Mission Briefing: The July Heist Begins!

Alright, crew. The day has finally arrived.

(NOTE: The following links are meant for members of the group The Writing Cartel. Even if you're not a part of the group, maybe this will inspire you. Unless you're not a writer. Or you're looking for another Edward Patrick. I dunno, you do you.)

Welcome to the Writing Cartel's July Heist! The blueprints have been drawn, the crew has assembled, and the vault is waiting. Over the next month, each of us is setting out to steal something valuable: another chapter, another draft, another step closer to becoming the writer we want to be.

But before any great heist begins, the mastermind doesn't burst through the front door and hope for the best. They make a plan. So what's yours?

Are you drafting a brand-new project? Editing a manuscript that's been waiting patiently for you to get around to it? Outlining your next novel? Researching a world you've been building? Maybe you're bouncing between a few different projects depending on which inspiration strikes that day.

There isn't a wrong answer. Every project counts, and every word written this month is another step forward.

And then there's the age-old question: planner or pantser? Maybe you've outlined every chapter, every twist, and every character arc before writing your first sentence. Or maybe you have no idea what's waiting on the next page until your fingers hit the keyboard.

Both approaches work.

Even if you're a proud pantser, you still have a plan. It may simply be, "I'm going to sit down today and see where the story takes me." That's enough. A plan doesn't have to be complicated—it just has to get you going!

Once you've figured out your approach, it's time to define the score. What's the prize? What are you hoping to walk away with on July 31?

Maybe it's 25,000 words. Maybe it's 50,000. Maybe you're aiming to finish five chapters or revise ten. Maybe you're measuring success in minutes or hours spent writing instead of words on a page. Or maybe your entire goal is simply to build consistency by showing up every day, even if you only manage a paragraph.

Don't worry about matching someone else's goals. Every writer starts from a different place, writes at a different pace, and has different responsibilities outside of writing. The only goal that matters is the one that challenges you while remaining realistic for your life.

As the month goes on, don't forget to keep track of your progress. Watching those numbers climb can be incredibly motivating, especially on the days when it feels like you aren't getting anywhere.

If you'd like a great way to visualize your progress, TrackBear is an excellent tool. This is where we will be tracking our progress as a group for the month, as well as posting in the trackbear-goals channel.

And while you're tracking your writing, don't forget to join in on Izzy's Truth or Dare game throughout the month! Information for how this will work can be found here!

Of course, no successful crew works in silence. Share your victories. Celebrate someone else's milestone. Talk about the scene that's giving you trouble. Ask questions. Offer encouragement. Sometimes the words come easily, and sometimes every sentence feels like cracking a safe with a plastic spoon. That's part of the process. The important thing is that none of us has to do it alone.

And remember: this is only the beginning.

Throughout the month, Izzy, Weedle, and I will be posting pep talks. There will also be daily encouragement, writing tips, and other little boosts to help keep the momentum going.

Some days you'll feel unstoppable. Other days you'll wonder if you've written the worst paragraph in literary history. We've all been there. We hope these posts will remind you to keep showing up, trust the process, and keep moving forward.

So gather your notes. Open your manuscript. Dust off that outline—or throw it out the window if that's your style. Fill your coffee mug, grab your favorite playlist, settle into your writing space, and get ready.

The vault is waiting. The only question is what you'll walk away with when the doors close at the end of July.

Good luck, crew.