My local writer’s group is three weeks into our 50/50 challenge – write a minimum of fifty words a day for fifty days–and it has to be a work of fiction. You can take two days off in any one week, but those words must be made up so you have a minimum of 350 words for the week.

That doesn’t sound like much, does it? Fifty words a day for 350 words a week? That’s barely a page and a half. Most of us make our fifty and more. Some make way more–in the thousands range. The point of the challenge is to get you writing every day.

But you’d be surprised how hard some of those days are. Some days, I get my fifty in and that’s about it. For instance, yesterday… I had a bad night of non-sleeping and was up by five. Paid bills, took care of household accounts, worked on an edit for a friend, and yes, got some words done. Not many, but some. I had grocery shopping to do, then was on the road to deliver five boxes of books to a used book store (I’m downsizing) that is on the way to the home where my mother lives. It’s an hour drive one way and there was road construction everywhere, plus I don’t travel well. Oh, and add in there a stop for gas and another stop for groceries for my mom (called brother to tell him we were coming and was informed that Mom needed some things – could I pick them up?)

By the time my husband and I got home, I was exhausted, not feeling well, and–thanks to some things I found out at the home–had some financial issues to take care of for my mom. Because of my morning writing, I managed to get my fifty in…but barely. Total count was fifty-three. Last week, I had a 2000 day.

One of my friends lost her mother-in-law this week. She dropped out of the challenge because she has enough to cope with at this time. Another dropped out because of illness. Another because of work. Our numbers always start out strong, but along the way, we lose some for one reason or another. The reasons are valid. Life gets in the way of our writing time. Some manage to work around these problems, others don’t. And that’s fine. Each person has to do whatever works for her.

The point is, we face challenges every day. Some are more difficult than others. Am I going to tell my friend that the funeral she’s helping plan doesn’t matter? Or another that her husband’s brain surgery isn’t as important as her writing? Nope. Not going to do it.

But as soon as I’m done with this blog, you can bet I’m going to get my fifty words in. Because of my schedule today, it may be all I get in, but that’s okay. I challenged myself and I will meet that challenge.

What’s your challenge today?