Day 6 of the Mini 1000

Hi friends.

Today we will write 1000 words. Because we love to write.

I’ve been laser focused on being a writer for nearly twenty years now. I sold my first book in 2004. The best piece of advice given to me then about having a career as a writer was to recognize that the odds of me making a living at it were slim, and that I should use my publication as the opportunity to open other doors for myself. But if I were really lucky (and worked hard!), I would get to keep writing things I love, things that intrigue me deeply. Money and career stuff, that was secondary to making shit I believed in.

At first I was like, well that’s depressing. You mean I’m gonna work this hard and there’s still no guarantee I get to make a living off it? But of course there was no guarantee we get to make any kind of living at all, I had already learned by then. And also I was hooked on those sweet, sweet words. It seemed like enough to me that I even got to be near this kind of life. The dream state of writing, where I was thinking about characters and ideas that interested me, was where I was happiest.

The most successful writers I know are the ones who have identified those things that fascinate them. For me — amongst other topics — it is the contemporary state of the American family, being a woman in this world, the impact of solitude on our existence, and, as I have learned this past year, the act of writing itself. These things occupy my mind so beautifully.

What I hope is that you are working on what makes you happy. And what I want you to take away from this is not just that you can do the work — because you absolutely can, surely you have seen that this week — but that you are doing the work that is right for you. Write what you love, not what you think you should write. It’s your fucking book.

Some housekeeping:

If you want to support me, the best way is to pre-order my memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. If that is not financially available to you, I would suggest asking your local library to order it. If you enjoy these newsletters, you will probably enjoy my book. I would really love for you to read it in whatever way works for you.

I will probably do another one of these Mini 1000s sometime in October. All you have to do is stay on this mailing list. If you don’t want to get the emails, feel free to unsubscribe. I take no offense. I am just here to support you, if you desire the support.

Thank you for being here this week — for me and and for each other. I’ll see you on the other newsletter for a while, and back here someday. I’m glad we had this time together.

Now go get those words!

Jami