The Friends & Members of 750 Words

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I wasn’t expecting much, today was only my first day. But it felt good. So good. Thank you, 750 Words. I have recommended you to a friend. I think I’ll be back tomorrow.

2 cups

My longest streak yet — 110 days. Took me a while to hit my groom when I started last July, 750 Words has become a nightly ritual. I’m not a morning person, but maybe if I start evening classes, it will be more of a first thing each day type of meditative experience.

During the pandemic, with so much isolation, 750 Words has helped me to sort through some things and keep moving in a positive direction. If nothing else, I’ve really solidified the practice of regular writing each day. Try it — hope you like it!!!

5 cups

Dear Buster and Kelliane, Because of my longtime relationship with you all @ 750words, I have students do morning pages. I do not collect them, though I do grade their weekly reflection about writing practice and responses to classmates posted to a discussion board. During the pandemic this assignment has provided a lifeline for many of us. Among the first week’s posts in an ENG 102 class, I found this gem: “With Morning Pages, instead of writing about something specific while trying to ignore distracting thoughts, we get to be less structured and accept whatever comes to mind. Thanks to this exercise, I have found that most of the time writing them down helps me to release them for good and stay more focused” (PA).

5 cups

My journey started in 2018. “Pfft, it will be easy to write for 30 days in a row! I can do 100 days! I can do 1000 days!” These were the starry-eyed thoughts of my deeply wounded and tragically unaware state of being.

It took 8 months to reach that 30 day goal. I learned so much about myself as I struggled to do this one “small” thing. When I reached the goal I felt as it must feel to complete one’s first marathon, flopping to the ground, exhausted and immensely satisfied. I did it! Now I can move on. Thank you 750 words, and goodbye. I felt ready to pursue other goals.

In late 2020, at a low moment of peering around at my life in shambles and wondering how to climb out of this mess I’ve created, I decided to return. The tool helped me before, perhaps it can help me again. And I wrote first thing every morning (this is a not-so-secret key for anyone trying to figure out how to remember to write daily and feeling like an insane crazy person that they’re unable to remember to do something for 30 days). And there were no major epiphanies, no drastic improvements in my life, but I thought hey, at least I am doing this one thing. That must matter.

I noticed it was so much easier to keep my streak this time. Practically effortless. I noticed how much more grounded and stable of a human I am since the last bout. And I eyed potential badges – namely the cheetah and the early bird. I crafted a goal of hitting both at once, write quickly each morning by 9am. That gave me something to focus on and notice my goal-reaching habits. (The way you do one thing is the way you do anything. That is what makes this pursuit profound, to me.) This goal proved elusive, as I would sleep in on occasion, or ponder while writing and kept losing the 10-day streaks required.

Yesterday I hit 30 days, and it wasn’t a celebration like last time, but more of a satisfying “Hah.” TODAY my friends, today I was typing along, I noticed that I started at 8:33 but thought it was enough to make it by 9 without thought, and then I glanced down and noticed it was 8:57 with a few hundred words to go. WHAT I got a boost of adrenaline and decided to go for it. My fingers flew, I closed my eyes and let the typos fly, periods begone (cheetah tips for ya). And I transcended into that flow state where profound wisdom flows, and received beautiful healing insights.

I peeked my eyes open and saw that I had hit 750, and it was 9am. Did I make it in time? I checked the stats – and Early Bird badge shined upon my surprised expression. I had thought I only had maybe a 5 day streak going, and there she was. And I noticed that today is day 31 and it’s my longest streak. That first time I had quit when I reached the goal. This time is different. I don’t know what is unfolding, but I know now there is no escaping this. You can’t quit life. People try yes but, we’re eternal spirits, for better or for worse. There is no way out. Whatever the challenge is, it must be faced one way or another, and you learn the challenges never end. Life is challenging. But really would you have it any other way?

1 cup

It would be so great to have a mobile app for people who like to write on their phones or iPads, which I do a lot of. An app would make it much easier to write on the go and would make things overall more convenient for mobile users!

10 cups

It would be great to be able to see more information (e.g. streak information, number of words, etc.) on the mobile site without having to switch to the desktop side.

