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Kathleen's avatar

I adore how you write about process! And I especially appreciate your thoughtful analysis. Thank you Jami, you help me stay on this writing path! See you in August!

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Rosemary Porto's avatar

Thanks Jami, I signed up and boy do I need this challenge with all the summer distractions flirting with me on a daily basis. Right now, I am writing a scene that is pivotal between my male protagonist and a new character who will uncover secrets about his late father. My dialogue needs to slow down to make this more dramatic. I tell myself to "tease out the secrets" when I have a tendency to put them on the page since I know them. But My Guy doesn't know them yet and he needs time to process.

Okay, now I better get back to my pages and see what those two people are up to. Cheers!

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Marci Rich's avatar

Jami, I'm so grateful to have discovered you and #1000words—mini or otherwise! I love what you have to say about a first chapter not necessarily ending up as the first chapter of a book. I'm quite happy with my own first chapter, but it's good to keep this idea in my back pocket as I move ever-onward. As a result of #1000wordsofsummer, my novel now clocks in at 13,364 words, and I've polished the first 14 pages to present to my writing group. More importantly, I made some crucial narrative decisions during last month's blitz. I know I have far to go (would that I were at the 50,000 mark!), but this latest essay of yours is just what I needed. I agree with Kathleen: I love how you write about process. Thank you.

P.S. I'm having surgery on August 3 and was planning on some intensive writing during my recovery, so this timing seems perfect to me.

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