Nano or Nono?

How did you go in November?

The Koala managed a number with a 5 and lots of zeroes. Sadly it was 5000, not 50,000, but at least I'm safe from myself and I look forward to all you smug Nano folk blowing me out of the water. 

Report in - full details here.

October's up and it's not even the end of the month!

Clever Koala.

What a strange month. The Month of All or Nothing aka Goblin's Best Yet. Other than Whirl, Pete and I, everybody is on approved or Smackdown (I took the liberty of putting the two no-respondents on Smackdown anyway...hey, my challenge, my rules).

Which means that not only is Goblin on approves for the first time in a while, but she gets to go and do some serious toenail work. 

September's up, how was October?

McK screeches through the door of late October, smoke coming from her paws...but she makes it with the September scores!

Good work for most, but Merry, have you got space in your basement for my goblin? It'll save on the monthly plane fares.

McK has been travelling, and writing, hence the delays. Up to 15,000 words so far, and hoping to squeeze in a few more before November tolls. Report in here when you are ready - and look out for a post in a week or so, hopefully featuring the results of my interesting Klout experiment involving Tasmanian Devils...

Confessions for September!

Yes, yes I know the August results aren't up yet, details, details! I'm still watching you after all, and isn't that the most important thing? Quake in fear, my darlings and keep writing...

Now, what do you have to tell me about September? Will I be happy or will I be releasing my pet Goblin from her cage?

Report in - full details here.

Report in for August

Whoops, was that the first of September whisking past?



McK is embarassed. Not a word in August, not a word. Big Fat Zero. SMAAAAAAAACKDOWN for McK!
Any more smackees to join me? Report in the comments, full rules are here

July results up!

At least, those that I have...last chance for:

Lauren K
Writtenwyrdd
Mar
Julia
Sylvia
Peter

Bid farewell to Phoenix, who's more into the business than the writing right now, but knowing her, she'll be back... And hello again to Sarah, who will be returning to us this month, having grown her toenails nice and long in preparation.

In other news...am up to 85 books read for the year, and the top ten is finally full!

Report in for July

My, my is that the first of August I see looming on the horizon? I am narrowly saved from my own claws - I managed a mere 4000 words, but it keeps me safe, although in moderate disgrace. How about you?

Report in the comments, full rules are here

June results are up!

Thanks for bearing with me - again...

I'm sensing some serious competition up at the top for the best results of the year. The rest of us, well, yes, we're still writing though, aren't we?

No new smackdowns, so the goblin goes hungry this month, unless Written and Lauren have grown new toenails. A few are looking vulnerable for next month, though... Back to the keyboard honeys!

Reporting in for June

McK is about to go underground for a while, nonetheless, she expects full and detailed reporting in the comments for her to come back to. She may also be in a bad mood upon her return, so those stats better be good, or else...

Report in the comments, full rules are here

A victim says...

"Missing toenails? Please, it took the doctors three hours to shove back in my intestines and stitch me up... nobody told me the goblin eviscerated people, too!!! I know, I know... I'll go humble myself before the koala soon... haven't been able to keep up on the writing deadlines."

May scores up!

There's a huge gulf between the top and the bottom this month! A good number on approves (purrr), but then everybody else right down at the bottom - and three, read it, three on Super Smackdown! I think that's a record.

Off you go little Goblin...

Reporting in for May

As Somebody pointed out below, May is now over. Somebody may have to be very careful he doesn't get all his points taken away for excessive smugliness. Remember you're in Koalaland now and there is only one way. The Koala's Way. Yes, it's a dictatorship. So watch it, Mr Somebody...

Speaking of smugliness: 16,000 words written, over 20,000 words edited. The Koala is Smug and Safe on Approved for this month.

How about everybody else? Mega May or Mega Bust? (Julia B, do I have to give you a smackdown so soon, or did you scrape up a few words from somewhere?!)

Report in the comments, full rules are here.

April scores up!

Sorry #bloggerfail meant a delay (even more of a delay) in getting them up, but there they are!

My faithful Goblin is already on her way to Written's place, pliers in hand. (Watch out, she's got doggies...). Lauren K and Merry are down on Smackdown, they've got a month to save themselves from Goblinizing.

Still a good four on Approves, that's pretty good as the year moves on. Noticing some clustering down at the lower numbers there, though. Or maybe you're just keeping Aniket company?

Back to the keyboards chummies!

Bonus point for May!

