What is the RWA-SD PALs Challenge?

[The 2011 PALs Challenge is currently underway and closed to new members. If you are interested in participating next year, see Preparing for the PALs Challenge.]

Ready to write?  The PALs want to help you get that manuscript written. Between the January and September meetings, they issue a challenge to all unpublished members of RWASD to complete anew manuscript...not to revise the same one you've been revising for two years.  And you'll notice how this gives you plenty of time to enter the Golden Heart Contest once the Challenge is over.

With the encouragement of PALs members, you meet monthly writing goals and earn incentives (that means prizes).  At the start all participants are invited to join an email loop with PALs members.  Those who continue to write can stay on the loop. 

There is no cost to you.  All you have to do is dedicate yourself to writing a new manuscript during the nine (9) months of the Challenge.

How Does the PALs Challenge Work?

The RWA-SD PALs have set up a Yahoo Loop to which you are invited to join when you sign up during the sign-up period.

The PALs provide incentives, encouragement and opportunities to meet  and discuss your work. There is one PALs critique at approx. the half way point.

Schedule

Signup: January Meeting - February Meeting.

Week 1: Day 1: February 1st: Participants post to the Loop their genre, expected final word count, the publisher or  line they are targeting and their writing goals for the Challenge. This can take the form of pages per day, pages or words per week.

Week 4: RWA-SD February Meeting: Report to the loop your progress. Attend the Chapter Meeting and chart your progress.

Week 8: RWA-SD March Meeting: Report to the loop your progress. Attend the Chapter Meeting and chart your progress.

Week 12: RWA-SD April Meeting: Report to the loop your progress. Attend the Chapter Meeting and chart your progress.

Week 16: RWA-SD May Meeting: Report to the loop your progress. Attend the Chapter Meeting and chart your progress.

Week 20: RWA-SD June Meeting: Report to the loop your progress. Attend the Chapter Meeting and send your first Chapter (or 15 pages whichever is shorter) to the Coordinator for PALs CRITIQUE! *

Week 24: No meeting. National Conference. Keep writing!!!!

Week 28: RWA-SD August Meeting: Report to the loop your progress. Attend the Chapter Meeting and chart your progress. 

Week 32: RWASD September 30th: PALs Challenge ENDS!

October Meeting: Awards for those Challengers who completed their manuscripts.

Sept.- Oct.: Submission Preparation for the Golden Heart
PALs members are available for questions during this time but there are no formal activities.

[For Plotters, begin preparation for next year's PALs Challenge]

November: The Golden Heart is limited to the first 1,200 paid entries. Entry forms and fees must be received at the RWA National Office no later than 5PM Central Time, November 15, 2011.

December: Your manuscript must be received at the RWA National Offices no later than 5PM Central Time, December 2, 2011.

For more information on Golden Heart Contest Rules visit the National Website page.

* PALs CRITIQUES -The PALs have offered to critique all participant's first chapter or first 15 pages, once during the program. They will be looking to see if you have hooked the reader. Email your chapter or pages to the Challenge Coordinator in PDF, Word or text format. You will be assigned a PAL. Do not wait for the critique...KEEP WRITING. 

Preparing for the PALs Challenge

Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?

Pantsers

For Pantsers, preparing for the Challenge could be as easy and sitting down to your computer on Feb. 1st and writing.

You will need to know what publisher/line you are targeting and what your final word count will be.

Plotters

If you are a Plotter you will find that you will need to do all your prep work (GMC, Story Board, Outline, Reaearch et. al.) up front.The PALs suggest beginning the Challenge Prep in October, since actual writing is expected to begin in February. 

Tips from Previous Participants

Set daily or weekly word count goals - use a spreadsheet - aim for at 600-1000 words a day
Find your time of day (morning/lunchtime/evening) and schedule it on a calendar
Partner with another Challenger and schedule regular writing time - Use Instant Messenger software (i.e. AIM or Yahoo Messenger) at 30 min. intervals
Learn to write anywhere
Write down ideas for new stories in a notebook and then put it aside...keep going
Surround yourself with supportive people
Stop before you are done - Stop at the beginning of a new scene
Talk the story through with someone acting as a sounding board
Use placeholders (asterisks or brackets) for things you don't know/can't name and move on.
You can't edit until you write it
Key scenes first, fill in the rest later
Music playlists and headphones work
The middle is the hardest, just push on
Cramming at the last minute doesn't work, prioritize your time

Resources 

How to Write a Novel: The Snowflake Method

The Fire in Fiction

Writing the Breakout Novel

Harlequin's Writing Guidelines

How to Write (and Finish) a Novel

Writing World

Writing World - Romance Resources

Charlotte Dillon's Resources for Romance Writers

NanoWriMo Pep Talk Archive

GOOD LUCK!!