Even though the challenge officially begins today, the cut-off date for signing up will be Friday, July 13th. (July 13 - Sept 20 = 70 days)

UPDATE:
Be sure and read this and continue to monitor Alison’s site for updates and news. Especially if you’d like to participate and think you can’t!

(DIRECT FROM ALISON’S BLOG):

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the National Novel Writing Month where the goal of the participants is to write 50,000 words during the month of November. You’ve probably also heard of the Book-in-a-Week first draft blast, and may have heard of the Book in a Year challenge at eHarlequin, or simply the One Page A Day method to getting a book written in 365.

How ’bout a book in seventy days? Doable? You betcha. Say you’re writing a 100,000 word single title. 70 days at 1500 words per day (approx 6 pages) is 98,000 words total. Say you’re writing a 60,000 word series romance. 70 days at 900 words per day (approx 4 pages) is 63,000 words total. Writing 4 - 6 pages every day for 70 days is a schedule anyone who calls themselves a pro can handle easily - even if it is hard work!

Along with Larissa Ione , Stephanie Tyler, HelenKay Dimon and Alison Kent, I hereby challenge any of you who are interested to sign up for our Seventy Days of Sweat. The challenge begins on Sunday, July 8 and runs through Thursday, September 20. (Yes, that’s 75 days, but we’re giving you off July 11 - 15 if you need it for conference. That said, ask yourself, “What Would Nora Do?” Yes, Nora writes at conference. I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes.)

The rules are simple. You agree to write 4 - 6 pages a day (depending on the length of your book) every day between the dates listed above. If you need to take off a day, you make up the pages another. If you don’t like to write 7 days a week, too bad. This challenge lasts for only 10 weeks, and if you have to get up early on the weekends to get the pages done, you do it. (Hey, Jo, Stephanie, Larissa and I do it. You can, too!)

You don’t have to have a blog to participate, but we do want you to sign up below so everyone involved can get to know one another. And if you do have a blog, you can post the information there. Going public with your commitment is about owning it. As far as reporting your progress, you’ll come back here each Wednesday and Sunday and post your word count for the week. And those of us sponsoring the challenge, will be dropping by your blog (if you have one) and egging you on!

The challenge is open to anyone writing in any genre, published or aspiring authors both. Oh, and did we mention there will be prizes? Yes, there will be prizes. Critiques, RT subscriptions, memberships to RWA, gift certificates to B&N. More info on the prizes to come. For now, let’s see a show of hands. Who’s not afraid to sweat? Sign up below, and tell us:

1) Book Title
2) Hero Name / Occupation
3) Heroine Name / Occupation
4) Setting
5) Length

My book? THE SPY WHISPERER, 100,000 word single title featuring Ex-CIA agent, now Shrink to the Spies Claire Fallon and MMORPG-designer-in-hiding Ransom Quinn, set in New York and Washington DC! Your turn!

Here’s the link for the Seventy Days of Sweat Signup

See you there!!!!

PS - For those of you who, like me, have some pretty brutal deadlines to deal with, you can use this challenge to write that spec book you’ve been meaning to get to!!!