1000 Words of Summer 2026 - Day 14
Because we want to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
Reminder: the slack will stay open until June 29.
Hi friends.
Today you will write 1000 words. Because the world is burning and you need something to have faith in, and your words, all of our words, are worth believing in. Our collective energy is pretty fucking special. Think of that today as you write. This is you being a part of something bigger than yourself. And you’re doing it with your words.
Day 14, and it’s the end of our ninth summer together. Listen, I do all this because I genuinely believe in the importance of original voices existing in this world. That’s you, that’s your voice. I believe in you fighting the good fight, and I believe in you achieving all your dreams. You can think of that today, too.
If I am your corniest friend, so be it. There is no time left for insincerity in this modern era.
I’m leaving the comments open on this letter today. Tell me how it went for you. Tell me which was your favorite letter. Just say hello and goodbye—for now.
And now, I am nearly out of words for today.
Thank you to all our brilliant and generous contributing writers. They all have books you can buy. I also have books you can buy.
Thank you to those who donated to our fundraiser.
Thank you to Brooke and Melissa, our slack moderators.
I’ll be seeing you all in a week or so while I take a little break.
Now go write those 1000 words today not just for you, but for me, and everyone else out there. Keep writing until you’re done. You’re nearly there.
Jami
You are reading Craft Talk, the home of #1000wordsofsummer from May 30-June 12, and, year-round, a weekly newsletter about writing from Jami Attenberg. I’m also on bluesky and instagram.
Wrote just over 1,000 words today, for a total of 17.7k over the 14 days. I don’t love what I wrote and I’m not sure it’s salvageable, but I loved the practice, loved the freedom of trying something different, risky. Thank you for this amazing thing you have put into the world.
Thank you, Jami, for this brilliant idea. I got up at a function you did at Sarah Lawrence College in 2023 and told the group that #1000wordsofsummer became, for me, the endless summer. After that challenge, I did 1000 words a day, every day for nine months and got through much of the second draft of my novel. I continued with the 1000 words until I finished. Without this structure, I would not have. Now I know that on any given day 1000 words can find their way onto the page. I just have to sit myself down and start. What a gift!