I have a shelf full of writing craft books. 

The newest one to add to my collection is 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg. 

1000 Words is a collection of short pieces, including “wisdom and inspiration from more than fifty beloved writers.” 

The title of the book comes from Ms. Attenberg’s annual summer event in which writers commit to writing 1000 words a day for two consecutive weeks. There is a whole online community that not only participates but also encourages and supports each other. 

Generally, I do not write 1000 words a day. (That’s about 4 typed, double-spaced pages.)  

Once in a blue moon, the words flow and my body cooperates long enough for me to write four pages in one sitting.

But not usually.

And certainly not this summer, with my world no longer as I knew it since my dad passed away.

Still, writing inspiration never hurts. Especially now when I haven’t written much more than these weekly blog posts and my columns for MomsLA.com . 

Here then are some of the passages that resonated with me:

“Four Truths: 1) We can’t finish what we don’t start.
2) The only way to the end is through.
3) It’s important to celebrate our accomplishments.
4) We must forgive ourselves for that which we have simply not done yet.”

“Your creative self is composed of your brain, your heart, and your time. To protect your creativity, you must tend to them all.”

“Respecting your creativity is respecting yourself.”

“So write the thing that you want to see in the world. You’re the only one who can.” 

“There is only one you, your voice is singular, and if you do not write these 1000 words no one will ever know what you have to say. You absolutely must have faith in yourself, that what you need to talk about is important, and that a reader will care about it.” 

“Above all, do not feel intimidated or discouraged. You have written before, and you will write again. You write because you love it and because it’s important to you and because you have something to say.” 

“Write what you can, when you can.
“Write when the urge strikes you, but also, be disciplined. Carve out time in your day to write. Fight for that time for yourself. You can find holes in your schedule. They exist. And soon enough you will fill them with words.” 

“… making art of any kind is an act of optimism. To make art is to traffic in beliefs. The belief that you have something to say, that it’s important to say it. And also the belief that someone specific might want to witness it in some way and gain something from it.”

“Whatever it is you’re working on, whatever it is you’re dreaming about, whatever path you’re trying to carve out for yourself, whatever electricity you’re trying to generate, whatever voice you’re trying to draw out of yourself, whatever way you’re trying to connect with people, whatever you’re trying to communicate with the world, whatever fire you are trying to start this morning today this week forever and ever, you can fucking do it.” 

Friends, have you read 1000 Words and/or have you participated in the 1000 Words Summer Challenge? I’d love to know.

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.