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*Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of 1000 Words in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and reviews are my own*

I am in the middle of National Novel Writing Month, and I have been in desperate need of some inspiration. Luckily, I think NetGalley heard me, because earlier this month I was gifted an ARC of 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg. In 2018, Attenberg created the social media movement #1000WordsofSummer, which challenged writers to write 1,000 words a day. The trend took off, with writers joining in on the movement to share their progress and inspire others. In 1000 Words, Attenberg expands her thoughts on writing, with a chorus of over fifty contemporary writers discussing their writing advice and writing process.

1000 Words is broken up into chapters of short author essays along with Attenberg’s advice for each “season” of writing: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each author’s contribution varies in length and topic. This work has such a variety of writers, and there is bound to be one of your favorites included. Roxane Gay, Jasmine Guillory, and Andrew Sean Greer were some of the names I recognized.

I felt that Attenberg’s sections of advice were average. Not terrible, just pieces of advice I have read from other books about the craft of writing. Instead, I found the most value from reading about contemporary authors discussing their approach to writing or what inspired them to write. It was ironic that Attenberg and many other authors mention the futility of offering writing advice in a book advising writers. But their claims are correct: most writing advice can be boiled down to the sentiment “just write.”

What I found most rewarding was less about the writing advice and more about reading about why each author loved to write. Most of this boiled down to, “I just like it,” but I still relished reading about my favorite author’s attitudes toward their writing processes.

I would recommend this book less for beginning authors craving advice and more for seasoned writers and readers who want to read more about their favorite authors. This is the perfect to ignite your passion for writing again, especially if you are suffering from writer’s block.

1000 Words will be published on January 9, 2024.

Read if:

• You want to participate in #1000WordsofSummer and want a companion work as you begin.

• You are a writer suffering through writer’s block and need some inspiration.

• You love reading about your favorite author’s writing process.