14 Comments
Aug 11, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg

I try to take a week off from caffeine once a month. The first day or two isn't great, but it keeps me from being too miserably addicted to coffee. I read somewhere that a week without caffeine helps reset your brain/body chemistry. It might be nonsense, but it works for me, and it makes me appreciate coffee more (vs. seeing it as a necessity). I have yet to ever convince anyone else to try this, though, so my data is extremely limited!

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always grateful to be in the race but today this sentiment equally has all the feels:

“Let’s put it this way: solving the problem is fun, implementing the solution is (often) not.“

#stillslogging

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Aug 11, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg

Yes indeed! We all are lucky to get your messages and live a creative. Thanks. Jami.

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Aug 11, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg

I meant to write ‘a creative life’

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Yes, creative work is still work so yes, sometimes it does feel like it. Right now I'm focusing on marketing my book and it really feels like work! Been decaffeinated a long time. Half my life...and I'm so glad. If I ever want to power through teaching a lot of classes at a conference, I get some decaf coffee and I go all day and long into the evening. Decaf. It's true.

Loved your newsletter, as always.

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Somehow you always write what I need to read. Thank you.

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Aug 11, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg

I so enjoyed reading this piece especially since I was about to have a cup of coffee after not having it in about two months. I’m fighting the urge to drink a cup. I give up coffee every now and then and when I decide to have a cup, I look at it as a treat and not a necessity. Thank you for the motivation. 😊

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Just want to say how much i like your images here, as well as the written word. The mural is fantastic. So evocative and interesting

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Cheers to life transitions! We can count on them:-)

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Aug 11, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg

I love this. Thank you. Implementing the solution can be wearing, for sure. Wise to remember all the luck involved. Don’t know you personally, Jami, but so appreciate this newsletter —and your wonderful books! Write on.

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Aug 14, 2023Liked by Jami Attenberg

Thanks for the pep talk and the reminder to appreciate what we do have.

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Hey Jami! Thanks so much for these as always. I had a question for you - how do you think about taking breaks from your work? I so appreciate all the work you do to help us sprint and build great habits, but it can be necessary to give yourself some space from your writing or travel (or work) or just take a holiday — and it can be scary to break those habits or lose momentum or get lazy when you've been on a roll! Curious if you plan breaks and stick to them, or listen to your needs in a more intuitive way, and when you know you're ready to attack the work with fresh eyes.

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Aug 15, 2023·edited Aug 15, 2023Author

Well I treat it like it's my job, which it is, so I work 5 days a week on my books and then I take the weekends off. I can't really be lazy because it's how I make my living! (I wish!) When I can't write for whatever reason, I trust myself that I need to take a break. I do try to keep my fingers in things when I take a break so it doesn't feel like I'm losing momentum. That can just mean looking at whatever's in progress for a few minutes in day. I don't really see the breaks as scary because I think they operate in service of the work. I do think a lot of this is just a question of trusting yourself...

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I'm always grateful to live a creative writing life. I couldn't imagine it any other way.

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