Sunday, January 08, 2012

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! 


25 comments:

Angie said...

I'm in again. :) This has been a great motivator.

Angie

iasa said...

I'm in!

Sarah Laurenson said...

I've only got one way to go and that's up. Might as well see if I can stem the blood loss this month.

Need more padding on my chair since I'm losing my ass to those razor sharp claws.

Jenna Jones said...

I'm in again. I like being held accountable for my progress (or lack thereof.)

McKoala said...

Excellent, excellent *cackle cackle*

Robin B. said...

I'm in for the fresh new year!

Sylvia said...

I've joined the Write-1-Sub-1 group so I'm going to be AWESOME this year and have millions of points to throw about recklessly.

Just you wait.

Aniket Thakkar said...

I can't take any more shredding. I've barely got any butt-cheek left. So I'll enjoy from the sidelines.

It'll be great to see new victims join in. Look at their hopeful eyes and smiling faces. *snigger snigger* I smell blood, already.

Happy new year to everyone! (at least till January check-ins. Mwuhahahaha)

Travis Erwin said...

I'm in and I pledge to do a better job reporting in. It's shaping up to be a busy year, which is a very good thing, but I WILL find time to write new projects as well as market old ones.

Stevie Carroll said...

Count me in again, please.

McKoala said...

Ah, Aniket throws in his blood soaked towel! I'll miss my monthly Aniket Assault.

Good Stevie.

Trabbis - you're actually going to report in?! Mwuhahahahaha...

Merry Monteleone said...

I'm not throwing my ass in the ring this year (yes, I know the phrase is "hat in the ring" but as a hat doesn't have fleshy parts what bleed, I figured that wouldn't amuse the goblin as much). Obviously, I didn't hit close to my goals last year, and as my job has revved up to full time + and actually pays most of the bills, I'd be happy just to get back to blogging and write more than I've been able to...

I will be checking in though, to root for you guys! Good luck in 2012, I hope you all hit momentous writing milestones.

jjdebenedictis said...

Okay, I'm in. I was waffling because January was looking dire and it's too early to claim my month off -- but I've got myself a point now. We're good.

McKoala said...

Awards are up for 2011...check in!

Mar Durango said...

I'm in; I've got nowhere to go but up! And goddess knows I need something to keep me accountable :P

And, hey, this year I have a PLAN!

Stacy said...

Oh, I am in. IN.

PD Singer said...

I want to keep playing, I like eucalypt.

McKoala said...

Ha, that Pam's sounding a bit confident there...can anybody knock her off the top of the tree?

Perhaps Mar with her PLAN?

PJD said...

No points for self-pubbing a novel or short story? Or audiobook?

[frowns in skeptical contemplation]

Or is that an "impressive marketing initiative"?

[scowls in contemplative skepticism]

That's OK. I need to write this new book anyway, and 4,000 words a month should be achievable.

McKoala said...

If the wind changes, your face will stay like that.

Hm, maybe I should look at points for self-pubbing a novel, maybe short stories too. It involves a lot of work and not only is it marketing, but publication. Definitely worth a submission point at the very least, possibly more. Let me muse upon it, and while The Koala never forgets, please remind me in your January points post.

Unknown said...

Someone on Fitocracy posted about this, and I felt the need to jump in even with most of the month already out. (Probably for the same reason I've been doing NaNoWriMo these past several years.) Count me in.

Angie said...

Hey, great to see you!

[waves to Serena]

Angie

McKoala said...

Hm, should follow my own comment trail with more diligence. Sorry, was far to busy flaying naughty writers. Welcome again Serena!

Mother (Re)produces. said...

Oops! I wanted to join this year again, but I'm a little late to the party- can I still join? I did do enough in January to stay off smackdown, I think... What do you say? I have ten perfectly good toenails..

McKoala said...

Hooray, I love me some juicy Motheree toenails! Welcome back!