We're starting Day 3 out on the quiet side for those of us in Europe and points east, so I'll get things rolling by posting my own writing day so far. I have little choice but to work in Rebel Mode 🤘this time. I opened up an essay-ish thing I'm reworking from a notebook entry written back in 2021, so I tinkered with that for a bit, moved some things to another essay that didn't quite belong where they had been before, and then made an attempt (isn't there something essayistic in that?) to read through the final part, Part Three, of my book in progress, aloud, to see if it flowed, sounded good, if it worked, to look for repetition, stuff that was boring and could be cut, etc. It's around 35K words long right now, this part, and I managed to get through a bit over 18K words before exhaustion hit and I had to take a nap, but it's something. I'll try again tomorrow. Writing a book takes brute force, as Deborah Levy once said during a talk I attended.
I too am winging it in Rebel Mode and decided today to write an essay on an essay, Nancy Mitford's "Chic — English, French, and American" and on how Mitford's Parisian dressmaker must have known my grandmother in Cuba because she too would have turned the garment inside out to examine how the seams were finished off. And, as Miss Mitford so aptly concludes, "The Latin American woman dressed in Paris is the very height of perfection, however."
This is so interesting Maite! Makes me think of a character from Love In The Time of Cholera, the Colombian women who went to Paris for their wardrobes.
I'm so glad to have discovered you and this camp. It's been revelatory each day and the recommended readings are so delicious. This feels like a feast and I'm so grateful to be seated at the table.
Today I wrote during the time I'd dedicated to Essay Camp; thus, I have found myself throughout the rest of the morning jotting down lines (or recording as voice memos on my phone) as I do other things I need to do. This is one of the reasons I love Essay Camp. Once I am determined to write during this period, I follow through. In following through, I am less inclined to procrastinate, to stop writing because of self-doubt or unnecessarily harsh self-inflicted criticism. Some of this, I suspect, is inspired by Summer's own determination, and I'm happy to feed off it :)
Five items of clothing I no longer own. This is terrific fun. There was a time when I did a Five Things virtually daily. I love getting back into the habit while I'm taking the week off my memoir draft to do this. Thanks again and looking forward to Day 4.
I was in Rebel Mode tonight and worked on the novel, but only a tiny bit, as it turned out, because the time turned into about six phone calls with my mom, who is 99 and has dementia.
"4:00? Let me write it down. You're going out with Tom? I'm so happy; I was about to call you and tell you to spend more time with your brother."
"My phone doesn't work; that's why it keeps cutting off. When are you coming? Let me write it down. What are you doing with Tom? Going out with who?"
"What time are you coming? Let me write it down. Can you stay for dinner? Is Tom coming with you?"
"Can I go out with you and Tom? Oh. What time are you coming? Let me write it down."
And you have "Fuck the Bread!" That essay made me dance around the room when I first read it. I was so happy I sent an enraptured email to Sabrina Orah Mark, to which she did not reply, so then I was very embarrassed.
It's great that you reached out to her, and don't feel embarrassed that she didn't reply, if you can manage it. I know a lot of writers, myself included, get easily overwhelmed by messages from readers. It's weird, but it's happened to me plenty of times and comes from a kind of shyness, or just feeling overwhelmed by whatever was happening in life at the moment. It's something I want to most change about myself—feeling the confidence to write back! But good for you for reaching out, and for writing in general. That's what matters.
that's lovely that you reached out to her, even if she didn't reply. :) I just read it for the first time here during Essay Camp and thought it was so wonderful. Have you read any of her other works?
Yes absolutely. If you're a free subscriber, you will get a notification for it. There are categories for every Substack one subscribes to. Automatically, you'll be subscribed for all of them, but you can check in your settings to make sure that "Essay Camp" is checked :)
Today was my 2nd camp day. I did three pages of both days. I did go back two sentence to check mixed spelled words: It was out of the wrong instinct. One or two time before I honestly stopped and kept going. Writing like a choo, choo train heading to Georgia!
Thought about your rules. No to go back spellcheck anything. Just write.
I managed to finish my day two camp writing.
I wrote about accountability, when my wife’s phone alarm went blaring through early morning and we weren't ready to get up.
The first day I just wrote. I am happy to be a late starter but I'm too motivated by the fuel of the writing craft.
Thank you for allowing me into the writing group late but never without purpose.
Today's Five Things exercise was less rigid. The memories that emerged surprised me--when did I last ponder _A Tree Grows in Brooklyn_? My Five Things from days 1 and 2 seem to have primed me for day 3. I sat down with my notebook a little sleepy, a little full from dinner... and the words flowed. I won't reread, won't edit. I'll just let the thoughts simmer for now.
We're starting Day 3 out on the quiet side for those of us in Europe and points east, so I'll get things rolling by posting my own writing day so far. I have little choice but to work in Rebel Mode 🤘this time. I opened up an essay-ish thing I'm reworking from a notebook entry written back in 2021, so I tinkered with that for a bit, moved some things to another essay that didn't quite belong where they had been before, and then made an attempt (isn't there something essayistic in that?) to read through the final part, Part Three, of my book in progress, aloud, to see if it flowed, sounded good, if it worked, to look for repetition, stuff that was boring and could be cut, etc. It's around 35K words long right now, this part, and I managed to get through a bit over 18K words before exhaustion hit and I had to take a nap, but it's something. I'll try again tomorrow. Writing a book takes brute force, as Deborah Levy once said during a talk I attended.
Brute force. So true. Lifting weights now as I work on my memoir.