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It would be great to have HTTPS everywhere.

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750words has been fantastic for me. It helped me jumpstart the writing of my first book, and has helped me make sure I keep writing every day through other books, courses, and more. I don’t always use it as a journal, I also often use it as a coding journal (tracking changes to different pieces of code I write), and sometimes I just type gibberish when I don’t have time or energy. But it has helped me create the habit of always putting something in, regardless of what it is. This helps me focus on making sure I create something every day. Plus Buster and Kellianne are such a fantastic team, they have always been friendly and helpful.

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I love 750 words. I have come back multiple times. And keep coming.

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I like to clear my head here. And it got me started on the Artists Way, which really improved my quality of life.

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I tried to journal consistently before, but sticking to it was very hard. I tried writing by hand, but I noticed that I left stuff out after a few pages. Later, I found that typing on my phone (using notes) worked better for me. But after writing the stuff I had on the surface of my mind, I stopped writing (the introspection was very limited back then). I remember the first time I used 750 words I wrote everything I had on my mind and only reached like 300 words. I had to reach inside myself for the other 450. I have been here for two months now and I am writing over 1000 words each day with no effort, but really leaving nothing out. Thank you 750 words. You have made my life better.

1 cup

I just want to say how much this site has helped me. I’ve always loved writing but I’ve struggled a lot with creative anxiety and depression and have always found ways to talk myself out of doing one of the things I love: spilling out my mind onto paper. I am on a 27 day streak and I can honestly say this is one of the best sites I have come across for encouraging and nurturing writing. I have never managed to keep a journal consistently like I can on here – I am showing up everyday and even if I don’t know what to write I am just putting one word in front of the other and letting it happen. It is definitely helping me and allowing me to address a lot of creative and mental blocks.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2 cups

When you’re brain is FILLED with what life is throwing at you and all the emotions that that entails, then EMPTYING it all into words… at least 750 at a time – is immediate therapy and instant relief. When my mind was racing and my heart on a roller coaster ride, I looked forward to dumping everything here. Every click of the keys just made my mind and heart clear, light, less foggy and almost ZEN-LIKE! I can’t recommend this outlet enough! And no one needs to know about, and you don’t even need to speak. Type it all out, your mind and heart will Thank YOU!

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. . .inspires me to write. Love the ease of use and that it gives me feedback for my words. It helps to see where I am at the moment in time that I am writing!

4 cups

After 10 months of self isolating I am beginning to lose track of time. Meaning I can´t remember the date or what day of the week it is. And then I open up 750words and there it is, in big bright green letters.
Apart from being able to write down my daily words and work towards the next badge, that´s another reason to come back every day.

5 cups

I’ve been writing Morning Pages off and on since I first read, “The Artist’s Way” nearly 20 years ago. When Scotland locked down in March of last year I got a bit frantic. I was in the midst of a Ph.D. and wasn’t sure how I would keep going without the resources of the University to support me. Enter 750 Words. I had already managed a streak of a few months when the lockdown happened, but then the daily blank page became my hero and my refuge. I hit a 365-day streak a few days ago and I think I’m more proud of that than I will be if I get this Ph.D. finished. :-) I’m supposed to be a free account holder since I joined in 2011, but I pay the monthly subscription as a thank you to Kellianne and Buster for my mental health.

5 cups

The only time I feel in control is when I’m sitting at my computer writing. I pluck away middle finger and thumb disregarding miss-spelled words and typos alike. Configuring words and thoughts that bubble up from who knows where. Every so often I rub my chin and wonder where did “that” come from?
I hope; no, long for fully formed poems, but they seldom arrive. From word to sentence to paragraph I gratefully leave my thoughts on the pages; to melt away when the morning Sun arrives. I hear the birds call, the wild cats scratch at the back door for breakfast and I’m alive and thankful. I’m reminded to, “expect nothing, but appreciate everything.” I’m proud of 218 days showing up.
So it is that I thank Kellianne and Buster and the team at 750 words.com, for the wonderful “drain coat” against the madness.
Live full my friends and write on…

