Day 1 #1000wordsofsummer
Laptop's open; words are flowin'.
I’ve been on a quest to outgrow perfectionism for as long as I’ve known the word “perfectionism” and—excuse the cliché—overcoming perfectionism really is a journey and not a destination.
Starting today, I’m participating in Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer for my forth year in a row. This year, I’m doing things a little differently.
I’m dedicating part of my 1,000 words of the day to this newsletter in addition to working on the essays in my manuscript, so you’ll get a short post from me each day from today until June 13.
Over the course of my writing career, I’ve written sooooooo many pages, but a majority of them remain unshared. There are many reasons why I’ve done this: I don’t want to clog the world (or people’s inboxes) with crappy writing or embarrass myself or regret sharing something, but at this point, I regret the things I haven’t done more than the things I have. I’m sick of it. Life’s too short to keep my words to myself.
I’ll always think of a better, smarter, funnier way to say a thing after I’ve published a piece because I’m a writer. I’ve got to stop letting being a writer keep me from publishing my work—ideally forever, but at least for the next two weeks.
Jami hosted a quick launch event on Substack with Kristen Arnett earlier today, and the words of encouragement that stuck with me are: “Make what you want to make the first time around. Write what feels fantastic to write, and editors and agents can handle the changes later.”
It’s such a simple statement, but it’s something that I have to constantly remind myself of. When I kick the editor and imaginary audience out of my head, I actually enjoy writing more than almost anything else in the world. Getting lost in it is like hitting a runner’s high, and hearing that someone related to or felt helped by something I had to say is one of the most magical feelings I know.
After holding a few teaching positions and fellowships, I’ve learned that nothing is more valuable to my own writing than helping other people with theirs. I love reminding myself that being a creative person doesn’t have to mean being an isolated person.
To that end, new and current paid Annual or Founding subscribers can submit any writing project of up to 3,000 words for written feedback totally free of charge from today until July 15.
I’m really excited to see what the next two weeks will bring. A few weeks ago, I saw a TikTok where someone said no one is more insufferable than a creative person who isn’t creating. They have all of this excess energy that isn’t being let out, so they obsess over other people or things that don’t matter and feel lost and overcome with despair. I don’t think I’ve hit “like” on a video faster in my life. I wrote and published the Gaga piece immediately after that and felt a surge of good energy flood my veins.
To creating, to being less insufferable, to getting messy, to feeling alive,
Kayla
Love this. And I may take you up on your offer, be warned :)