The 2012 Koala Challenge

Have you got it in you to keep writing in 2012? Or have the scars from 2011 not yet healed?

This year's challenge will work the same way as last year's, which I think had a good balance between writing and marketing. Let me know in the comments if you are participating so I know where to take my slashy claws when you fail me.

Here's the structure:

Every month we 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 are earned (this is almost the same as last year, wit ha few minor changes):

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, as do guest articles of 500 words plus on other people's blogs. 

One point for every article submitted to print or online magazine.

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, or making significant changes/updates to a web site - as a rule of thumb, this means 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)

One point for a novel submission

Bonus points may be awarded for impressive marketing initatives or entering selected flash story competitions.

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!

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

Spread the word, all welcome!