#AllTheWordsAugust Writing (or editing) Challenge

A new kind of writing challenge focused on creating a writing routine.

Jul 15, 2025

#AllTheWordsAugust #August80K48K18K Writing (or editing) Challenge

#804818 #ATWAugust (all the words) #August80K #August48K #August18K

3 tiers for all levels of writer/editors and 3 plans for time management and habit building. Everyone is welcome.

Back in 2017, I was told about the August80K/18K, a challenge a friend of mine was doing. Every August she wrote 18K or edited 80k to get herself back into a writing routine after summer vacation with the grandkids. No, I don’t know where she got the idea. In 2019, and since I was a faster writer than her, I decided to write the 80K instead of editing 80K. (FYI- I am a wordaholic overwriter with ridiculous worldbuilds that reach 50K in some series.)

To suddenly start doing such a high volume of writing was humbling, and I learned that it wasn’t just about the word count, it was about the routine. After she passed from Covid in 2021, I kept doing it alone. After six years, I am only three for six for writing 80K, and that’s okay, because the point isn’t the word count for writing or editing, it is about establishing a routine to carry me through the fall and winter writing seasons.

This year at the AWC, a bunch of my fellow Authortubers talked about doing the challenge as a three tier 80k-48K-18K writing/editing challenge in August to encourage developing a writing or editing routine with different plans for the number of days participants have available to write.

There are no project restrictions. You can write or edit or both on as many different things as you want, as many days a week as you want. The purpose is to create a consistent, sustainable habit of taking time to write, without feeling overwhelmed or being pushed into burnout. All skill levels and speeds of writers are welcome. This isn’t a contest. It’s writers supporting writers.

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The plans and the doing of the plans…

Plan 1

If you are writing/editing every day of August (31 days)

For Tier 1 – 18K means 580 words a day plus an additional 20 words

For Tier 2 – 48K: 1548 words a day, plus an additional 12 words

For Tier 3 – 80K: 2580 words a day, plus an additional 20 words

Plan 2

If you are writing/editing only FIVE days a week, Monday-Friday (21 days)

For Tier 1 – 18K: 858 words per day, five days a week

For Tier 2 – 48K: 2288 words per day, five days a week

For Tier 3 – 80K: 3818 words per day, five days a week