1000 Words of Summer 2026 - Day 1

Let's gooooo.

Hi friends.

Today you will write 1000 words. You will write these words because you are fearless, bold, and ready. You have shaken off your hesitations. You have stopped thinking: Maybe I will try this someday. Or: Someday I will get back to finishing that project. Or: Can I make it across the finish line? What were those fears? Why did they surface? It no longer matters. Write them down, and then toss them away.

Because everything starts today. You are all in, you are completely ready to write. It does not matter to you what anyone else thinks or cares. You believe in yourself. You know your words are important. You are not afraid. You are ready to write 1000 words. Every day, for the next two weeks. It is time.

Welcome to the first day of 1000 Words of Summer 2026. And boy, do I know you got this. I have been watching you all online these past few weeks talking to each other, talking about your projects, discussing your desires to connect with your creativity—even if it is for the first time—and you are excited and invested and I am already so proud of you.

So let’s go. Let’s write.

Some housekeeping:

There is a slack. If online community is your cup of tea, I highly encourage you to join it. People have been busy in there already for the last two weeks getting to know each other. It is a place for you to check in and cheer each other on, and maybe even find an accountability buddy or group. For more information on how the slack works, how to access it, and other details about this project, check out the FAQ.

This is a fundraiser for a dozen charities plus the sponsorship of a Scholastic Book Fair in New Orleans, which you can read more fully about here. This is my annual ask: if this project has meant something to you, this year or in years past, and you are in a position to contribute, please consider supporting it financially. For the next two weeks you can donate by subscribing or venmo’ing me.

And if you're just joining us or someone forwarded you this letter, I'm Jami Attenberg, the New York Times bestselling author of ten books (including a 1000 Words book!), with an eleventh on the way next year. And you can find out all about the history of this project here.

Tomorrow we’ll be back with the first letter from one of our contributing writers. It’s a great letter. (Surprise, they’re all great!) Today I wish you the best of luck. I believe in you. I’ve been doing this for nine years, watching, listening, and cheering you all on from up close and afar and I can confidently say you can write these words.

So good luck out there. And leave a little comment below if you feel like it, announcing your intentions for the new two weeks.

Sending love,

Jami

P.S. Yes we have merch!