Hi friends. Today we will write 1000 words. Together. Because we are trying to build the foundation for something new. Something huge. And we’re going to finish it. We’re going to write as if our life depends on it. Because in a way it does. Think about what you’re trying to build here. It’s never just a book. It’s never just a screenplay or a master’s thesis or an essay it feels desperately important to put out in the world. Underneath it there is always a minor current if not stated then at least felt: If I write this, then my life will shift.
Didn’t write Saturday. Wrote about 3,000 words yesterday and in doing so finished the novel draft I started in June 2020, three days into my first 1000 Words of Summer. Tonight I’ll journal for a thousand words about this project. So grateful for this space which has pushed me to be a person who finishes things. Thanks, Jami. 💛💛💛
1197 words today. A completely different vibe from yesterday. I found myself wishing (again) that I had a body of work to draw from as I write this memoir. I am not a theologian, philosopher, psychologist or poet. And then I remembered my teacher Jim Finley telling me that my body of work is my life. Anne Frank had no " body of work," her body of work was her life. I keep showing up and paying attention to the curriculum of my life. I keep writing. I keep learning. I keep listening.
“We are trying to build the foundation for something new. Something huge. And we’re going to finish it. We’re going to write as if our life depends on it. Because in a way it does.” This is almost exactly what I wrote about for my 1,000 today. About how what we write today (and how we build community today) creates a foundation for the next generation. Not a whole house, or cathedral, but something upon which they can build that wasn’t there before, just as our writer-elders before did for us.
And then I read this. Grateful for the synchronicity, and the validation.
Good morning. 1,168 words written today. I appreciate your message, Jami. Often I think, what am I doing here, day after day, why do I think this novel matters? Why have I set up my life around this writing time? The only answer I is that I'll find out. I'm committed to this daily ritual, and I show up because I say I will. I don't argue with myself. I get here and I write, every day. Eventually--by the end of the year is the plan--I will get to the end of the rewrite, and I'll have something new to contemplate and admire. But that will not be the novel I started writing way back when. So I am breaking new ground. Cheers, everyone.
Good morning from someone w/2021 new words on a new novel. Ooops, I feel like you know my deep secret--but if everyone shares that feeling, I guess it's not a secret. Yes, if I write this book, my life will shift. I'll be,on an obvious level, a person who retired &/but/still can write, think, do a hard project, solve problems. And there's more, of course, under the surface. & I guess, the sooner I get up, the closer I will come to that goal. Thanks for this, Jami, & go, all you other writers out there!
Been averaging 700 words these past 3 days. Keep being torn between "yay, I'm actually being productive, this is working" and "IT'S NOT ENOUGH, you lazy poltroon." Do I go with the rhythm I'm establishing or try to push for more????
I'm heading into day 3 with 10,23 words in the bag, and that's okay. I've adapted the challenge to fit my own needs: a blog post or newsletter essay a day. By that standard, I'm right on track
Noticing a few patterns. Writing at about the same time every day. Not bothering with story. Repeating stuff whenever I get stuck. Not caring how it looks. This’ll look pretty crazy when I look back on it. Didn’t wanna write today but I did anyway.
Woof. Long day at work, my whole body is tired and I'm feeling a lot of self doubt about this project today. And I didn't want to write at all. I am (annoyingly) glad I did. 1005 words.
Yay Day 2! 1702 this morning, a little essay I needed to write to myself. Have a bit to make up for Day 1, but will do that tonight and be back on track for this practice that I love. Every book, I'm a new person, too. I can't imagine who I'd be if I hadn't written them, because they've given me a life. I'm grateful for the timing of this #mini1000! Thanks, Jami. Tomorrow I'm back to new scenes for a book that I broke a few weeks ago and am putting back together with excitement and curiosity. Faith, as always, in the work.
Wrote 1007 words. I resonated with this letter. Every time I write—whether it's creative nonfiction or fiction, I am learning who I am. With every word, I slowly become someone else—maybe a better person, but at least a better writer.
