Book-In-A-Week and Happy Birthday Seekerville

What happens when you take the Seekerville second year birthday celebration...

and add BIAW?

Fun and writing and lots of birthday presents, of course!



Seekerville BIAW Rules:

1. Register. Let all of Seekerville know you are up for the challenge. Registration opens today Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4, right here in Seekerville. All you have to do is post a comment telling us you are in. We'll list your name on our blog in the sidebar for the week of the BIAW. Many of the Seekers will also be participating in the BIAW.

2. Write. JUST DO IT.

3. When? Monday, October 5, through Saturday, October 10. Sunday is optional.

4. Check in on Sunday, October 11, or Monday, October 12 with your results, and take the BIAW survey.


5. Everyone who registers AND follows up with a post BIAW comment will be entered into a drawing for BIAW birthday prizes.

6. We'll announce the winners in the Saturday October 17, Week End Edition.


7. Stop by Seekerville daily for an encouraging post by one of our Seekerville authors during the Seekerville BIAW.


Not sure what a BIAW is? Check out our introduction post here.

Click on this printable calendar for a closer look at our schedule.




We've compiled some of our favorite writing recipes for our BIAW participants; to help make it easier to spend less time in the kitchen and more time writing. One for every day of BIAW .

1. Our Seekerville, all-time favorite recipe can be found here.


2. From Missy Tippens:

Put a pot roast in crock pot. Cover with one jar pepperoncini peppers (also called Tuscan peppers), liquid included. Sprinkle 2 packets of au jus mix ( envelopes found in the spice section). Cook all day on low or about 5 hours on high. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes, or put on hoagie roll with cheese for sandwiches.


3. From Glynna Kaye:

Chicken 'n Rice in a Bag
3 lbs chicken tenders
2 cups raw long-grain converted rice
2 cans (10 ¾ oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
2/3 cup water
1 envelope (1 ½ oz dry onion soups mix)

Rinse chicken and pat dry; set aside. Combine rice, soup, and water in crock pot; stir well. Place chicken in brown-n-bag; add onion soup mix. Shake bag to coat; puncture 4-6 holes in bottom of bag. Fold top of bag over chicken and place on top of rice. Cook 8-10 hours on low or on high 4-5 hours. Serves 4.


4. From Tina Russo via Denise Camp. (I make these all the time, they are delicious):

Baked Pork Chops
2 good sized chops, Italian bread crumbs, olive oil
Dip in olive oil and use leftover oil to grease casserole dish.
Use a Ziploc bag and dump the oiled chops in with the Italian Breadcrumbs.
Cook 40 minutes at 400 degrees, uncovered. Turn halfway thru.


5.From Camy Tang:

BBQ Ribs
4 pounds beef ribs, cut into individual ribs
1 cup barbecue sauce
Optional: broil ribs, turning once, about 10 minutes.
Put ribs in crock pot. Coat with 1 cup sauce. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until ribs are tender.
This recipe pretty much works with any kind of bottled sauce. We've used a Chinese sweet and sour sauce with this recipe, too.


6.From Mary Connealy:

French Dip Sandwiches
1 rump roast
1 C. beef consomme (buy it canned in the soup section of the store)
1 can beef broth (canned)
1 C. water
1 pkg.. Good Season’s Italian Dressing
Put in crock pot for 8 hours on low.
Slice meat. Serve on hoagie buns. Use liquid for French Dip sauce.


7. From Audra Harders:

Burrito Casserole
1 package El Monteray Chimichangas (8-10 individual)
1 can Stokes Gr Chili
1 package shredded Mexican cheese (or whatever kind)
1 can sliced black olives
1 can green chilis
In a casserole dish, layer burritos on the bottom. Spread Stokes on top,
sprinkle cheese.
Top with olives and chilies.
Bake at 350F for an hour.
Great with sour cream, salsa and chips!


Tips for SBIAW. Remember it's not how much you write, just that you write, down and dirty and without editing. Many of us still have to work our day jobs, take care of our families and continue to pursue world domination..but, put all your extra hours into BIAW. Turn off the TV this week. Pretend you are on deadline.

And Write

More Tips and Ideas for SBIAW:

1. Consider investing in swimmer's earplugs. They're great for tuning out the world.

2. Try a new schedule. Write somewhere else for this week. Try an hour or two at the library or bookstore.

3. Use a kitchen timer. Put buns in chair and don't get up for an hour. Repeat.

4. Stock up on writer food: favorite coffee and creamer, water bottles, gum, mints, chocolate, nuts and fruit

5. Set reasonable internet limits. "I can check my email and Seekerville after I have written XXX number of words."

6. Ask for help. If your friend babysits for you this week so you can write, you could babysit for her next week. Enlist your spouse to take the kids out so you can write all day Saturday and give him a free day in return. Use the resources you have.

7. Give your friends and family fair warning that their access to you will be limited. It's only for one week.

8. Don't sacrifice exercise. After you have put in writing time, get up and take a walk around the block.

9. Consider Dr. Wicked, Write or Die 2.0. Thank you to Kat Sheridan who shared Dr. Wicked with us.



Remember: If you always do what you always do, you'll always get what you always get. Let this SBIAW be an opportunity to shake up your writing.

Do you have any strategies to share with Seekerville?


Here are some great posts from our archives to help you plan for the Seekerville BIAW:

The Timer is Your Friend

Hurry Up and Wait

Not Enough Hours in Your Day? Think Again

Susan Meier's Ten Minute Solution



Registered SBIAW participants will also have a chance to win one of TEN great prizes:

Seekerville will be giving away 5 sets (of two books each) of Seekerville books

and

five copies of Chris Baty's, No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days.

Chris Baty is the genius behind NaNoMo (National Novel Writing Month). If you survive SBIAW, you may be ready for NaNoMo. More information can be found here.






Questions? Are you ready to start your SBIAW writing engines?