Frequently Asked Questions
40 Days and 40 Writes might be different from other writing programs or bootcamps. The focus is on doing the writing, not giving and receiving feedback. Just take the daily prompt, let it roll around in your head, and see what comes out.
When and how will I get the daily writing prompts?
Prompts go live around 12 a.m. Pacific Time, and you will receive a reminder by email each morning (in U.S. time zones) to retrieve your prompt. There are no prompts on Sundays. You may use your Saturday writing prompt any time over the weekend.
Do I have to hit the time target?
If there is a time target listed with your prompt, that is the minimum amount of time you should spend writing. Write more if you like. That said, it can be a good exercise to constrain yourself as a way to learn to focus, and to write more efficiently.
Are the prompts in any sort of order?
Yes, for most programs they are. In the "Classic" program, you should expect prompts to get more open-ended over time. Feedback from previous groups has helped me refine the order that these come in.
What if I miss a day?
The goal is to write daily. But life happens. If you miss a day, you miss a day. That said, experience shows that missing two or three days affects your momentum.
Do I have to do my writing in the submission form?
If you prefer, you can do your writing in other word processing programs and paste your writing into the form when you're done. If you want to capture the exact amount of time you spend writing, use the form. It auto-saves every 30 seconds so you won't lose your work.
Who is reading the blog?
When you open the blog, it should be automatically filtered to show the program you currently particpating in. But all people who are members of the 40 Writes website have access to the blog, including those working on other sets of prompts, or people who have been in past programs.
Do I have to post to the blog?
No. Each day you can indicate if you want to make that piece of writing available on the blog or not. You can also chose to close a post to commenting.
Why does the description say a program lasts 49 or 56 days?
There will be 40 total writing prompts. But there are one or two rest days each week, and a few extra days added to wrap things up at the end.