Writing ...

#1000words

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If you write, and you're not already enrolled in Jami Attenberg's #1000wordsofsummer, let me tell you why I sign up for this free program every time it comes around. (Click here to see what Jami has to say about it.) She’s also write a companion book, which you can buy or check out from your library.

If you know me, you know I have a long-standing robust writing practice. But I love a bit of support. #1000words for me, means I'm writing in the company of thousands of other writers and knowing they're out there gives me whatever I need to get those words out on those days. Most times, I feel absolutely alone in this solitary pursuit of story-telling. I know other writers are out there, but maybe they're writing and maybe they aren't. (Writers do other things. ha)

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Starting August 29, I will write 1,000 words a day for five days. Again this time around, I will work on my Shirley Combs novel. If I did 1,000 words a day for a month, this novel would be finished. It isn't always easy to write 1,000 words. It doesn't sound like much, but in my case I am writing a particular story, a mystery novel with a plot. I'm in the section where the bad guys move in and have their fun. There are miles to go before I write The End.

But here's what I know: if I write every day, no matter how stuck I may feel, the words will come. They might go where I expect them to, or they might surprise me. Either way, I'll feel elated when the word count reaches my goal.

If you are part of the group of us writing these 1,000 words of summer, I'd love to hear from you.

Even if you don't consider yourself a writer, consider joining in on the fun and commit to writing those postcards, or greeting cards, or letters to yourself, to your loved ones, to strangers in swing states. Let me know if you decide to play along.

If you hated writing papers for school, remember this is not that! This is writing down a story, or your feelings, or things you wish you'd said to the jerk who hurt you that time. Even if you don't write a thousand words, jotting down a few might make you feel something, or surprise you when you see what you really think about that book you read, or the movie you saw, or your neighbor's garden.

If you need a writing prompt, here’s a link to 500 of them.

Happy last week of August, dear readers! Whatever you’re doing this week, I hope you find some joy, maybe even spread it around.

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