1000 Words

January 25, 2024 8:54 AM

In 2018, novelist Jami Attenberg, faced with a looming deadline, needed writing inspiration. Using a bootcamp model, she and a friend set out to write one thousand words daily for two weeks straight. They opened this practice to Attenberg’s online community and soon hundreds then thousands of people started using the #1000WordsofSummer hashtag to track their work and support one another. What began as a simple challenge between two friends has become a literary movement—write 1,000 words per day without judgment, or bias, or concerns about writer’s block, and see what comes of it. 1000 Words is the book-length extension of this movement.

The book is about becoming—and staying—motivated, discovering yourself and your creative desires, and approaching your craft from a new direction. It features advice from more than fifty well-known writers, including New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and stars of the literary world. Framing these letters are words of wisdom and encouragement, plus specific strategies, from Attenberg on how to carve out a creative path for yourself all year round.
Featuring Roxane Gay, Bryan Washington, Susan Orlean, Maris Kreizman, Sara Novic, Rumaan Alam, Lauren Oyler, Emma Straub, Christopher Gonzales, Benjamin Percy, Mira Jacob, Laura van den Berg, Carmen Maria Machado, Courtney Sullivan, Rebecca Carroll, Ada Limon, R.O. Kwon, Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, Elissa Washuta, Alexander Chee, Maggie Shipstead, Deesha Philyaw, Jasmine Guillory, Kristen Arnett, Attica Locke, Megan Abbott, Min Jin Lee, Lauren Groff, Andrew Sean Greer, Camille Dungy, Megan Giddings, Isaac Fitsgerald, Hannah Tinti, Michael H. Weber, Celeste Ng, Elizabeth McCracken, Will Leitch, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Morgan Parker, Kiese Laymon, Melissa Febos, Alissa Nutting, Liz Moore, Laila Lalami, Megan Mayhew Berman, Rebecca Makkai, Meg Wolitzer, Mychal Denzel Smith, Josh Gondelman, and Dantiel W. Moniz.

posted by DirtyOldTown (5 comments total)

Jami Attenberg is an acquaintance and a truly lovely person. Her voice is warm, friendly, and supportive here, like a bestie who just happens to be a NYT bestselling author, giving you a pep talk and some action steps to get you working on that book you've been meaning to write.

If I end up getting off my ass and finally writing something this year, it will be because of the influence of this book. And if I don't, it will feel like I spent a few hours with my friend Jami, who this book will make feel like your friend Jami. And yours too. And yours.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:56 AM on January 25 [4 favorites]

I’m interested in this idea, but every time I’ve tried to just Sit Down And Write without an idea in my head for what to write about, I produce nothing but useless rumination. Can you say whether that’s something this book specifically addresses? I have found other ways to produce work I’m happy with, but not on any kind of regular basis.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:27 AM on January 25 [1 favorite]

I came to FanFare to procrastinate on my writing, dammit! Fine, I'll go write.
posted by cocoagirl at 9:31 AM on January 25 [1 favorite]

showbiz_liz: "I’m interested in this idea, but every time I’ve tried to just Sit Down And Write without an idea in my head for what to write about, I produce nothing but useless rumination. Can you say whether that’s something this book specifically addresses?"

She has a Substack (I know) for the ongoing 1000 Words of Summer project/mailing group that will give you an idea.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:47 AM on January 25 [2 favorites]

I love Jami Attenberg! She is a fantastic novelist and the service she does for the literary community is incredible.

I started writing a novel during the 2020 session of 1000 Words of Summer and am now on my sixth draft of that same novel. Prior to the 2020 session I had already written two novels more or less from start to finish, but had no concept of how many drafts it would take me to get to a really readable book. I learned about that from guest speakers Attenberg scheduled during that (first) pandemic summer. One was Megan Giddings, whose book Lakewood I adore. I couldn't believe it when she talked about (iirc) having enough trouble with Lakewood that she was thinking of abandoning it.

I have no idea if I'll ever make it to traditional publication, but writing fiction on a daily basis has done wonderful things for my life. I think a lot of that is thanks to a shift of focus that I got from taking part in Attenberg's program. It really is about the process for me now.
posted by BibiRose at 8:32 AM on January 26 [4 favorites]