The Contest -- update

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll know that I'm currently in the middle of a competition with screenwriter-turned-shoeshine boy Paul Guyot.

It's kind of like "The Contest" from Seinfeld, only Paul and I are better looking than George Alexander and Michael Richards (not saying much, I realize)...Oh, and it has nothing to do with masturbation. (At least, it better not, Paul.)

We are currently engaged in a Celebrity Deathmatch to see who will finish his novel first. The loser will buy the winner dinner at the restaurant of his choice during the next writer's conference after a winner has been declared.

Paul hasn't said how much progress he's made since issuing his challenge. I thought I'd give you an update, though.

After getting serious about my book earlier this year, I wrote at a pretty steady clip and produced around 30,000 words...and then stalled. I got busy at work, I was sick for a while, excuses, excuses.

Then Guyot came along and raised the stakes, along with questioning my manhood. I'm a gambling man at heart, so this was just what I needed to get me back on track.

Since then, I've written...well, not a helluva lot, to be honest with you. Maybe 3000 words or so. What it has done, though, is get me thinking much more about writing and force me to pay attention to it. That's exactly what I need and I know it will pay off.

Now go get your f'ing shinebox, Guyot!

Update (2:19pm): I just finished my thousand words, so that's my quota for the day. I can almost taste that steak now...