“You might as well answer the door, my child, the truth is furiously knocking.”
— Lucille Clifton
Welcome to the second day of Essay Camp.
To write for one day might be called a fluke, but to write for two days in a row begins to establish a pattern.
To develop a regular writing practice is a little like building a greenhouse. It’s a space that is protected from the elements, where tender things can grow. Each sentence, each paragraph, each page and half-formed thought are like germinating seeds that might someday take root and grow into something bigger. Later on, you may find yourself re-potting and replanting, pruning and combining, to form a garden. For now, however, all you have to focus on is shaking those seeds loose and getting them out of your head and into the soil.
For most of us, a writing habit is not something that we establish just one time. It is usually something that we carve out, but then lose, and must rebuild again, over and over. We figure out something that works, do it for a while—days, weeks, even years—and then something intervenes to throw us off—day jobs, relationships, family, health. We have to fight to get the writing back, every time we stop.
For now, all we have to worry about is writing two days in a row, so let’s do that.
The second day of Essay Camp is about getting the words down on the page. Show up, and turn on the faucet.
Let’s begin.
“I don’t write out of what I know; I write out of what I wonder. I think most artists create art in order to explore, not to give the answers. Poetry and art are not about answers to me; they are about questions.” — Lucille Clifton
Writing Assignment, Day 2
If you used and liked the “five things” prompt yesterday, use it again today.
Open up a blank document, turn to a blank page, and write or type the number 1. Then start writing. Write about whatever comes to mind, and keep going until you’re done. One word, one sentence, a few sentences, a few paragraphs, a whole page, it’s up to you. Do not read back over what you have written at any time. I mean it. Do not rewrite or edit your work at this stage! Move on to the next number, and then do it again until you’ve completed all five.
Alternate Option 1: Freewriting
If you still haven’t trued out a five things prompt, I encourage you to try it today. See how it feels. If you’re not feeling it, however, proceed to freewriting instead.
Set a timer for whatever amount of time you have, and write whatever comes. As with the prompt, try not to look back at what you’ve written as you’re writing. Keep moving forward, without worrying whether what you’ve written is any good or not, until you’ve reached the end of your allotted time.
Do not worry about beginnings, or about the structure of your sentences. Focus only on getting the words down on the page.
For those who would like a specific prompt:
Write a letter to that person you never saw again.
Write a letter to an old flame.
Write about a high school or college party.
Write about a time when you hoped to be found charming.
Write about something that no one has ever understood.
Write about a piece of clothing you didn’t buy.
Write about the best meal you ever ate.
Describe something small that broke your heart.
Write about a caterpillar.
Write about a house.
Alternate Option 2: Rebel Mode
If you’re here for the camaraderie of the write-along exercise but plan to write something other than essays, go ahead and work on your project for as much time as you have.
Reading Assignment, Day 2
If you took the time to read an essay yesterday, well done. If not, see if you can find some time to do so today. The more essays you read, the more you will get into the habit of reading them, and the more you will internalize the structures and patterns that can make different kinds of essays work.
For Today
If you so choose, I would like you to please select at least one of the following contemporary essays to read. You can also choose an essay you haven’t read from yesterday’s list.
“Ghost Story,” by Maggie Smith, 618 words, 2.5 minute read (link)
“The Smoker,” by Ottessa Moshfegh, 1,098 words, 4 minute read (link)
“The Terror of Love,” by Samantha Irby, 3,570 words, 13 minute read (PDF)
“Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life,” by Yiyun Li, 3,948 words, 15 minute read (PDF)
“The Curse,” by Alexander Chee, 4,924 words, 20 minute read, (PDF) (NOTE: this essay is also available in its entirety as the free preview of Chee’s essay collection How To Write An Autobiographical Novel on Amazon. If you can afford it, please buy the book.)
Time To Write!
Happy writing!
xo Summer
Essay Camp is free, but paid subscribers make it possible. If you’d like to subscribe at the usual annual rate of $30, or the reduced student/senior/etc rate of $12, please do so. (There is also a discount for those paying in other currencies who get screwed over by the exchange rate). Thank you so much to everyone who already subscribes!
I read "Goodbye to All That" by Joan Didion, and have almost completed the first essay.