#93: Jami Attenberg — Writing 1000 Words A Day, Learning How to Write Again, Finding Creative Inspiration, Committing to Creativity Daily
Feb 3, 2024
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Bestselling author Jami Attenberg discusses writing 1000 words a day, staying creative, and finding inspiration. She shares insights on financial struggles, staying focused, and committing to daily creativity. The podcast also explores her journey as a writer and the importance of writer friendships in the creative process.
Jami Attenberg emphasizes the value of resilience in pursuing a writing career despite financial struggles.
Transitioning from advertising, Attenberg highlights the importance of using past experiences to enhance writing skills.
Taking risks and staying committed to creative endeavors are crucial for overcoming uncertainties and financial struggles in writing career.
Deep dives
Exploring Writing as a Lifelong Passion
Jamie Attenberg discusses her early passion for writing, starting from childhood and continuing through her studies in creative writing. Writing has always been a source of fulfillment and passion for her, leading her to pursue it despite financial struggles and uncertainties about a writing career.
Navigating Career Transitions and Learning from Diverse Experiences
Attenberg reflects on her transition from advertising to pursuing her writing career full-time, highlighting the lessons learned from diverse professional experiences. She emphasizes the value of resilience, adaptability, and using past experiences to enhance her skills as a writer.
Embracing Risk, Resilience, and Commitment in Creative Pursuits
Attenberg shares insights on the importance of taking risks and staying committed to one's creative endeavors. Reflecting on challenging periods in her writing career, she underscores the resilience needed to overcome uncertainties and financial struggles. Her personal journey emphasizes the dedication required to pursue writing as a fulfilling and rewarding career.
Discovering New Worlds Through Writing
The podcast episode discusses how each book-writing process involves the same steps of questioning and discovery, yet offers a unique adventure in inventing new characters, exploring different worlds, and challenging oneself. The speaker highlights that each book project influences the next one, creating a continuous conversation between works. This dynamic process involves setting specific goals for each book, such as stretching creative boundaries or exploring new storytelling approaches.
Commitment and Creative Companionship in Writing
The episode delves into the concept of commitment in writing, emphasizing the importance of dedication over time management. The speaker encourages writers to shift from mere interest to sincere commitment to their craft, fostering a mindset of excitement and exploration. Furthermore, the discussion centers on the significance of creative friendships in providing support, constructive feedback, and shared goals within the writing community. Being a good literary citizen involves attending readings, supporting fellow writers by engaging with their work, and showing up for public events to create a supportive and interconnected literary environment.
The New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg talks about her latest non-fiction book 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, her journey from being a broke writer to creating a successful creative career, creating the #1000wordsofsummer movement and how she fights for a life of writing. We also discuss the financial struggles and risks of a writing career, finding inspiration even when you’re feeling disconnected, how she stays focused, and how we can commit to creativity every day.
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ABOUT JAMI ATTENBERG
Jami Attenberg is a New York Times bestselling author of seven books of fiction, including The Middlesteins and All Grown Up, and, most recently, a memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. Her work has been published in sixteen languages. She is also the creator of the annual online group writing accountability project #1000wordsofsummer. In 2024 she will publish a new novel, and also a creativity book,1000 Words:A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round.
