Thanks to everyone who attended this impromptu session of Essay Camp! I'm glad that some of you discovered this for the first time and found something valuable, and that others were able to revisit a familiar practice and get something out of it, too. I also wrote or edited every day, and that was good as well! As always, I'm very grateful for your patience as I work my way back towards writing regularly here and hosting these workshops. Please feel free to come back and post any essays or other pieces of writing that you want to share that came from drafts produced during camp. Maybe we can plan to do this again in a few months? Until next time 💜💜
Thank you for this, Summer. I admit I was in rebel mode, but the Camp was very helpful anyway. I write essays to help me understand myself and the world, and I write memoirs to hedge against memory loss — being 75 and all. Nobody ever reads them. I have wanted for several years to do a memoir about the music I’ve listened to, but somehow could never get it started. Well, now it’s probably 2/3 done. Thank you!
There will be more. And you can always just set aside five days and follow the schedule, too! The posts will remain up and accessible under the Essay Camp vertical :)
Thanks very much indeed for these five days. I'm in Toronto so each day's email appeared just after midnight to me, perfect timing for my night owl habits. I've got a restructured short story almost done and most of a personal essay on being raised by hippies written. And I enjoyed writing again! Thanks again.
Just jumping on now! Sorry I missed the first few days, but I realize I didn’t exactly. I’ll be mulling this all over as I revise the draft I finished yesterday…a coincidence! 🙏💚👍❤️
Thank you so much for this essay camp. Your guidance, recommended readings, and the 5 things prompt has helped me start to reconnect with my writing practice in a way that feels organic and joyous. I totally agree about how my usual freewriting/morning pages always felt like anxiety vent sessions. Arguably, sometimes you have to dump those thoughts and clear the space out of your head to make space for the real writing, but I've found a lot more joy and fun in the 5 things and knowing sometimes it could just be a word or two! That they can be connected or not!
Today, I completed a full rough draft of one of the five things I'd written during essay camp and expanded on. I had so much fun writing to understand what I was trying to say and exploring the topic more. Thank you for reminding me it just had to be complete and not good. The sense of satisfaction and confidence just Doing The Thing has given me is tremendous <3
Thank you for Essay Camp! After years of “morning pages” and free writing, I learned I was bringing myself down with too much venting,too many rants and to-do lists. And I really like a timer!
Thank you! I started this practice myself because I had the same problem with morning pages, although I know they work wonders for others. I’m so glad you enjoyed camp xo
Once again, Summer, I cannot thank you enough! Over the past few days, I have felt more grounded in my writing than I have been in a long time. I have written some sentences I'm happy with, and some that I am not, and both have made me feel equally proud (because it's all part of doing the work).
I am excited to write a fully formed essay, and already looking forward to the next session of Essay Camp! 🤍
I completely forgot to write yesterday! I had a little time to sit down and do it but got distracted. So, I’ve written this morning and have at least two essays I’ll be working on between now and the end of the year.
Thanks to everyone who attended this impromptu session of Essay Camp! I'm glad that some of you discovered this for the first time and found something valuable, and that others were able to revisit a familiar practice and get something out of it, too. I also wrote or edited every day, and that was good as well! As always, I'm very grateful for your patience as I work my way back towards writing regularly here and hosting these workshops. Please feel free to come back and post any essays or other pieces of writing that you want to share that came from drafts produced during camp. Maybe we can plan to do this again in a few months? Until next time 💜💜
Thank you for this, Summer. I admit I was in rebel mode, but the Camp was very helpful anyway. I write essays to help me understand myself and the world, and I write memoirs to hedge against memory loss — being 75 and all. Nobody ever reads them. I have wanted for several years to do a memoir about the music I’ve listened to, but somehow could never get it started. Well, now it’s probably 2/3 done. Thank you!
This is great David, thank you for participating 💜
I regret not participating in Essay Camp and hope there will be another one.
There will be more. And you can always just set aside five days and follow the schedule, too! The posts will remain up and accessible under the Essay Camp vertical :)
Very beneficial 5 days. I have a rough draft with a beginning, middle, end--and an ending I really like!
Fantastic!
This was super helpful! I feel like I have the bones to a really great essay, even series of essays now. Thank you!
This is awesome to hear! Thanks for participating!
Thanks very much indeed for these five days. I'm in Toronto so each day's email appeared just after midnight to me, perfect timing for my night owl habits. I've got a restructured short story almost done and most of a personal essay on being raised by hippies written. And I enjoyed writing again! Thanks again.
Thank you Barbara! I'm so glad you participated.
Just jumping on now! Sorry I missed the first few days, but I realize I didn’t exactly. I’ll be mulling this all over as I revise the draft I finished yesterday…a coincidence! 🙏💚👍❤️
Nothing wrong with beginning a little late! That's the beauty of a virtual camp, we're still here for when you catch up :)
Thank you so much for this essay camp. Your guidance, recommended readings, and the 5 things prompt has helped me start to reconnect with my writing practice in a way that feels organic and joyous. I totally agree about how my usual freewriting/morning pages always felt like anxiety vent sessions. Arguably, sometimes you have to dump those thoughts and clear the space out of your head to make space for the real writing, but I've found a lot more joy and fun in the 5 things and knowing sometimes it could just be a word or two! That they can be connected or not!
Today, I completed a full rough draft of one of the five things I'd written during essay camp and expanded on. I had so much fun writing to understand what I was trying to say and exploring the topic more. Thank you for reminding me it just had to be complete and not good. The sense of satisfaction and confidence just Doing The Thing has given me is tremendous <3
I'm so glad to hear this Ariel. I really love to see this kind of response! 💜
Thanks Summer for a great Camp -- I'm going full rebel mode, but have a few little five things to store away for summer planting :)
Perfect. Glad you were able to attend Kate!
Thank you for this week's gift. I appreciate it- and it impelled me forward.
A really wonderful and inspiring series - thank you!
Thank you for Essay Camp! After years of “morning pages” and free writing, I learned I was bringing myself down with too much venting,too many rants and to-do lists. And I really like a timer!
Thank you! I started this practice myself because I had the same problem with morning pages, although I know they work wonders for others. I’m so glad you enjoyed camp xo
Thank you so much for Essay Camp! I loved the Five Things prompt. This practice reminded me how much I love to write. Thank you.
Once again, Summer, I cannot thank you enough! Over the past few days, I have felt more grounded in my writing than I have been in a long time. I have written some sentences I'm happy with, and some that I am not, and both have made me feel equally proud (because it's all part of doing the work).
I am excited to write a fully formed essay, and already looking forward to the next session of Essay Camp! 🤍
I completely forgot to write yesterday! I had a little time to sit down and do it but got distracted. So, I’ve written this morning and have at least two essays I’ll be working on between now and the end of the year.
Banking on Tomorrow:
last day of Essay Camp 2025
https://bankingontomorrow.blogspot.com/2025/11/last-day-of-essay-camp-2025.html
Thank you Carol!