Day 1 of #1000wordsofsummer 2025

Because you're a writer.

Hi friends.

Today you will write 1000 words. Because you're a writer, pure and simple. You've always known this about yourself. Even if you haven't always embraced it or perhaps have been hesitant to commit to your writing, it has always been inside of you. That curious, energetic, thoughtful part of yourself that simply will not be satisfied until you process the world with your words. And now you’re here, and you're ready to tend to it. Tend to yourself. To heed the call. To write 1000 words a day. Starting now.

Welcome to the first day of the eighth (!) year of #1000wordsofsummer. We have more than 52,000 people all over the world writing together today and for the next two weeks. Congratulations on showing up, tapping into your desires, and choosing to dedicate this time to explore your creative self. I am already proud of you, just for being here.

If this is your first time joining us, you may have questions. Here’s an FAQ, and here’s a little bit about me, and also here’s some information about the book version of this project. I’ll also be livestreaming on Substack today at 9 AM CST, talking about this project, with a special guest.

But, in brief, this is how it works: every day you will get a letter from me, encouraging you, and then we will write 1000 words. Starting tomorrow, these letters will also include a note from a contributing author, sharing their thoughts on writing, creativity, productivity and more. This will happen every day for two weeks straight.

There is a slack you can join where you can meet other participants and track your daily word count. Right now there are more than 7,000 people in it, with loads of people introducing themselves and sharing ideas. Go cheer each other on! Support each other. Maybe find a writing group of your own. (Breakout slacks are forming every day, by genres, cities, time zones and more.) The cheerful collective energy is one of my favorite things about #1000wordsofsummer.

This project is also a fundraiser. We are raising money for all kinds of charities this year, including our annual sponsorship of a Scholastic Book Fair for an entire school in New Orleans.

Right now we are only at the 40% mark for our goal. So I ask you to consider subscribing. You can also just venmo me a buck or two. It all goes toward the cause.

It’s time for me to do my own work now. Tomorrow morning I’ll send you another letter, this time including the words of a wonderful guest contributing writer. It’s a special message, sweet, inspiring, and I think you’re going to get a kick out of it.

And if you need a little writing prompt to start your day, why not think about the first time you can remember loving writing, feeling like it intrigued you, or that it might be something you’re good at? A spark or an incident that was the starting point to a lifelong connection with writing. You never know where it will lead when you write about your past.

I love you all! Thank you for being here in community with me. Now go write!

Jami

You are reading Craft Talk, the home of #1000wordsofsummer and also a weekly newsletter about writing from Jami Attenberg. I’m also on bluesky and instagram.