Hi friends. Today we will write 1000 words. Because we want to accomplish something. God, it feels good to get something done. So much unfinished business in our lives, and we just have to accept it — all the time. But here is a specific task we can complete, one that makes us feel a little more solid inside, more connected to our brains, wired, in tune, capable, productive. What if we see this all the way through to the end? Complete this task for the day, for this week, for the long haul. One thousand words.
I read this by chance, just before I was about to edit my next Substack post and write some others. Chains and thoughts about to be untangled and knotted and untangled again, across the page...
Some part of me is fired up. The other parts laugh. I'm a lush for the stuff of self sabotage, especially avoiding the insanity of untangling thoughts. But I want that last three minutes with the goal chains. I want the shimmer of sunlight on my final words for the day. So I will write.
Done, at last - it's evening over here in rainy England. Very unusual for me to write at the end of the day but so good that you pushed me to do it. The themes I am circling are getting clearer every day now.... but there will be soooo much fat to cut soon!
Thanks for sharing your story about the tangled gold chains. It reminded me that even writing and sharing about the small moments like those can create just as much connection as big, dramatic scenes. Your story reminded me of the value, connection, and additional reasons for why I like to write in the first place (which I often forget). Thanks again, 1620 words today, more journaling and pulling together bits and pieces of various vignettes.
I sat down to make myself write scenes from whatever book this might turn to be - rather than sitting there writing about writing. I’m not judging the quality. I’m just working on hearing that inner landscape unfold. A few small glimmers of characters fleshing themselves out, waiting for me to catch on.
Had to piece the words together today. Some journaling, and some fiction. The second draft of my short story is done. I changed the perspective and had to rewrite the whole piece. These last 600+ words were rough and felt quite tangled. I'll let it sit there, tangled, for a few days and work on another unfinished story. Then, I'll come back and begin the labor of untangling.
Wrote 1404 words and thought wait a sec, those numbers look familiar...then went back and wrote until I hit a magic 1440! A word for every minute of the day. :)
I shot for 1,635 today because I missed yesterday (my 3-year old’s birthday) and that would get me to an average of 1K per day. I journaled and worked on my notes and got to 1,696. Back on track!
1005 impressively crappy words! But I spent last night not sleeping through a red-eye, so part of getting this done was the ritual and the promise to myself that I'd do it.
Yes, the tangles! Many years ago, I had a necklace (just one) tangle like that when I took it off and instead of dealing with it, handed it to a friend who took many hours and untangled it for me (such a good friend). I remember feeling overwhelmed and desperate thinking about doing the untangling myself. Today, I know I would do it myself even in a sweat of frustration but I'm pretty sure that's what got me through my 1,000+ words of journal writing today. Thank you for reminding me of that moment then and my commitment now!
Only 700 or so new words today, but it's fine. There were two chapters I felt were a little scanty, and now I feel they are right. Or righter. They were two thin gold chains tangled together and now they are untangled, each gleaming on its own. ;) I'm done for today, but I am so close to the end of this draft, I suddenly feel a little weepy. Funny feeling. I know it will still need polishing, but also, it is--surprisingly--so close to what I wanted it to be, I'm a little--overwhelmed. Plus I'm out of wine. To the liquor store!
I read this by chance, just before I was about to edit my next Substack post and write some others. Chains and thoughts about to be untangled and knotted and untangled again, across the page...
Some part of me is fired up. The other parts laugh. I'm a lush for the stuff of self sabotage, especially avoiding the insanity of untangling thoughts. But I want that last three minutes with the goal chains. I want the shimmer of sunlight on my final words for the day. So I will write.
Done, at last - it's evening over here in rainy England. Very unusual for me to write at the end of the day but so good that you pushed me to do it. The themes I am circling are getting clearer every day now.... but there will be soooo much fat to cut soon!
Thanks for sharing your story about the tangled gold chains. It reminded me that even writing and sharing about the small moments like those can create just as much connection as big, dramatic scenes. Your story reminded me of the value, connection, and additional reasons for why I like to write in the first place (which I often forget). Thanks again, 1620 words today, more journaling and pulling together bits and pieces of various vignettes.
I sat down to make myself write scenes from whatever book this might turn to be - rather than sitting there writing about writing. I’m not judging the quality. I’m just working on hearing that inner landscape unfold. A few small glimmers of characters fleshing themselves out, waiting for me to catch on.
Pulled it together in fits and starts. 30 minutes here, 15 minutes there. Still added up to 1,000 words.
Had to piece the words together today. Some journaling, and some fiction. The second draft of my short story is done. I changed the perspective and had to rewrite the whole piece. These last 600+ words were rough and felt quite tangled. I'll let it sit there, tangled, for a few days and work on another unfinished story. Then, I'll come back and begin the labor of untangling.
1365 today -- three false starts that amount to a bloodletting about the body and how we hold the trauma as stories in our flesh.
1002, oof. Was down to the wire as the day got away from me, but edited and added to a piece I started on Day 2. Good luck tmrw everyone!
Wrote 1404 words and thought wait a sec, those numbers look familiar...then went back and wrote until I hit a magic 1440! A word for every minute of the day. :)
I shot for 1,635 today because I missed yesterday (my 3-year old’s birthday) and that would get me to an average of 1K per day. I journaled and worked on my notes and got to 1,696. Back on track!
1005 impressively crappy words! But I spent last night not sleeping through a red-eye, so part of getting this done was the ritual and the promise to myself that I'd do it.
Yes, the tangles! Many years ago, I had a necklace (just one) tangle like that when I took it off and instead of dealing with it, handed it to a friend who took many hours and untangled it for me (such a good friend). I remember feeling overwhelmed and desperate thinking about doing the untangling myself. Today, I know I would do it myself even in a sweat of frustration but I'm pretty sure that's what got me through my 1,000+ words of journal writing today. Thank you for reminding me of that moment then and my commitment now!
"The shimmer of completion." Perfect.
Only 700 or so new words today, but it's fine. There were two chapters I felt were a little scanty, and now I feel they are right. Or righter. They were two thin gold chains tangled together and now they are untangled, each gleaming on its own. ;) I'm done for today, but I am so close to the end of this draft, I suddenly feel a little weepy. Funny feeling. I know it will still need polishing, but also, it is--surprisingly--so close to what I wanted it to be, I'm a little--overwhelmed. Plus I'm out of wine. To the liquor store!
I needed a laugh this morning, thank you!