Results will be up tomorrow...I'm anticipating the Goblin will need her toenail pincers this month.

Earn yourselves a May bonus point - for taking part in this writing/voice challenge, link via our own Pete.

April was...#koalafail

OK, OK, so April was quiet. And, um, yes those are the February statistics still up in the margin. Never quite got around to March. That's because I was on holiday, boys n' girls!

The month passed in a frolicsome gambol of friend and family hospitality. Got back a few days ago to a mountain o' washing, work and duties. And then I looked and 'twas the the day before April. And I have written...well it didn't add up to 4000 so I'll, um, be claiming April as my month off...

Who did better than me in April?

Check up on the rules here.

It's playtime!

Play with the 'Extinct Doesn't Mean Forever' jigsaw puzzle!

Pop over to Phoenix's place for a birthday celebration - more games and puzzles there too!

Remember, only after you've done your writing tasks, boys and girls.

Mad March!

Were you mad for it in March? Or were you too busy diligently carving a novel out of the keyboard?

Come and confess! The Koala is waiting...

Report your writing activities and points in the comment trail!

Check up on the rules here.

Party on!

Free books and a lot of fun over at Phoenix's new 'Extinct Doesn't Mean Forever' blog!

Count down to competition...

Starting in a mere four hours over at Phoenix's blog - see below and rush on over there to enter!

Eerie, bloody, mysterious...

And that's just my toe claws... No, seriously. Oh, OK then.

A few months ago, McK released the Fangs of Doom and spurted out a little tale for an e-anthology: 'Extinct Doesn't Mean Forever'.

The anthology was launched this weekend on Amazon - click on the cover above to check it out. The McK contribution is 'Blood Fruit' and you'll also find a Peter Dudley story in there. All that and more, for a mere $2.99! How can you say no?

Although... you could always try and win a copy before you buy... There will be a launch party this Wednesday 23 March, at editor Phoenix Sullivan's blog. Chat! Competitions! Prizes! Prizes include electronic copies of the anthology, along with goodies contributed by Evil Editor.

Drop by between 8 am Wed and 8 am Thur US Central Time to enter!

Or just go straight to Amazon and order your copy now...

Scores updated!

Not quite so many on Approved this month I see...tsk tsk.

And a Smackdown! Written - what happened? Did the Goggy Lovin' keep you away from the keyboard.

Stacy in a weird and uncharacteristic episode of kindness I gave you one point for 'barely 4000' - at least you had the honesty to come and report it. Don't you all go expecting such generosity from me every month now.

See how pretty I am with wingies:



Wings added by Phoenix with apologies to JJ de Benedictis, creator of Koala artwork (I know, Goblin, it's like taking a texta to a Van Gogh, but look, wingies!)

Enough treats, now back to work, you lot!

Need a point?

Check out this flash fiction competition over at Aniket's place - and check out Cindy Pon's new book at the same time!

Update still imminent, just writing/editing hard at the moment - thanks to some good prioritisation The Koala is already looking good for this month!

Looks like there may be some smackdowns this month...

Last chance to give over your wordage for Feb!

Fabulous February!

Didya get some Valentine lovin'? Or was it just you and the keyboard, spending another night alone together...

The Koala wants to know your deepest darkest secrets, aka how much you 'really wrote'. Call yourself a writer or call yourself a slacker? The Koala is waiting...

Report your writing activities and points in the comment trail!

Check up on the rules here.

An interesting anthology

Blog mate, Phoenix, is in the process of putting together an anthology to be published initially as an ebook. Contents is almost final - see her post here to see the inclusions.

The Koala is impressed. Partly because her own name is on it, heh heh. And that of another blogging buddy whose writing she has always enjoyed, yes, that would be you Mr Dudley. But going a step further than that - there are a couple of names on this list which the Koala recognises simply because she has read, and enjoyed, their writing. Phoenix's sphere of influence is vast and growing. The Koala is going to follow the fortunes of this little ebook with great interest.

Movement on the Koala Reading chart

A new number one and a new number two! Get 'em, read 'em, love 'em!

Happy smiley January!

Nobody on smackdown! I had my first victim this time last year, and while my claws could use a workout, I'm delighted to see you knuckling down so eagerly. And also slightly ashamed to see so many names on Approves, none of which are mine!

You will observe various silly nicknames in the list. I just can't help myself. Most of you will acquire one which I may or may not use, because the Koala is That Whimsical. I think you'll find yourselves, though.

