Entry for 29th February, 2008

31 Days to Write a Novel
DAY 0
Wordcount 0
I have decided to do it. I am going to try to write a novel in 31 days. Scratch that. I am going to write novel in 31 days and it will be at least 50,000 words long. In 31 days time I will be permitted to call myself a novelist, and if it remains unpublished during my lifetime, then I shall be allowed the luxury of regarding myself as an undiscovered genius.
However, in order to spur myself on, I feel that there must be both a carrot and a stick. The carrot of course, is that once I finish, I will be allowed to gloat and boast in a highly irritating way. You will all have to indulge me, because I will be a novelist and artists are quirky and permitted to behave in such ways.
But what of the stick? The fear of failure is not enough I think. And this is where I may be about to make a big mistake. But here goes...
I hereby confer the following title on The Couch Potato:
Master of the Grand Forfeit for Failed Novelists
If he takes up the mantle, then he must devise some punishment for me should I fail to make the word count. He must publish it on his blog. If he is half the potato I believe him to be, then I suspect that he will devise something which will provide me with a significant incentive. I feel a cold sweat coming on already.
It's 9.04pm as I type this. The adventure begins in less than three hours. Can you see me standing on the platform with my little overnight bag? I think the steam engine is due any time now. Wish me bon voyage.