Week Five: What did I get myself into?

A summer creative writing challenge that actually challenges with accountability, support and resources

Our meeting is today, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. PST.

Hi and welcome into week five of your Summer Surge Challenge:

The initial enthusiasm has worn off, summer's seductions and commitments ramp up, and people drift away.

Every challenge reaches this crucible moment and here we are: The last third of the race. 🏃🏻🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏻‍♂️

Jill's Masterclass in Persistence

In our Summer Studio, where Blackbird writers commit to workshop every other week, Jill received feedback on her submission. Sharing in the challenge, she wrote:

"Today, I spent more time in study than writing…I'm in the wrestling match after getting feedback...This is all so good and helpful…I'm grateful for feedback [it] helps me dive deeper rather than spinning in my own thoughts."

Here’s what I love about this response. Instead of a defensive tuck and retreat, Jill took the creative high road and chose curious engagement. She researched character development and dimensions. She edited her scene submission with new depth. She cut to the action.

"It was so surprising to me to hear the feedback of the deeper issues that I didn't see before and I wrote it."

This is what true creative-writing growth looks like. Writing cannot be an art form that shows perfection from the start, but artistry worthy of a reader does emerge over time. It comes, not from some mystical inspiration, or an easy fix, but from hard work and a willingness to be surprised by what we don't yet see in our own writing.

Humility is what we need in this art form. Not short cuts, or magical thinking, or platitudes.

Other successes this week:

Kristi pulled together several years of scenes workshopped at Studio that weren’t well organized but were showing her progress as a storyteller. Now, she’s got 56,000 words. Not too shabby. Way to stick with it.

Sara overcame disappointment in writing something that didn’t post. Despite that initial frustration, she came back and shared her summer writing plan which is impressive: Twice a day long walks and 2-4 hours of writing.

Laura, after a stressful and anxiety filled trip wrapped in medical concerns for her family, re-entered her work by calling up old music that will recreate the vibe of that time.

Surge Core Purpose:

Calm on the outside, working like mad on the inside

This challenge exists, not for perfect attendance, but as your ground amidst the imperfect realities of our creative writing lives. Most writing teachers say: "Writing is hard, but you can do it!" I say: "Writing is hard, I'm with you in this, and here are ideas to do it better.”

For these weeks, I am right next to you. I’m reading your comments, making suggestions, and offering resources. That’s what true mentorship looks like and what Blackbird’s Flight School is about—not cheerleading from the sidelines, but mentorship in the trenches. I’m demanding excellence, that’s true, but I’m also providing the scaffolding to achieve it in the form of real feedback, honest assessment, pin-point teaching and advice.

A few gems we’ve learned along the way:

💎 Writing is spiritual work that requires surrender

💎 Growth happens in the wrestling, not in the comfort zone

💎 Community holds us when motivation fails

💎 Showing up when it's hard is what separates writers from wannabes

Your Week Five Mission

For those still running: This is your moment. When it's just you and the page, when the crowd has thinned, when nobody's watching—this is when you discover what you're made of.

For those who've drifted: The door is still open. The hearth fires still burn (for these two weeks). Share. Ask questions. Support your fellows.

For the faithful few: You're exactly where you need to be. This is the crucible where real writers are forged.

The Promise Ahead

"(Looks like it's just us, Jill! Did we make a wrong turn? Where are all the other challengers?... No matter. I'm still running. And so are you.)"

This is the question every serious writer faces: Will you keep running when the crowd thins out? Will you wrestle with your material when it gets hard? Will you finish what you started when nobody's watching?

The faithful few always say yes.

Two weeks left. The finish line is a ways off, but it’s there. Run the good race. Do the work. You can do this. I’m with you,

Jennifer, 🐦‍⬛