You may or may not know that I host a writing community called Wordmakers. This community was founded on a writing challenge that I started on a whim: #20kin5Days. And guess what, author-friends? It’s that time again!
The #20kin5Days Writing Challenge in the Wordmakers Writing Community is a quarterly challenge that may be just what you need to jumpstart your creativity and productivity. This unique writing challenge requires you to write 20,000 words in just five days.
It may sound like a daunting task, but trust me – it’s worth it. Since I began this challenge in 2019, I’ve managed to write eight books! And compared to some of my fellow wordmakers, that’s nothing.
So, how exactly does the #20kin5Days Writing Challenge work?
First, participants are given five days of prep time before the actual writing challenge begins. During prep week, you can brainstorm ideas, outline your story, and make sure you have everything you need to hit the ground running on day one.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Writing 4,000 words in a single day sounds impossible.
But when you break it down, it’s really not that bad.
4,000 words equates to about 16 pages or 20 handwritten pages (which is what I like to do). That means you’ll be writing about three pages per hour, assuming an 8-hour workday. And if you’re truly committed to meeting the challenge, you can even break the 4,000 words up into smaller chunks throughout the day. There will be two write-ins a day done Pomodoro technique. I run the write-ins, which means you’ll get to see my face and participate in my shenanigans at 11am and 7pm EST for five days straight!
Ain’t you the lucky one?
But what makes the #20kin5Days challenge so effective?
For starters, it forces you to focus and prioritize your writing. When you have a finite amount of time to write a certain number of words, you have to be intentional about how you use that time. This can help you avoid distractions, writer’s block, and other common writing pitfalls.
Additionally, the intensity of the challenge can help you discover new insights about your writing process and productivity. Maybe you’ll find that you work best early in the morning, or that you need frequent breaks to recharge your creativity. Once you’ve completed the challenge, you can use these insights to optimize your writing routine moving forward.
The #20kin5Days Writing Challenge may sound intimidating, but it’s truly a game-changer for authors looking to take their writing to the next level.
So what are you waiting for? Prep Week starts Monday, May 29th! Join Wordmakers at the COMMUNITY level to take the challenge and see what kinda words you can make – you might just surprise yourself!
Hope to see you there!
xoxo, Tasha