Sorry for the delay in putting this up. I was a bit busy, yanno, writing. February is looking good...

February's bonus point!

And report in for January, oh ye, who haven't!!! I'll be updating the sidebar this weekend.

On to February... There's a nice little contest over at friend o' the blog Writtenwyrdd - a mere 200 words of brilliance required. A point for everyone who enters, and if that's not award enough, win and you'll get a book too!

Catch: deadline is Sunday. Go, go, go!

Jolly January!

Or was it? The month is almost up and it's time to boast about your wordage - or atone for your slacking! Have you made me happy or should I be packing my claws and heading your way? Report your totals in the comments and claim your badges

Reporting Example: Myself

One point for taking part in the introductions post
8000 words written - so one point for the first 4000 and one for each of the next 2000. Three points total here.
One point for submitting a short story this month.

Five points for The Koala!

Check up on the rules here.

Start totting up the pointage...

...for The Koala is coming!

Results post will be up at the end of the month, but I usually post a prod around this time, just to get you focused. When I put up the results post, please post a quick summary of the writing activities that you've achieved this month, plus your total points.* Yes, I do conduct random spot checks at times, so keep it honest. There's no shame in a lower badge...well, not much...well, OK, so I'm just saying that, because I'm hovering between two and three points so far...the month isn't over...The Koala is inspired...

If you need a little inspiration, don't forget Phoenix is looking for stories along the theme of Extinction for a little e-publishing project. Click here for more information: http://phoenixsullivan.blogspot.com/p/extinct-call-for-submissions.html

*Smackdownees - I'm wiping the slate clean for the start of the year, if that helps. Although I will have no qualms about re-smackdowning you if necessary.

New #1

To save you the scrolling... up to nine books for the year and a new #1: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson. Here's why: Wonderful portrait of English village life with all its petty biases, plus a sharper undercurrent of racism. A beautiful story of love in the older generation, and it's funny too! The best thing, though, and the element that really made this story sing for me, was the strength of characters.

New feature...

Right under the challenge - McK's top ten books of 2011 - as in books read, rather than books published. I read an eclectic range of books at very expensive speed - so I'm more of a library user than a book buyer for budget and groaning floorboard reasons. I'll read almost anything. Almost. I kind of like it to be good. I thought it might be interesting to keep track of the good 'uns. I will tactfully not mention the bad 'uns. Or the disappointing ones (Mr K, what were you thinking...).

I'm reading like a mad thing at the moment, because for various reasons I'm on a little writing hiatus. Yes my stats will be miserable this month, but they should rocket up in due course. Trust me. Don't you?

Why look what we have here...

I thought you might like to know that two of our very own Koala Challenge participants offer query critiques.

The first is the lovely Phoenix, who has only permitted me to nibble upon her extremities, being mighty diligent with her wordage. Curses. Find her here.

The other is the generous Goblin, whose artwork graces the Koala Challenge and who is a whizz with the toenail pliers. Oh, yes, and she writes too. Her new critique cave is here

Both are smart cookies, and witty too.

Introduction time!

Sign up for the challenge below - or just go ahead and do it in this thread!

The Koala is feeling quite smug about all her new victims, sorry, friends. And so many of my old favourites are back on blood, sorry, board.

So I thought it was time for some introductions. And points! Yes, the Koala is feeling all fluffy and loving for the start of the year (this will not last). One point to everybody who posts an introduction - no more than 100 words about your sweet self and your writing.

I'll even do it myself...

The Koala Challenge 2011!

Welcome to 2011 - The Business of Writing!

The 2010 challenge worked very well for many people, with its focus on submission. This year I want to continue that, but I also want to put some emphasis back on the writing itself (which for many of you was the main activity), and I'd also like to start looking at marketing your writing. So, while submission will still be a good way to gain points, it's not going to be a short cut to Approves.

First, the basics... Again, every month we all start on zero and gain points by meeting Koala targets. Each point will raise you up a notch in The Koala's estimation and take you up a challenge level. Depending on the number of points, you earn a badge, created by The Koala's semi-tame goblin, JJ de Benedictis, to display on your blog.

This is how the points can be earned this year:

One point for every short story, poem or other short fiction submission to a competition or magazine. This is one point per publication, so check out the ones that allow multiples, and race up the Koala Love charts. Your blog does not count as a submission. However, blog competitions such as Jason Evans' Clarity of Night do count as a submission.

