Daily Challenge

I found this writing challenge on Twitter. And man is it hard.

But I think its applicable to everyone so we are gonna do it folks.

It’s called the Stephen King Writing Challenge. I think it hit me for a few reasons. First, it’s based off of one of my favorite author’s daily ritual. I think I have said this before, but I would read Stephen King’s rendition of the phonebook. So anything he does sounds like a ritual worth trying.

Secondly, it speaks to every portion of what I have been obsessed with lately. Not only does it provide a daily goal for creativity, but it also forms the basis of an incredibly healthy daily routine.

And thirdly, I think it’s easily adjustable towards just about every creative venture. I have asked around for the equivalent exchange for the most common arts, if I don’t mention yours its going to have to be something you can exchange yourself.

The challenge is as follows;
1. Write 2000 words a day
2. Read 30 minutes
3. Workout at a moderate pace for 30 minutes a day

There are some stipulations, of course. The 2000 words have to be rather focused, as well as clean, which means first-draft quality (not jumbled mess of run-on sentences, but in need of edits) without many typos. And the workout does not have to rise above a walk, as Stephen King’s daily walk was with his corgi.

I do also want to say, I don’t think that this is the secret to his success. He was tenacious and worked hard every day to achieve what he did, and still does. However, I do think there is something to be said about building a routine. Everyone needs one, especially in such un-structured times as the ones we live in.

Now, lets discuss adaptations. I don’t think the workout or reading need to be changed to match anything else, because we could all use a little exercise and time to read our books in a beam of sunshine. However, the transference for the creative part of the day is as follows, according to my sources (thanks guys);

Art (drawing, painting, etc); Two pages of a sketchbook (standard size, no loopholes guys)
Poetry; 3 poems
Songwriting; 3 hooks
Musical composition; one riff, or the equivalent of two lines of staff music

Let’s give it a shot guys! If you are a sculptor, or a baker or candlestick maker, I am sorry to have left out your goals. For reference, the writing goal is about 4 pages in standard spacing in 12 pt. font, so the equivalence is easily calculated (is calculated the correct word?)

I have found this challenge incredibly difficult so far, partially due to my secondary goal of posting on my blog every day; my 2000 words are fiction-based, so these blog posts don’t count towards that goal. Even the working out and the reading are difficult to balance with the creative goal, as the 2000 words take over an hour to write, and that’s when I hit the flow state.

But it is doable. I have done it for several days in a row at this point (I believe today will be day 3), and I can definitely feel the effects. My mind feels sharper, my words are coming easier, and my body feels healthier.

I also want to add a disclaimer; if you fail one day to reach any of the goals, that does NOT mean that you have ruined any streak, or broken a diet, or failed at your life. Just pick it up where you left off. This is not to encourage blowing off the challenge, but to encourage the understanding that any life improvement is a process, not an overnight transformation.

Let me know how you do! I will continue to follow this challenge until I decide it isn’t challenging enough anymore, and then I might add something to it or simply tune up the word count or workout length. Have fun with it! Remember, the purpose of this blog and this space is to relight the fire of creativity that used to draw you in, and make it fun. If it stops being fun, maybe the goals are tuned too high.

Thanks for reading guys!