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Need a Kick in the Pants to Finish that Manuscript? Cherry and I will help. (by Asa Maria Bradley)

Every writer, whether seasoned or just starting out, need a support system. Completing a book is hard work and you need writer friends to cheer you on, commiserate with, and sometimes to bounce ideas off in order to solve tricky plot problems. But if you’re just starting out, how do you find your support tribe?


I met Cherry at my very first romance writer conference where I knew absolutely nobody. She recognized me as a very lost and scared beginning writer and introduced me to everybody she knew. Since Cherry is one of the most social and vivacious people in the world, that means I pretty much met everyone who attended that conference. 

Warning: this is where the post turns all gushy and fangirly.

It’s hard to find the words to describe how much this amazing woman means to me. Basically, Cherry Adair has been an incredible influence on my career. Thanks to her—and FTDB challenge—I completed two manuscripts in two years, received amazing feedback from a big publisher editor, met some amazing fledgling writers who are still my friends, and gained the confidence needed to go from writer to author.

Before I met Cherry I had read just about every book she had written, so imagine what it was like to meet your idol, have her take you under her wing, and then find out that she runs this special group for people just like you that will help you realize your dream of finishing a novel.

And here’s the thing. I felt very, very special and singled out that first conference, but Cherry treats all new writes the way she treated me. Her passion is to give you the resources you need to finish your manuscript. She’ll give you encouragement, advice, and a swift kick in the behind with her designer stiletto heels--when you need it. J

This year’s FTDB starts on April 1st. (Sign up now!)  It is open to anyone unpublished, not published in the last three years, or those with five books or less, traditionally or indie published as of April 1, 2017.  

Here’s what the $35 commitment fee and completing the challenge gets you:
• A finished book!
• Confirmation that you are one of the 2% who finished writing a complete book!
• Bragging rights.
• Become part of a dedicated FTDB group and receive weekly encouragement, tips on the writing process, answers to your burning writing questions, and receive kicks in the butt- er- motivation to help you stay on track, and keep you focused on your goal.
• A personalized Certificate of Completion.
• A Finish the Damn Book! I Did it! pin.
• A conference badge FTDB ribbon.
• Entry into the drawing, where one randomly selected winner will receive the Grand Prize.

And the Grand Prize is:
• Your FTDB manuscript professionally copy edited. Editorial Services will include content and line edit of the completed manuscript, turned around in 2 weeks. Edits will be applied to the completed manuscript via track changes, with content/story notes detailing plot holes or suggestions to improve the story.
• A fabulous cover. A professional cover designer will work with you to perfect a fabulous cover for your eBook (limitations on edits to cover and purchase of cover art images apply).
• Your edited manuscript will be eBook formatted and ready to upload to vendors such as Amazon, iBooks, and Kobo.
• A two-week Blog Tour to promote your fabulous new book.
• A paid Romantic Times Conference fee for 2018 (hotel and airfare not included).

And if that is not enough of an incentive to get you to sign up, here’s another one:

I will pay the $35 FTDB commitment fee to 3 writers who have not yet published a book (traditionally or indie).

In the comments below, say why your think the FTDB challenge will help your writing career. One week from today, on Monday March 27th at 8 pm PST, I will randomly pick three people and arrange to reimburse their commitment fee (in US currency). A fourth person (US Only because of shipping fee) will receive the prize package pictured here which includes two books signed by Cherry.  

Sign up for the FTDC challenge now and then even if you don’t win this giveaway you’ll be a winner since you just took a HUGE step toward the next phase of your writing career. :-)

Note: The winners must get back to me by Wednesday 3/29 at 4 pm PST to claim their prize. (If you win the $35 reimbursement, you have to show proof that you entered and paid for FTDB.) At that time, I’ll pick new winners for any unclaimed prizes.

~            ~            ~

Asa Maria Bradley grew up in Sweden surrounded by archaeology and history steeped in Norse mythology, which inspired her sexy modern-day Viking series. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of indeterminate breed. Booklist attributed her writing with “nonstop action, satisfying romantic encounters, and intriguing world building.” Her debut book, Viking Warrior Rising, was a 2016 double RITA finalist and the follow-up, Viking Warrior Rebel, is a Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award Nominee. The magazine described the book as “filled with action and passion from the first page until the last.”

Subscribe to her newsletter: http://www.asamariabradley.com/newsletter/

Comments

  1. I think that the FTDB Challenge will help me because I have the titles of the books (yes I said books), names of characters, ideas or at least what the story is about. But I can't get past that point or to start developing a storyline. I'm in need of serious help.

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    1. FTDB would definitely help you get and stay motivated and keep you on track! (Ps. Your comment showed up twice, so I deleted one of them.)

