The Indie Writer ✍️

We're a little more than halfway into the first week…

More than 20 writers have already completed ✍️ Week 1's challenge, writing to the theme of: “my writing journey”.

If you haven't yet completed the first challenge, there really is no time like the present.

Perhaps a few words will come out, maybe two or three paragraphs. Just use a clock or timer to write for 10 minutes. It's the only way to find out. 😊

In my experience, starting any challenge dramatically increases the chances of your success (and commitment!), so I would really encourage you to step in.

You've got this! ✍️

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📝 Before I let you go...

Here are short extracts from some of the Week 1 challenge entries written so far:

I’m in a difficult spot where I’m not sure what to do with my life. I do all sorts of creative things, such as art, music, and a little programming, but writing is a skill that I’ve never had to teach myself—it comes naturally. If I were to simplify things, I believe all of my creative endeavors are really about me wanting to be heard. Coming up with a story is the simplest way for me to achieve this.   - John (Indiana, USA)

It's 7 in the morning in Bangalore, Monday. Getting started with the challenge and I've been interrupted by the office cab pick up call. Nevertheless, I’ve gotta give the next 7-8 mins for this effort and hopefully add more towards the end of the day.  - Roshan H. (Bangalore)

My diagnosis became a blessing and launched my writing career. I use the word ‘career’ delicately because it’s a work in progress. I just started. I’m in remission. I kicked cancer’s buttocks and now I write. It’s funny how life works sometimes.  - Celeste (United States)

Sure, it feels nice if someone reads my writings and critiques it, but I try to adhere to the wise words of the British poet Alexander Pope. He said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” So what made me want to join The Indie Writer Project? The prospect of writing and being a part of a community of enthusiastic writers and readers would be the best answer to that.  - Iftee (somewhere in Asia)

Hello to you, bloggers. I haven’t really done this before. Well yes I have. I’ve been doing it for decades but not like this. I journal to myself, not to you. And when I write, I write for an audience, like Medium.  - Carlo (Planet Earth)

At about 11 or 12 I was earning money writing letters to my Uncle’s girlfriend in Jamaica. I got a Remington typewriter when I began high school, and I typed all my reports, and any letters my father needed for his business. I had a diary, but my grandmother found it and was able to make out family names including her own in it. She told my father. According to her I was going to publish all the family secrets. The world would know.  - Frances (USA)

I took the time to write letters to some people that I have never seen or met before, that lived in different places of the world. Since I write mostly in French, I remember one that lived in France, which seemed so far away when I was a young kid of 10 or 12 years of age. I wrote also letters or postcards to my best friend Josée when, in the summer, she left with her family for a week to go fishing. I missed her so much so writing made me sense the continuity and the intimacy I shared with her every day.  - Marie-Claude (Montréal, Québec, Canada)

At home, I was a mother’s helper expected to do the chores and have adult responsibilities. I had to work to find the joy of childhood and so I became a city girl. City Girl is the title of my memoir. An edited portion of it was published in an anthology last year. I hope to seriously work to add a ton more feeling, humor, and depth to City Girl. The Indie Project may be the vehicle to help me do just that.  - Sue (Cleveland, Ohio)

You've still got time to get your own 10-minute entry in :)

I'll check back in with you on Sunday, when I'll be sharing Week 2's challenge with you. Stay tuned for a new theme + set of prompts.

Happy writing!

Jas

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PS. As of January 2024, The Indie Writer is now 👥 INF Club. Join us there!