It’s the last full week of June! Our last weekly challenge for the 30 Days to 60k challenge is here.

This week’s challenge isn’t one challenge.

It’s four.

It’s called a Checklist Challenge because after you’ve completed one challenge, you start the next. How long does it take you to get through all four challenges?

Timer Tantrum

You’ll need a timer for this one. Start by setting a timer for 21 minutes and write. Then, take three minutes off and set your timer for 18 minutes. Can you beat your previous word count?

Each time you restart your timer, take off another three minutes. Once you’ve completed the final round and your timer is completely reduced to zero you can check this challenge off.

Name That Character

For this you’ll need a list of your character cast. Write down each name and count how many characters it has. Example: ‘Mary’ has 4 characters and ‘Anthony’ has 7.

Once you have a list, make a choice: You can either write for that many minutes, or you must write 100x that number of words. Once you’ve met that goal, check off your character and move to the next. How long does it take you to get through your whole cast?

Example: With ‘Mary’ you can either write for 4 minutes, or write 400 words. Once you’ve completed your 4 minute/400 words, you then move to ‘Anthony’ and can write either 700 words, or for 7 minutes.

Chapter Titled

Any book with a table of contents will work for this.

Start by opening to the table of contents. Make note of how many pages are in each chapter. Multiply each page count by 10 to get your word count goal.

Example: Chapter One has 15 pages and Chapter 2 has 19. Your word count goal would be 150 for Chapter One and 190 for Chapter 2.

Can you get through a single book in a day this way?

Bonus If times 10 isn’t enough of a challenge for you, you can multiply by 100 for a larger word count goal.

Non-Stop Stopwatch

Rather than a timer for this, you’re going to need a stopwatch. Make note of your word count.

Start your stopwatch and write 500 words. As soon as you hit 500, stop your watch! Note the time down.

Then, see if you can beat your first time. Failed? Try again. Keep at this until you successfully write 500 words in a shorter amount of time.

Bonus Once you’ve beaten your 500-word time, try it with 600 words.

Story-Progressing Questions

And finally, our story-progressing questions for the week.

• What is at stake for your antagonist?
• What would success change for your supporting characters?
• What is the most important thing for your readers to know?
• What does your MC need to learn in order to succeed?
• What changes in the setting as a result of the conflicts?
• Where is your MC lease comfortable?
• What crucial flaw is preventing your MC from succeeding?
• Which supporting character’s secret could alter the story?