Big June Energy
The grief of beginnings and endings
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“Today you will write 1000 words. You are going to write freely and passionately and with beautiful abandon.” —Jami Attenberg, Day of #1000wordsofsummer
I’m writing from the middle of a tropical depression, rain on water, wind gusting all the tiki umbrellas. This is how good vacations begin, right? I’m taking the opportunity to read, write, and eat several mini bags of Cheetos. Soon enough, maybe even later today, the rain will clear and we’ll all dry out. The sun’s been there all along, as I sometimes forget.
If my last couple months were about reflecting and my May was about revising, June will be editing and querying (the subject of another post), and more writing. 1000 words a day, to be precise.
If you don’t know about Jami Attenberg’s 1000 Days of Summer, I’m thrilled to be the one to recommend it to you:
It is unlikely that I will write 1000 words each day while on vacation, but I’m devouring the emails and I’ll catch up on my words once I return.
I geek out about new beginnings. Mondays, the start of new months, brand new sparkly projects that haven’t yet let me down. That’s how I’ve been feeling lately—hopeful and bubbling up with excited (and sometimes anxious) energy.
The downside of all those new starts is the inevitable ending on the other side. Endings aren’t a bad thing. I know this. But I build up the hype so much at the beginning of anything new that I can’t help but let myself down when it isn’t fresh and new anymore.
I’m working on it. Me and my new notebook are going to invite the old notebook for a slumber party so we can all hash it out together. We’ll rewatch Shag (the best movie of all time), pop some popcorn, and drink too much Dr. Pepper.
That’s the plan for June, as well: working through the stuff I’ve been meaning to work though.
I hope your new June brings you joy, even if it is tinged with all the complicated grief that seems to hang out on the edges of our lives. I’ll be over here writing though the best of it.
This is where my Teacher and Bookworm selves come out to play. At the bottom of every new post, I’ll share what I’m currently reading and offer up a writing prompt if you feel so inclined.
Currently reading:
Note: I’m an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Writing prompt:
Write an ode to a new beginning. New month? New job? New hobby? Pick the topic first and just go for it.
“An ode is a lyrical poem that expresses praise, glorification, or tribute,” according to Bill Collins in his Masterclass.
Don’t get too bogged down in rules or definitions, though. An ode to Ted Lasso, for example, can look and sound however I need it to sound. The important part is the praise and tribute we bestow upon our subject. (And yes, I just discovered Ted Lasso and love it more than most anything else right now).
A few of my favorite odes about less serious subjects:
Happy writing!