1 cup

As an engineer turned copywriter, I made a commitment to myself that I’ll be writing everyday to improve my craft. But I want to be more free… To be more expressive of what I want to share without me thinking that it might not sound good or eloquent or professional. And I’m so happy my friend shared this site to me. I didn’t know about “morning pages” before at all and I’m glad I found it. Though I’ve heard about “gratitude journaling” before but what I want is a platform where I can be more raw, more honest, more “me” and not just about sharing the things I’m grateful for. Now, I can finally feel I’m slowly overcoming my perfectionism when I’m freewriting. This kind of accountability plus the badges motivates me to show up everyday despite sometimes, I don’t feel like writing. And while I know it’s too early to say this since I’m still at my 33-day streak but I’m still grateful because this became my first step towards being consistent with a habit. And one day, if I ever break my streak, I promise that I’ll be the one to remind myself that it’s okay and I can begin again. I long for the day when writing becomes a part of my lifestyle and not because it’s another chore in my to-do list. So yes, I’ll keep pushing through no matter what! Thank you to all the people behind this initiative. Appreciate y’all so much. <3

10 cups

750 words has been my number one work and life health too. It gives me the space to sort out work and life issues, keep my emotions stable, and allows me a space to write whatever I want in order to get it out. I am so very grateful!
I am also so very grateful for the team who works hard to keep this site open, and who recently fixed my streak when I was unable to log in because of errors. Thank you!!

8 cups

Just want to thank Kelli-Anne and the team for their kindness – I accidentally dropped a day and although it’s good to safely test one’s powers of resilience, it’s also lovely to have one’s faith in humanity restored along with my 250 day streak.
Thankyou!

3 cups

Ensuring that my private journal remains private is important to me. Sometimes I write things that are so private that I just delete the entire entry after I clock my 750 words. I’d really like to see you have the resources to raise the bar on security across the board. It’s what I (used) to do. Thanks for the site and best wishes.

1 cup

I have recently hit the two hundred day mark. When I embarked on my journey to write everyday, I never really expected to get to this point. In all reality, I never really planned on becoming a member. There is just something oddly therapeutic about typing out those words every day that seems to lighten my soul. Some days are harder than others, trying to reach that word limit. Other days, I find myself looking down at the word count after what feels like only five minutes, only to discover I’ve surpassed it without noticing.
In any case, I wanted to say thank you for this site and for giving people like me a place to let it all out without fear of having someone finding it under the bed, so to speak. Cheers!

7 cups

I realize I’m not the norm here, but I am running a 747-day streak and counting, and every day I wake up with terrible anxiety, worried that I may have forgotten to write the day before. Going for the little badges when I first joined this site was fun, and I love being able to look back on a given day (say, one or two or three years ago to the day) to see how I was feeling and note how much has changed. But if writing here every day in hopes of getting an elusive badge is making me feel bad, maybe it’s time to take a break. What I would like to suggest is a feature where I would be able to opt out of getting badges entirely. That way, I could use this site to journal without fuelling my weirdo competitive fire, which isn’t always healthy. I also think it would be great if you could offer a discounted annual membership or the option to buy a lifetime membership to entice people to keep using the site for a long time, even if they need to take a break for a while. Thanks for considering these ideas and thanks for being here!

1 cup

I love 750 words. I’ve been doing morning pages for over 20 years. Doing them online sure helps reduce paper clutter, and I like the fun badges you can earn for writing.

50 cups

Hey Kellianne and Buster, Happy New Year!
My vote is to get a NaNo badge for 2020… I know most of us would like that year to vanish into oblivion, but I hit 50k a few months last year, and would like to mark that achievement with a badge :-)
Since I started, I have written almost every day (99%). I could never keep a diary, but I can keep this. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your FANTASTIC site.

Nga mihi mahana (warmest regards) from Aotearoa New Zealand
Sam

1 cup

Thank you for this site. I love it!

One nice feature on the writing page would be to be able to scroll so the current line that I’m writing shows up in the middle of the page. Instead, now, as I write, my words end up at the bottom of the screen and it’s a bit awkward to do all my typing down there.

Typewriter mode in Ulysses is a great example of this.