms.gle/oLQ2EMhXzyr1JcRM6

I’m on day 15 and have now reached 8,748 words on my current WIP! One cool thing I have found is that writing out of sequence is really good for my brain. As much as I have naturally resisted it in the past, I am doing it for the first time now and I’m learning that the words are coming a lot more easily when I’m not trying to write scene 2, then 3, then 4 and instead just writing the scene my mind feels most inclined toward. What about any of you?