Preparing for #1000WordsOfSummer

Or renewing my vows to my work

Hi friends,

If you don’t know about Jami Attenberg’s #1000WordsOfSummer, stop reading and go check it out! I’ll be here when you’re done . . .

If you prefer the short description, it’s a two-week push every summer (with mini pushes at other times of the year) to write 1,000 words a day, with the support of Jami Attenberg and a group of wonderful writers who send encouraging words every day during those two weeks via email. There are also a lot of people like you and me cheering one another on with the #1000WordsOfSummer hashtag on social media. Oh, and there’s a Slack group.

Okay, I think I’ve covered the basics.

This year 1,000 Words begins on Sunday, June 17, and I’m getting myself prepared so I can make the most of it. As always, please know that I’m not trying to talk you into anything. I just like to share things that are helpful for me in case they sound like something you want to try. And I’m sharing a bit about why and how I participate to give you some ideas you’re welcome to take or leave.

The thing I’ve come to learn about myself as a writer is that I’m slow and steady. With a full-time job and a family, I’m lucky if I can steal an hour a day and a few weekend retreats a year. I also despise pressure and anything that feels like a competition, and the mere thought of big writing pushes like NaNoWriMo usually fills me with a dread the likes of which I can’t even describe. But for some reason, 1,000 Words came along at the right time when I was open to trying it — and now I jump in every time it comes around

It feels like kismet that I was wearing my #1000WordsOfSummer t-shirt when advance reader copies arrived for my debut novel—during the #mini1000.

First, there’s the beauty of the short time frame. Two weeks. Fourteen days. A manageable amount of time to push myself, enough time to make decent progress on a project, but not too much time to turn my attention away from another thing if that’s what I really want to do. Two weeks. It’s like magic writing time! Also, Jami and her guest authors always seem to know just what to say to inspire me in their daily emails.

After doing it a few times, I’ve also learned how to tailor it to my needs, which means I don’t put any pressure on myself to actually write 1,000 words a day. I think an advantage of being an older emerging writer is that I’m simply too tired to care if I can’t keep up with everyone else. I’ve come to have confidence in the goals I set for myself because they allow me to make progress at a pace I can sustain, instead of setting myself up for failure. So I use 1,000 Words as an opportunity to reset my intentions, focus on a project I’m excited about, and limit distractions. For two weeks, I set the bar at showing up and getting as many words on the page as I can in the time I have. But I also prioritize my writing with renewed zeal.

In fact, this year I’m thinking of 1,000 Words as a renewal of vows to my work. I’ve gone through a lot writing-wise over the past few years. Publishing a debut novel has been one of the best adventures of my life, but it’s also changed my relationship to my practice. For the past year plus, much of my writing time has been dedicated to edits and deadlines, proofreading and chasing blurbs, promotion and event planning. When that all finally started to calm down, I was consumed with stats. Was my book selling? Was it getting enough media attention? That kind of stress, if you can believe it, is not conducive to creativity.

For the past few months I’ve been trying to focus my attention back on writing something new. I’m working on a new novel, which I’m ridiculously excited about, and it feels amazing to have this creativity back, so I don’t want to take it for granted. For 1,000 Words my goal is to keep at it, but with revived intention and commitment. Right now, I think this means that for two weeks I will put this story first — waking fifteen minutes earlier for #5amWritersClub (and yes, going to sleep fifteen minutes earlier, too!), taking ten-minute brainstorming walks every day (some of my best ideas comes to me while I’m walking), and encouraging myself to experiment and take risks.

If you’re thinking about participating, I’d love to hear how you’re planning to use the time. And let’s keep in touch and cheer one another on!

But above all, I hope you’re doing what’s best for you and your practice, 1,000 Words or no. I mean it. The important thing is do what works and feels good. Happy writing, everyone — and have fun out there this week.

Yours,

Jen