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Save the Kitties!
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A romantic hero, no matter how flawed, should always be willing to run into a burning building to rescue a basket of kittens.
~Teresa Medeiros
Okay, so I have been a wee bit stalled on the novel-in-progress, due to the rethinking and refocusing issue I mentioned last post. And I really need to just plunge back into it this weekend and make a big leap ahead in word count.
I’ve set a goal: 7200 words in 72 hours. Quite realistic, if I focus. So by 8 p.m. PST on Monday, I must write 7200 new words on this manuscript.
And now I need some external motivation, to make things interesting. The other day, a friend said goodbye to a sweet, much loved kitty. And this has had me thinking a lot about my own two kitties who passed away in recent years. So in honor of them all, if I make my goal, I get to donate $72.00 to Kitten Rescue, a local SoCal nonprofit (unsurprisingly) dedicated to rescuing kittens and cats from local shelters.
If I do not make my goal, I have to donate that $72.00 to an organization I despise. I’ll tell a few people privately to keep myself honest, but I won’t name it here for fear of offending anyone (or inviting flame). Suffice it to say, I believe this organization to be a true force of Eeeeevil. And I would hate giving them 72 cents, let alone 72 of my hard-earned dollars. Plus, how would I face the kitties?
So this weekend, I’m writing for the kitties! I’ll post my progress periodically, and any words of encouragement are much appreciated. Or if you want to write for the kitties (or baby seals or ferrets or whathaveyou), feel free to set a goal and join the cause!
UPDATE, 1AM MONDAY:
Yay! Kitties saved! With 19 hours to spare. And now – I sleep.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:19 pm · Link
Save the kitties indeed, Tessa. I’ll join the 7200 word count by Monday because I’m in the same position right now with my own writing. And I just thought of an organization that I would absolutely hate to donate any money to because it is the face of evil. Crap. So writing this weekend.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:03 pm · Link
Go, Tessa, go! Save those kitties! Alas, I work all weekend, but I will be on the sidelines cheering you on and watching that word count soar!
April 25th, 2008 at 9:03 pm · Link
Go for it, Tessa!
April 25th, 2008 at 9:07 pm · Link
Go Tessa Go! Save the kitties! Down with the evils!
I’m going to be writing too.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:53 pm · Link
That is an absolutely brilliant idea! I’m staring at a similar productivity hurdle, and having truly unthinkable consequences for failure might be just the thing. 🙂
*Thank you*!
April 26th, 2008 at 8:26 am · Link
Good luck, Tessa! I know you can do it!
April 26th, 2008 at 8:47 am · Link
Go, Tessa! What a great idea for a self-challenge.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:59 pm · Link
Go TESSA!!!! Cheering you all the way.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:02 pm · Link
I forgot to say, I’m in the same boat and need to write. I’ll shoot for the 7200 words. Kitties huh? My vet tech dd will be thrilled. I might have to donate in installments but I’ll get it there.
What a great challenge.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:25 pm · Link
Wait. I thought you were supposed to write and then somebody paid YOU. You are so, so much better than I am. Good luck w/the words! I hope you’re too busy writing to even read this.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:11 pm · Link
I’m rooting for you with all my heart, Tessa.
GO, GO, GO!!!
April 26th, 2008 at 3:13 pm · Link
Ohhh, Tessa, we’re practically at the same word count right now. Woo-hoo!
April 26th, 2008 at 3:20 pm · Link
Ely, are we racing? Ack! I’m the slowest writer ever. But I’m getting there. Past the halfway mark now. Plus, I’m getting to a good part, if you know what I mean. 😉 Those are always more fun to write. I’m camped out at Panera for the day. Gotta love Panera.
Maggie, it’s really more about what would motivate me. At first, I was thinking – if I make my goal, I’ll promise myself a pedicure or something. But then – say I don’t get a pedicure. Eh. The stakes were too low. I let myself down all the time. I wanted to think of a way I’d be letting other people down if I didn’t make it. Then my thought was to pledge to give away $72 on my blog, to someone(s). I figured you’d all be up in arms if I didn’t follow through on that one. But then, sorry – I know you’re too nice and would forgive me. So I thought – what if the lives of cute, fluffy kittens hung in the balance? And the alternative was contributing to the forces of Eeeevil? Okay, that will make me write. Kitties versus Death. No copouts possible.
And look! It’s working!
April 26th, 2008 at 8:33 pm · Link
YAY Tessa!! In spite of being the doglady, I LOVE kitties too. So I am really rooting for you to make your goal! I need to set one like that for myself. Our local shelter needs all the help it can get! Write, Tessa, Write! I know you can do it! My kitties Tigger, Pooh and Rebecca are rooting for you!
April 27th, 2008 at 10:47 am · Link
My kitties would root for you as well, for very self-serving reasons. They love any warm body in the computer chair, so they can alternately sleep in a lap and chase the curser/mouse across the screen.
Good luck!:)
April 27th, 2008 at 1:18 pm · Link
Now that’s a challenge with teeth!
April 27th, 2008 at 8:52 pm · Link
So close! Push on for the kitties! You can do it. And you are SO NOT the slowest writer ever – that title totally belongs to yours truly.
April 28th, 2008 at 6:57 am · Link
Woohoo! You’ve saved the kitties and thwarted the forces of evil. You’re a superheroine! Now what’s on the schedule for next weekend? 😉
April 28th, 2008 at 7:33 am · Link
You did it Tessa, but I knew that you would. Anyone who has ever loved a cat would NEVER give up on this one. You gave yourself no other options, after all.
I wanted to hit the word count goal with you, and did it, but I just can’t afford to save the kitties right now. Vet bills, you know. I was trying to save one in particular.
What an inspired idea this was! Not only did you get going on your WIP, in addition to feeding several little guys for months, you also accrued some very good Karma—I hope it translates into NYT bestsellerdom.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:48 am · Link
I missed all the cheering and the sisk-boom-bahing but I can still say good job! The kitties get the catnip and we get the lovely words. That’s a win win all the way around!
I didn’t count the words from my homework but I’d say I had at least a thousand or so. Maybe more. I’m counting those as progress.
April 28th, 2008 at 12:51 pm · Link
Congratulations, Tessa! My kitties are purring in approval. 🙂
May 1st, 2008 at 11:05 am · Link
THANK GOD, I was worried about the kitties!