Welcome back to our regularly scheduled, year-round programming. Before we get into this week’s letters, I’d like to share some final thoughts on this year’s #1000wordsofsummer. We raised 20k! Amazing. The money will be divided between the contributing writers’ selected charities and sponsoring a Scholastic Book Fair for a New Orleans school. (More details on that soon.) Thank you all
Thank you Jami for all your work with the #1000wordsofsummer. Every single letter was thought-provoking and inspiring and introduced me to many new authors whose work I want to read. I also made incredible progress on a big project I've been working on for years. The power of connection and encouragement you foster is truly wonderful and very much appreciated.
Happy to stick with you through the summer. Your emails bring me back on track. What you divulge is so familiar, the couch, snacking, texting friends ...makes me feel ok even though I wasn't at the computer as much as I'd liked to have been. But its ok because I will get to it. Oh--and I completed your book during the 1000 Words of Summer I acme All This Way To Meet You. I'm an even bigger fan now. Really enjoyed the read.
THANK YOU for #1000wordsofsummer, Jami! I have lots of writer friends, but I've been needing more focused community engagement with writers who are dealing with what I'm dealing with in terms of WIPs, and I've already benefited a ton from the new acquaintances I've made via your initiative.
Like you, I'm also working to fit together the many pieces of a big novel. I see it all, and I know more or less what I need to do to get from here to there, but now it's about working through all of those small and large tasks to actually get there. As you rightly said, "But there’s nothing I can do but dive back into it. We start. We stop. We start again. We find our way through."
Oh, thank you so much for this!! I am in a similar place with revisions on a big novel manuscript and this bolstered me so much. Really looking forward to your future planned Craft Talks! As always, I find so much inspiration and wise guidance from you. Sending good vibes to you with your novel!
I’m not sure of my word count these last 14 days but I’ve edited over 160 pages of my memoir. There is still so much work to do! But these emails are like a beacon. I’m reaching with all of you and wishing the best.
Best of luck with your edits! You are so generous to always break down your next steps for us. Last 1000 words, I completed my first feature screenplay and shared my work with agents for the first time! The reception was positive and that project is developing (although paused amid the strike). The process gave me such satisfaction and upgraded my life. This year, I returned to essay / short story style after three years of screenwriting and it felt like home. I can feel it becoming a collection, like I really will have a book I've written in my hands soon...or at least eventually! I took a break over the long weekend but am back to do 1000 words a day all July, but doing so reminds me of how inspiring the community aspect is. Even though I don't use the Slack channel or go on Twitter, there's still that collective energy...thank you for creating and sharing that with us! Do you think of writing short stories and essays the same? Any big differences in your approach or the questions you ask yourself while writing one or the other? xo
I wrote 1,000 words a day for two weeks. It was like a jumpstart for me. I am working on my memoir (or a book of essays) and I'm off to a good start thanks to you, Jami. Thank you so much. If anyone is interested in sharing your thoughts or insights about your memoir, I'd love to connect with you.
Somehow, your letters always land in my inbox at exactly the right moment. They are such an inspiration. Thank you, Jami.
Thank you Jami for all your work with the #1000wordsofsummer. Every single letter was thought-provoking and inspiring and introduced me to many new authors whose work I want to read. I also made incredible progress on a big project I've been working on for years. The power of connection and encouragement you foster is truly wonderful and very much appreciated.
Happy to stick with you through the summer. Your emails bring me back on track. What you divulge is so familiar, the couch, snacking, texting friends ...makes me feel ok even though I wasn't at the computer as much as I'd liked to have been. But its ok because I will get to it. Oh--and I completed your book during the 1000 Words of Summer I acme All This Way To Meet You. I'm an even bigger fan now. Really enjoyed the read.
The snacking!
“Hard” snacking, in particular.
THANK YOU for #1000wordsofsummer, Jami! I have lots of writer friends, but I've been needing more focused community engagement with writers who are dealing with what I'm dealing with in terms of WIPs, and I've already benefited a ton from the new acquaintances I've made via your initiative.
Like you, I'm also working to fit together the many pieces of a big novel. I see it all, and I know more or less what I need to do to get from here to there, but now it's about working through all of those small and large tasks to actually get there. As you rightly said, "But there’s nothing I can do but dive back into it. We start. We stop. We start again. We find our way through."
More power to all of us!
Thanks for all you do, Jami. I was stuck in a rut with a project and #1000words was like a tow-truck. I'm back on the road 15,000 words later.
We stop. We start. We move forward. That is the tune on a loop playing in my head. I am relieved to know I am not alone listening to it.
Thanks Jami, happy revising!
Oh, thank you so much for this!! I am in a similar place with revisions on a big novel manuscript and this bolstered me so much. Really looking forward to your future planned Craft Talks! As always, I find so much inspiration and wise guidance from you. Sending good vibes to you with your novel!
I’m not sure of my word count these last 14 days but I’ve edited over 160 pages of my memoir. There is still so much work to do! But these emails are like a beacon. I’m reaching with all of you and wishing the best.
See you there, indeed. Onward!
Best of luck with your edits! You are so generous to always break down your next steps for us. Last 1000 words, I completed my first feature screenplay and shared my work with agents for the first time! The reception was positive and that project is developing (although paused amid the strike). The process gave me such satisfaction and upgraded my life. This year, I returned to essay / short story style after three years of screenwriting and it felt like home. I can feel it becoming a collection, like I really will have a book I've written in my hands soon...or at least eventually! I took a break over the long weekend but am back to do 1000 words a day all July, but doing so reminds me of how inspiring the community aspect is. Even though I don't use the Slack channel or go on Twitter, there's still that collective energy...thank you for creating and sharing that with us! Do you think of writing short stories and essays the same? Any big differences in your approach or the questions you ask yourself while writing one or the other? xo
I wrote 1,000 words a day for two weeks. It was like a jumpstart for me. I am working on my memoir (or a book of essays) and I'm off to a good start thanks to you, Jami. Thank you so much. If anyone is interested in sharing your thoughts or insights about your memoir, I'd love to connect with you.
Thank you Jami. You are an inspiration!!!