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Tyler Darnell's avatar

I am here because community really does matter, and for fourteen days it feels like we’re doing something together. Writers always are, really. The constellation of books in the world just wouldn’t exist. And even if it doesn’t reach a million readers, it reaches the writer, and changes us in the process. We are worth that investment and reflection. If we choose our stories well, we can often find a piece of our core being rattling inside. May we leave our writing spaces refreshed and more ourselves in some way when we go back out into the world.

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Nneka Kelly's avatar

Im here for that as well - the community.

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Jami Attenberg's avatar

Love this Tyler!!!

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Carole Cline's avatar

I am here because I am committing to expanding when contracting seems like a safer way to go. I am here to feel supported&

Give support because that's the only way to not make a mess. I am here because words are really important to me✨

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Jami Attenberg's avatar

❤️

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Katrin Schumann's avatar

I’m here because I’m on submission and I thought I’d be able to focus on the next project and yet I find myself feeling exhausted. This collective energy of 1000 words is life giving.

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Tyler Darnell's avatar

Starting the next thing really is the best way to get through this tine. The wait just weighs on you otherwise. Good luck for both projects, and may this new work find the light of submission one day also.!

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Katrin Schumann's avatar

Thanks! My logical mind knows to keep going on the next book but my emotional self is deeply rebellious, lol.

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Marge Anderson's avatar

I am here because I’m a sprinter, not a marathoner, and if I’m going to write this book, I’m going to need a lot of sprints. Thank you for making such a supportive space!

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Nneka Kelly's avatar

Sprints really help me to start. Great way of looking at it!

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Debbie Dakins's avatar

I'm here because everything else in my life feels chaotic and unstable right now, and I need something stable and consistent. Something that will remind me there is life beyond the chaos, and I owe it to myself to stop long enough, for these days at least, to do something wholly for myself.

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Nneka Kelly's avatar

Im participating because I want to be more disciplined about my writing, I want to see what themes emerge, I want to refine my style.

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Nneka Kelly's avatar

PS. I hate when I find typos after I post.

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Diane Sunde's avatar

I do this because … it has nothing to do with all the other things I do …

I do this every year because this practice is the one that got me to write almost every single day, to commit to my “writing practice.” If I stop now, what would I be telling myself? That I wasn’t a writer after all? That all these past 1400 days were “just a lark”?

The project’s days are hard. There’s no doubt about that. I often lose focus. I often hate it. But I will always give it a try because through this project, I began to call myself a writer and now I wear that label proudly—even if people don’t like labels—I love this one because this one is all about me rather than daughter, wife, mom, coworker. Those labels involve others. Well, now that I write this, writer also involves others—communicating with others, expressing myself as myself. Maybe that’s where the label feels more comfortable. I’m learning to express myself as a person by carrying the label of writer now.

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Willow Mata's avatar

Here because I adore your work, Jami, both your books and this newsletter. I read the 1000 Words book when it came out in January and couldn't stop quoting it and talking about it for months. Binge read your fiction as I was recovering from surgery this month. Excited to participate for the first time and draft 14 short essays to begin creating a backlog for my own Substack newsletter. Thank you for your generous spirit and for creating this writing space!

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Jami Attenberg's avatar

Well thank you! I’m so glad you’re here!(I hope you are all recovered, too.) Good luck with your essays…I’m glad you’re going in with a vision!

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Jeannine Coulombe's avatar

I am here because I am happier, more centered, lighter, more productive and just better when I write every day. I am here because community is everything. I am here because I need accountability. I am here because I need a re-set.

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

I’m here because I’m happier and better functioning when I’m writing daily. For me.

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Jiling Lin, LAc's avatar

I write to express-digest-amplify life experience. Cuz it's fun. Cuz it's the one thing that's mine. Surprises emerge. Sometimes the surprises speak to universal human experiences that can touch hearts and move change. I write to teach and share. This is my current primary art form. It flows. I am here for me! For the daily cheerleading emails. For the community spaces, play, emergence, fanfare. For us.

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Michele Feeney's avatar

I am doing this as a way to reconnect with my closest friends from my MFA program; to enjoy the messy generation of new long-hand creative work; to start volume 2 of my historical fiction series of 3 (volume 1 due for publication in August); and to re-build my daily habit.

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Kathleen's avatar

Thank you Jami!! I am committed to this challenge in a whole new way. My husband is having major surgery on Tue June 4th with a 10 day hospital recuperation expected. I will be with him in the mornings but late afternoon/evenings will be for #1000wordsofsummer. But the bonus of an unexpected gift to "plant sit" for friend in a cool loft in Chicago ' s Printer Row neighborhood while he is in Italy for the summer.

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Jami Attenberg's avatar

Sending good thoughts to your husband! And good luck with your writing!

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Jennifer Matthews's avatar

I can’t seem to connect on the donations link, it brings me back to subscribing to the newsletter 🙈🙈 is there another link available please? (Thanks!)

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Jami Attenberg's avatar

Hi! You just pick a paid subscription plan (and if you want to unsubscribe at some point down the line feel free of course!) https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/subscribe

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Jennifer Matthews's avatar

I’m hoping to donate to the Scholastic fundraising thingy too, but can’t seem to find the link. ♥️

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Jami Attenberg's avatar

There's no link except for the one above. Just pick a subscription plan to the newsletter -- all the subscription money that comes in for one month goes to various charitable organizations including the scholastic book fair. More details in the FAQ https://1000wordsofsummer.substack.com/p/1000wordsofsummer-2024-faq

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Jennifer Matthews's avatar

Ah I see! 🙈 Thank you!

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Ellie Jacobson, CPC-A's avatar

I'm here because shared hopes and dreams push me into my creative mess. It creates a purpose for what otherwise feels like chaos. Shared energy pulls and pushes me to places I struggle to reach.

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Deb Dorsett Hanson's avatar

I like this, and I feel it too.

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Ellie Jacobson, CPC-A's avatar

Thank you Deb 🔆

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Suzanne's avatar

I can't help but say it, as your opening line has my inner voice saying... ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE?????!!!!!!!!! ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️🙌🙌🙌🙌 YES I am! 1,000 words of summer!! Woo hoo!😍😆 Can't wait, thanks Jami for this community.❤️

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