*Change for 2011* You can earn a point for a blog article submitted to other blogs (public blogs, not private) - if your article is of a good length and shows the type of accuracy/effort devoted to a magazine article, then it's point-worthy. (I'm still not allowing your own blog entries, so I remain fairly evil.)

One point for every article submitted to print or online magazine. *Change for 2011* Now one point per publication as per the short story submissions outlined above.

One point for achieving The Koala's perfectly reasonable writing/editing target of 4000 words a month.

One point for each 2000 words of original writing (not editing) over and above the basic 4000.

One point for each 5000 words of editing over and above the basic 4000.

One point for beta reading a fellow writer's novel and providing feedback. (Nothing shorter than a novel is eligible for this category).

One point for completing and publishing a new author website (not amendments - this is a one-off point for the first time you put it up). *Change for 2011* - I'll consider significant changes/updates to a web site for a point - as a rule of thumb, completely redesigning/rewriting four or more pages - not just adding a new picture or short story.

One point for writing a query (one-off point for each novel)

One point for writing your synopsis (again, a one-off point for each novel)

*Biggest change for 2011* One point for a novel submission (no more straight to Approves for a single submission!)

*Another change* Let us know what you've been doing in the way of marketing yourself and/or your books and I may award bonus points.

Bonus points may also be awarded for entering particular flash story competitions, as we did occasionally this year.


Report in at the end of every month, with your point totals and what you did to get there - as you have been. Points cannot be held over for a following month. The Koala wants consistent effort. The Koala is always right.

Each person is allowed one month off in the year - you decide if you want a summer holiday or a Christmas break or to have a baby or get your appendix out.

Go, go, go - January counts!

In for 2011 so far:

JJdebenedictis
Iasa
Phoenix
Angie
Robin
Merry
PD Singer (the writer formerly known as Pam...)
Stacy
Sarah Laurenson
Sylvia
Whirlochre
Aniket
PJD

And please welcome a new victim, heh heh, Laurel K!

And more new victims, Jenna, Stevie and Daniela! And more - Mar Durango and Sempra!

More people should be signing up/re-signing up, so I'll wait a few days before I put the links up in the sidebar. It also gives you a few more days for December updates...

Remember to support one another in your attempts to avoid a Koala Shredding.

Spread the word, all welcome!

2010 Koala Challenge Awards!

Award for the Best Manners
Including such fine character traits as faithful reporting and no sassing Your Great Master.
Shared between Sarah and Sylvia

The 'I Know It's Nothing to be Proud of but I got There First' Smackdown Award
Janey

The 'I Know it's Nothing to be Proud of but I Spent the Longest Time on' Smackdown Award
Janey

The 'I Know it's Nothing to be Proud of, and I Was So Enthusiastic But Stuff Got in the Way' Smackdown Award
Stacy (smacked down the month she joined in)

High Five Award
Aniket – who obeyed every rule, most months achieved only one or two points – but finished the year on a high of five!

Award for the Finest Poetry
Whirl
For this little gem:
"There once was a fearsome koala,
came over sabbaticalala.
'Phew,' said her chums,
removed armour from bums.
In Oz — a marsupial ha ha..."

Award for Best Excuse for Not Accruing Pointage
Merry (she floated away with this one - it's hard to beat a flood)

Most Humiliating Smackdown
Me (Yes, I won this one last year too. I have a horrible feeling I'll be winning it every year. Unless some famous writer joins us. Then I'll find some way of awarding it to them…)

Award for the Most Points in a Single Month
Shared between Travis and JJ de Benedictis (both on 20 points, in different months)

In and Out Award for Most Inconsistent Reporting
Travis, were you all happy with your last award? Well, you get this one too… One month you appeared…the next you disappeared…the next you appeared… (This award takes the form of a lettuce leaf.)

And the top award…the person who spent the most time on Approves/Almost Happy… McKoala's Most Consistent Writer and Submitter for 2010 is…well, I thought Robin was going to take this one again, but when I analysed the statistics with more care….

In third place… Robin!
In second place… Sylvia!
In first place, my star of the year, is…. Pam!!! Eight months on approved, one on almost happy – that's hard to beat.

Or is it? 2011 awaits you my pretties… Rules will be up soon, in the meantime keep on writing.

Once again, thank you to JJ de Benedictis for the wonderful artwork that brings the challenge to life. (Ah, my pet...I'll get you some more tasty toenails in 2011, I promise.)