Intro video

It's summer time again.

And one of my favorite parts of summer when I was a kid was having time to read assigned books for the next school year.

Well, I'm bringing that back, but with a twist.

This year writing is on the menu for me.

So I thought I'd invite you along to join this sixty day summer reading and writing challenge.

How it works

Step 1: Pick a track

There are 4 tracks to choose from:

• Reader
• Writer (Traditional)
• Faibulizer (AI Writing)
• Dual Track (Reader + Writer)

Step 2: Set a daily goal

Readers - Set a page or percentage count to read

Writers + Faibulizers - Set a word count to write or faibulize (Yes, editing and rewriting counts)

Step 3: Log weekly progress

Every Sunday night during the challenge, complete the form to track your progress.

Why track your progress?

To be eligible for prizes!

Faibulizer logging tip
Count only the words that make it into your manuscript—edited or not. Words you generated, but did use or keep don't count!

Prizes

There will be prizes for those who are serious about reading and writing this summer.

Top Reader

Gates of Okinawa — Deluxe Set: a signed A+ Edition hardcover, the retro‑soundtrack USB, and the complete audiobook.

Top Writer (Traditional)

A full story edit plus a 30‑minute one‑on‑one craft consultation.

Top Faibulizer (AI Writing)

Hybrid Editorial Assessment—AI‑artifact audit and craft critique—plus a personalized 30‑minute video walkthrough of the feedback.

Top Dual‑Track

Guest appearance on The Digital Novelist podcast, a 60‑minute one‑on‑one feedback session, a complete story edit, and a signed hardcover of Gates of Okinawa.

If the prizes weren't enough, there's even more incentive to participate.

Community + Accountability

Another incentive to put this on is to interact with you and other passionate readers and writers.

To that end, the plan is to host occasional meetups in the HAC Studios Discord server.

Right now I'm planning on a bi-weekly cadence, but if there's interest I don't mind doing it weekly.

There you can discuss what you're reading or writing, meet other participants, or just hang out and listen.

Also, I'll be participating in the challenge.

Once a week, I'll share my reading and writing progress as well as the top three participants in each category to keep you motivated.

Submit your numbers weekly by Sunday night to have yours counted.

Use the #HACSummer2025 for shout-outs on socials.

You'll also have access to challenge leaderboards to see where you stack up!

Key dates

May 28

Sign‑ups open.

June 1

Kick‑off email sent and first logging link delivered.

Every other Friday

Community hangout on Discord.

July 31

Deadline to submit final log entries.

August 4

Winners announced.

Ready to read or write?

It’s 100 % free—your only expense is the pages you’ll turn and the stories you write.

JOIN THE CHALLENGE TODAY!

Challenge FAQ

Q: Do I have to read or write something specific?

A: No. Any book or project counts.

For reading, pick what gets and keeps you reading.

If you're writing, dust off an existing project or start a new one.

Q: What if I fall behind?

A: Life happens. When it does adjust your goal, but keep participating if you can. Consistency beats perfection.

Q: How big can my submission be if I win a writing category?

A: I'll accept up to 10 k words. If it's longer, we’ll focus on the section you most want reviewed.

Q: Why separate AI from traditional writing?

A: AI is a valid tool for storytelling. But it's different from traditionally human drafted writing.

Tracking it separately keeps things fair and allows faibulizers to hone skills unique to crafting narratives with LLMs.

Q: What counts as faibulized (AI‑assisted) words?

A: Any words that originated from an AI system—even if you later revised them.

Count only the words that make it into your working manuscript.

Q: The challenge already started! Can I still join?

A: Yes! The greatest prize is reading and writing more.

Summer 2025 will be the season you close chapters, finish drafts, and level‑up your craft—whether by pen, keyboard, or with AI.

I look forward to seeing you in the challenge.

See you on the leaderboard!