#Lead a Creative Life Every Day
How do you best serve your creative processes? Where do you go for inspiration? How important is a writing community? And how can you carve out a life in this business of art? New York Times bestselling author Jami Attenberg will share ideas and perspectives for putting your creativity first at our next Writer's Lab workshop. Later that same day, she'll return for a Lit Chat Interview where she'll be in conversation with local author and interviewer, Nikesha Elise Wiliams.
The author of seven novels and the 2022 memoir I Came All This Way To Meet You, as well as the new motivational creativity book 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, Jami is a “writer’s writer,” with decades of experience in pursuit of a creative life.
JOIN
Writer's Lab: Put Your Creativity First on Saturday, January 20, from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the University Park Branch Library. This workshop will include a talk and writing prompts with a group write-along. Jami will also explain the development of the worldwide literary movement #1000wordsofsummer. Don't forget to bring your questions, too! This will be a welcoming and collaborative environment.
Lit Chat Interview with Jami Attenberg on Saturday, January 20, from 2-3 p.m. live at the University Park Branch Library and live on Zoom. A book signing will follow the interview. Books are available for pre-order from San Marco Books and More and a limited number will be available to purchase on-site.
Jami Attenberg is the author of seven books of fiction including Instant Love, The Kept Man, The Melting Season, The Middlesteins, Saint Mazie, and All Grown Up. Her most recent novel is All This Could Be Yours (2019). She is also the author of the memoir I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home (2022). Attenberg has written about food, travel, books, relationships, and urban life for The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, the Sunday Times, Slate, and others. Her work has been published in a total of sixteen languages. She lives in New Orleans, LA.
THE LIBRARY RECOMMENDS
More books to kickstart your creative journey:
- Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life by Sara Zarr
- Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World by Eve Rodsky
- Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul by Matt Richtel
JAMI RECOMMENDS
I spend a lot of time thinking about pens. I am a handwriter first, every day, except sometimes when I type into my phone. But I will usually handwrite at least a few times a day. I find it helpful and mind-clearing at the very least. So I obsess about my writing utensils. After many years of experimenting, I have landed on Uniball Signo as a favorite. It’s a dainty line but it’s firm and dark.
I love to read authors' diaries or books that are written in diary format, or things that feel memoiristic but in a fresh way. Some favorites over the years include the graphic novel My New York Diary by Julie Doucet and The Folded Clock by Heidi Julavits and The Diaries of Dawn Powell. I appreciate watching other authors challenge themselves and identify with how the long-haul writing career is full of ups and downs.
And finally, my favorite substack for getting inspired to write is one called Flow State. They share new music 5 days a week, and all of it is instrumental music that is great to have as a background for working. It is an invaluable resource.
Looking for a Community of Writers?
Writer's Lab: Authors Roundtable - Saturday, January 6, at 10:15 a.m.
Ready, Reset, Go: Write Now: Through a series of exercises, attendees will examine the meaning behind what they want to write or are writing; refine their approach to process, craft, and networking to align with purpose; and create a first-quarter goal to work toward. All genres are welcome to share in the uplift and development of personal growth as authors.
Authors Roundtable is a local 501C3 that supports authors in reaching their highest potential. Meeting on the first Saturday of every month at the Main Library, authors participate in educational forums, workshops, classes, and events.
Planning ahead? Check out what the Authors Roundtable has planned for February and March!
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