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  2. This is the exact kind of motivation I need! It's so much easier to stay on track when you don't feel like you're all alone in the struggle. I think having weekly encouragement and writing tips will help me focus my energy and time on my goals.

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  3. After finishing my doctoral dissertation, I re-read Viking Warrior Rising to get my brain into warrior mode for a return to my own book. A few hours later, the creator of Leif Skarsganger emailed with a reminder to FTDB. I'm not eligible for the challenge because I've already started, but this has been a very good day. Thor is the ultimate alpha, and I'm ready to write again. Tusen tack.

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    1. Varsågod! And thank you for those very kind words! You can always put the book you've already started on the back burner and do FTDB with a new project. You may find you're so motivated you'll actually write on both books at the same time. That happened to a few of the people that participated the two years I did FTDB. :-)

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    2. Writing four books at once without finishing any would suit my personality, but Asgaard is too perfect a setting for spicy romance. Hear that rumbling thunder? Thor will not be ignored.

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    3. Asgaard and romance go hand-in-hand. :-)

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  4. Too bad I didn't hear about this sooner. I have a few story ideas that I'd love to develop if only the muse would take a vacation after about a third of the story. Just don't have any money to sign up right now. Guess I'll just have to try NaNoWriMo again and wait til this comes around again nest year.

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    1. That's why you want to enter this giveaway, Beth. To win the entry prize. :-)

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  5. I have been wanting to enter FTDB ever since I attended Cherry Adair's Master Class at ECWC three years ago, but always seemed to miss the sign up date. I really think that the encouragement and accountability of this contest is exactly what I need to start and finish a book this year!

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    1. The accountability is everything! I wouldn't have finished my first manuscript without Cherry's gentle kicks in the butt. :-)

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  6. Hey Robin! You can always start the sequel to the book you're working on now. Some people find that FTDB is so motivating they end up finishing one book and then go back to old projects before the 9 month challenge is up. Or work on two at the same time. :-)

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  7. Thanks Asa 😊 I’d could consider you are 'starting' your book if you already have a running start. That means you could already have built your characters, and/or plotted and or written a few scenes- you are still eligible. I'll start my butt kicking right here! Come to me. I'll be YOUR Person. :)

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  8. Oh goodness. I have so many ideas waiting to be written that I just need a good kick in the pants for! Including a monster-sized fantasy romance loosely based on Chinese/Korean history. That one definitely needs extra motivation to get started and get written. I'm really glad someone pointed me to this post because I don't know if I'd have heard of FTDB otherwise! <3

    (Hoping this works this time because I think it ate my comment because of login issues earlier!)

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    1. You had me at "monster-sized fantasy romance" and I was drooling by "Chinese/Korean history." :-)

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  9. I am sitting here reading this and so nervous trying to decide if I should spend the money or not. I am home from a work injury and on workers compensation. Not wanting to go back to my job of nearly 6 years. Have wanted to be an author - have one book started 10 years ago in a spiral notebook, plus a huge list of titles and ideas for children's books I want to do as well. Money is so tight right now. There are so many awesome writers out there. Decisions, decisions...

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  10. Ok. I did it. I signed up. Wow. Woohoo!!!

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  11. I think the FTDB challenge will help my writing career by giving me support and the kick in the pants to get a move on and get the book done! I have always wanted this and never did anything about it. Never took the bull by the horns. If I hadn't gotten Asa's newsletter the other day with the information on this I'm not sure if I would have taken the necessary steps. Thank you for the chance to get my butt in gear!! Have others to support me, cheer me on, bounce ideas off of is something that would be so very help full so that I can finish the DamnBook!!!! I am so excited and nervous!!

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    1. Yay Suzanne! You are brave and you are awesome and you can so do this! Especially with Cherry's help.

      This is one of those weird coincidence moments that happen, but I too started writing seriously while recovering from a work injury. And I too had ideas and books started in a spiral notebook!

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  12. Thank you! It is a very weird coincidence! I am very excited though and looking forward to this new experience. I appreciate that you passed on the information.

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  13. The winners have been picked! According to Random.org, here is our list:

    The Cherry Adair FTDB Challenge Commitment Fees:
    -Torden Dar
    -Jennifer Archer
    -MsLeslie Marie

    The Cherry Adair Books + Swag Package:
    -Beth

    Winners, please email me at GetInTouch [at] AsaMariaBradley [dot] com right away. Unfortunately, the blog doesn't list an email address for all of you when I click on your user profile. If I haven't heard from you by Wednesday, I'm afraid I have to give away your spot so that people will have time to sign up for the challenge.

    Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations!

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