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#1000wordsofsummer 2023, Day Five

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Photo by Vladislav Muslakov on Unsplash

One thousand words. On the nose.

No two ways about it: the only reason I wrote tonight was this challenge–that, and the support of the people who are following along with me. Because I’m so exhausted I can hardly stay awake.

I’m not certain whether or not it’s a good thing, this writing while barely conscious.

I suppose it is, because (a) the words are being written, (b) the scenes are being crafted, and (c) it’s imposing discipline. Without the challenge and your support, I’d likely get to the end of this week without knowing how things are going to play out between two hard-headed characters. Instead, I have a pretty good idea of where it’s all going, even if what I’m creating at this point falls short of any polished draft.

Nodding off here, so I’ll bid you adieu.

#1000wordsofsummer 2023, Day Four

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My supervisor, Ned

It occurred to me last night that I could get ahead on the challenge by writing more than 1,000 words per day. Then I reminded myself that the purpose of the challenge is not only to accumulate 14,000 words, but to develop a writing practice. A habit, if you will. Like brushing your teeth or washing your face. The point is to come back to it day after day until it’s an integral part of you, something you wouldn’t think of skipping.

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#1000wordsofsummer 2023, Day Two

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Olivia, Editor-in-Chief of Tuxedo Cat Press

Quick note tonight.

An interesting weekend, and not just because I wrote over 2,000 words. Long conversation yesterday with a dear friend who’s had some huge news. Still dealing with the aftereffects of last weekend’s surgery, including ongoing fatigue, minor pain, and reactions to anesthesia. Meeting with the first of several potential house painters. Return of the “check engine” light, including vibration and rough idle, after spending literally thousands to fix my fifteen-year-old car barely two months ago.

And Olivia, Editor-in-Chief of Tuxedo Cat Press, deigning to recline on the back of my chair.

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1,000 Words of Summer 2021, Day Fourteen a/k/a The Finale

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Photo credit: Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

My original plan for this final day of the #1,000WordsofSummer challenge was to write another 1,000 words in my novel, but that’s not what I’m doing.

Instead, my final 1,000 words will be directed to you, the wonderful folks who have accompanied me on this journey. (This means that my post will be a bit longer than usual, but I’m trusting you to handle it.)

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1,000 Words of Summer 2021, Day Eleven

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Photo credit: Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

In the law, we often criticize the opposing party’s position by arguing that they’re elevating form over substance. In other words, they’re too concerned about how something is to be done, rather than focusing on the purpose of what’s to be accomplished.

Last night, I elevated form over substance.

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1,000 Words of Summer 2021, Day Ten

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Photo credit: Isaac Wendland on Unsplash

The author of Ecclesiastes tells us in chapter 3 that there’s a time for every activity under heaven. He even gives us a list of activities, and that list was made into a song back in the 1960s. (He doesn’t say “turn, turn, turn,” but maybe it’s implied.) Unfortunately, his list doesn’t say anything about a time to cease activity—in other words, a time to turn off the computer and (in the words of a very different author) go the f**k to sleep.

I’m not saying this is why I finished revising a motion to quash last night at 1:15 a.m. and then pushed myself to write my 1,000 words. It’s because I know myself well enough to know that if I skipped this one day, that would be the end of the challenge.

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1,000 Words of Summer 2021, Day Seven

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Photo credit: Kal Visuals on Unsplash

Recently, I heard a podcast guest talk about being a “discovery writer.” The term was new to me. The former appellation, which I never liked, was “pantser,” as distinct from a “plotter.” According to common wisdom in the writing world, plotters plan out their books before they begin, often writing lengthy outlines, while pantsers fly by the seat of their pants, writing whatever comes into their heads with no idea what’s coming next.

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1,000 Words of Summer: Some Final Thoughts

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IMG_4263

For fourteen days, I wrote 1,000 words every day. Regardless of whether I had anything to say, I wrote. I produced words, sentences, paragraphs. I met the challenge.

I expected that at the end, I’d have developed a new writing practice that would have me writing 1,000 words a day forever.

What I didn’t expect was to be so freaking exhausted. Continue reading →

The Finish Line: 1,000 Words of Summer, Day Fourteen

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chariots of fire

Chariots of Fire, 1981

 

Day Fourteen: Done. 1,017 words.

Challenge completed.

So, that’s it. For fourteen consecutive days, I’ve written 1,000 words every single day. Some fiction, some material for blog posts, some stream-of-consciousness. No matter how I’ve felt—good, bad, energized, tired, inspired, dry—I’ve written.

I don’t know yet if this was a good challenge for me. Certainly it came at a hard time, but it’s not as if we’ve had any particularly easy times in the past few months. Still, before I decide whether to keep pursuing it on my own, separate and apart from the official challenge, I need to assess what occurred over these two weeks.

Certainly some good has come out of it. I’ve begun what I think will be a novella but could, in fact, be more. So far, I like it. Would I have done this if I hadn’t felt compelled to write something every day? Unlikely. So that’s a point in favor of this challenge.

On the other hand, I’m grateful that it’s over. Forcing myself to write 1,000 words every day creates in me the fear that I could end up hating writing. Maybe a completely unwarranted fear, or maybe a very reasonable concern. Again, something to think about.

In any case, I did it. Many, many thanks to everybody who has participated with me—those who’ve written, those who’ve read these posts or tweets, those who’ve commented, those who’ve come alongside in spirit. Writing is a solitary business. It’s good to have friends cheering you on, none more so than Jami Attenberg, the creator of this challenge who sent out daily emails to inspire us all and keep us writing.

Thanks, everybody.

thanks - bouquet - anna-tukhfatullina unsplash

Photo credit: Anna Tukhfatullina (Unsplash)

1,000 Words of Summer, Day Thirteen

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sun

Day Thirteen: Done. 1,063 words.

I’m done early today!

Last night, I found myself poking around on my college alumni directory website and Googling random people I recalled from college. I was surprised at who turned up on Google and who didn’t. An idea began to form, along the lines of some of Maeve Binchy’s works where she tells a story by devoting a chapter to each of the characters. And so this morning I started something—maybe a novella, maybe a short novel—involving a handful of former classmates and an impending reunion.

I could easily worry about how the overarching structure, i.e., classmates at a reunion, has been pretty much done to death, but the truth is that Solomon was probably right:

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9.

So I’ll take my shot (another phrase that’s been used before). If it works, great. If it doesn’t, maybe parts of it will be useful elsewhere. And if the entire thing turns out to be crap, at least I tried, and that counts for something.