1,143 words today, and for once it’s not almost midnight! This took me to the end of chapter 10 of the novel, and 10 chapters feels like it’s almost a real thing, doesn’t it? Excited to feel like I have some sort of forward momentum here again
Didn’t write Saturday. Wrote about 3,000 words yesterday and in doing so finished the novel draft I started in June 2020, three days into my first 1000 Words of Summer. Tonight I’ll journal for a thousand words about this project. So grateful for this space which has pushed me to be a person who finishes things. Thanks, Jami. 💛💛💛
1197 words today. A completely different vibe from yesterday. I found myself wishing (again) that I had a body of work to draw from as I write this memoir. I am not a theologian, philosopher, psychologist or poet. And then I remembered my teacher Jim Finley telling me that my body of work is my life. Anne Frank had no " body of work," her body of work was her life. I keep showing up and paying attention to the curriculum of my life. I keep writing. I keep learning. I keep listening.
“We are trying to build the foundation for something new. Something huge. And we’re going to finish it. We’re going to write as if our life depends on it. Because in a way it does.” This is almost exactly what I wrote about for my 1,000 today. About how what we write today (and how we build community today) creates a foundation for the next generation. Not a whole house, or cathedral, but something upon which they can build that wasn’t there before, just as our writer-elders before did for us.
And then I read this. Grateful for the synchronicity, and the validation.
Good morning. 1,168 words written today. I appreciate your message, Jami. Often I think, what am I doing here, day after day, why do I think this novel matters? Why have I set up my life around this writing time? The only answer I is that I'll find out. I'm committed to this daily ritual, and I show up because I say I will. I don't argue with myself. I get here and I write, every day. Eventually--by the end of the year is the plan--I will get to the end of the rewrite, and I'll have something new to contemplate and admire. But that will not be the novel I started writing way back when. So I am breaking new ground. Cheers, everyone.
Good morning from someone w/2021 new words on a new novel. Ooops, I feel like you know my deep secret--but if everyone shares that feeling, I guess it's not a secret. Yes, if I write this book, my life will shift. I'll be,on an obvious level, a person who retired &/but/still can write, think, do a hard project, solve problems. And there's more, of course, under the surface. & I guess, the sooner I get up, the closer I will come to that goal. Thanks for this, Jami, & go, all you other writers out there!
Been averaging 700 words these past 3 days. Keep being torn between "yay, I'm actually being productive, this is working" and "IT'S NOT ENOUGH, you lazy poltroon." Do I go with the rhythm I'm establishing or try to push for more????
I'm heading into day 3 with 10,23 words in the bag, and that's okay. I've adapted the challenge to fit my own needs: a blog post or newsletter essay a day. By that standard, I'm right on track
Noticing a few patterns. Writing at about the same time every day. Not bothering with story. Repeating stuff whenever I get stuck. Not caring how it looks. This’ll look pretty crazy when I look back on it. Didn’t wanna write today but I did anyway.
omg - yes! this: If I write this, then my life will shift. Thank you!
Woof. Long day at work, my whole body is tired and I'm feeling a lot of self doubt about this project today. And I didn't want to write at all. I am (annoyingly) glad I did. 1005 words.
1035
Multitasking but getting it done in this mini, editing for three days, 11K words. Hope that counts! More TK. Thanks again!
Yay Day 2! 1702 this morning, a little essay I needed to write to myself. Have a bit to make up for Day 1, but will do that tonight and be back on track for this practice that I love. Every book, I'm a new person, too. I can't imagine who I'd be if I hadn't written them, because they've given me a life. I'm grateful for the timing of this #mini1000! Thanks, Jami. Tomorrow I'm back to new scenes for a book that I broke a few weeks ago and am putting back together with excitement and curiosity. Faith, as always, in the work.
Oh well, 479. Tomorrow!!!
Wrote 1007 words. I resonated with this letter. Every time I write—whether it's creative nonfiction or fiction, I am learning who I am. With every word, I slowly become someone else—maybe a better person, but at least a better writer.
1,143 words today, and for once it’s not almost midnight! This took me to the end of chapter 10 of the novel, and 10 chapters feels like it’s almost a real thing, doesn’t it? Excited to feel like I have some sort of forward momentum here again