You and me both ❤️ (Although if you mean literally lifting weights, I realize now, good for you! I'm not quite there yet but maybe some yoga soon lol)
lol I was speaking metaphorically 🏋️
I too am winging it in Rebel Mode and decided today to write an essay on an essay, Nancy Mitford's "Chic — English, French, and American" and on how Mitford's Parisian dressmaker must have known my grandmother in Cuba because she too would have turned the garment inside out to examine how the seams were finished off. And, as Miss Mitford so aptly concludes, "The Latin American woman dressed in Paris is the very height of perfection, however."
This is so interesting Maite! Makes me think of a character from Love In The Time of Cholera, the Colombian women who went to Paris for their wardrobes.
Thank you, I've been meaning to write about growing up in Cuba BC (before Castro), when Paris would come to Havana https://la1ere.franceinfo.fr/cuba-parfumeur-francais-guerlain-retour-havane-444207.html and Christian Dior sold dresses in El Encanto https://www.cubanculturalcenter.org/events/2019/03/la-tienda-el-encanto/. Although my grandmother was a first rate seamstress and taught me to sew and recognize well made clothing, she tended to patronize dressmakers that worked to her exacting standards.
I can't thank you enough.
I'm so glad to have discovered you and this camp. It's been revelatory each day and the recommended readings are so delicious. This feels like a feast and I'm so grateful to be seated at the table.
Renee! Welcome! So glad to have you. I'm so glad you're finding it helpful and am honored to have you at the table.
Done! Three days in a row. That’s 15 whole things!
Today I wrote during the time I'd dedicated to Essay Camp; thus, I have found myself throughout the rest of the morning jotting down lines (or recording as voice memos on my phone) as I do other things I need to do. This is one of the reasons I love Essay Camp. Once I am determined to write during this period, I follow through. In following through, I am less inclined to procrastinate, to stop writing because of self-doubt or unnecessarily harsh self-inflicted criticism. Some of this, I suspect, is inspired by Summer's own determination, and I'm happy to feed off it :)
Thank you so much Jane, I'm glad to hear it.
Banking on Tomorrow:
Essay Camp day #3 - 11.17.2025
https://bankingontomorrow.blogspot.com/2025/11/essay-camp-day-3-11172025.html
Love this essay! So ironic.
Thank you!
Five items of clothing I no longer own. This is terrific fun. There was a time when I did a Five Things virtually daily. I love getting back into the habit while I'm taking the week off my memoir draft to do this. Thanks again and looking forward to Day 4.
I was in Rebel Mode tonight and worked on the novel, but only a tiny bit, as it turned out, because the time turned into about six phone calls with my mom, who is 99 and has dementia.
"4:00? Let me write it down. You're going out with Tom? I'm so happy; I was about to call you and tell you to spend more time with your brother."
"My phone doesn't work; that's why it keeps cutting off. When are you coming? Let me write it down. What are you doing with Tom? Going out with who?"
"What time are you coming? Let me write it down. Can you stay for dinner? Is Tom coming with you?"
"Can I go out with you and Tom? Oh. What time are you coming? Let me write it down."
And you have "Fuck the Bread!" That essay made me dance around the room when I first read it. I was so happy I sent an enraptured email to Sabrina Orah Mark, to which she did not reply, so then I was very embarrassed.
It's great that you reached out to her, and don't feel embarrassed that she didn't reply, if you can manage it. I know a lot of writers, myself included, get easily overwhelmed by messages from readers. It's weird, but it's happened to me plenty of times and comes from a kind of shyness, or just feeling overwhelmed by whatever was happening in life at the moment. It's something I want to most change about myself—feeling the confidence to write back! But good for you for reaching out, and for writing in general. That's what matters.
that's lovely that you reached out to her, even if she didn't reply. :) I just read it for the first time here during Essay Camp and thought it was so wonderful. Have you read any of her other works?
I don't know that I have. Maybe I got a little attitude on.
Can I do you next camp?
Yes absolutely. If you're a free subscriber, you will get a notification for it. There are categories for every Substack one subscribes to. Automatically, you'll be subscribed for all of them, but you can check in your settings to make sure that "Essay Camp" is checked :)
Ms. Summer Brennan,
Today was my 2nd camp day. I did three pages of both days. I did go back two sentence to check mixed spelled words: It was out of the wrong instinct. One or two time before I honestly stopped and kept going. Writing like a choo, choo train heading to Georgia!
Thought about your rules. No to go back spellcheck anything. Just write.
I managed to finish my day two camp writing.
I wrote about accountability, when my wife’s phone alarm went blaring through early morning and we weren't ready to get up.
The first day I just wrote. I am happy to be a late starter but I'm too motivated by the fuel of the writing craft.
Thank you for allowing me into the writing group late but never without purpose.
Warm regards,
Summer Brennan
8 handwritten pages so far. Who knows what it is. I haven’t reread any off it yet.
And that's how it should be for now. Awesome yield.
Thank you so so so much for the return of Essay Camp
🙏
Today's Five Things exercise was less rigid. The memories that emerged surprised me--when did I last ponder _A Tree Grows in Brooklyn_? My Five Things from days 1 and 2 seem to have primed me for day 3. I sat down with my notebook a little sleepy, a little full from dinner... and the words flowed. I won't reread, won't edit. I'll just let the thoughts simmer for now.
I returned to the 5 Things approach this morning and wrote a lot more today! Up next: Tackle a few more essays. Here I goeth inneth....