A Rough Draft Challenge for Spring: Part 2

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’m participating in a 30-day Rough Draft Challenge in April. Except since April has been much busier than expected, I’m about 8,000 words behind on this project. Since this week is my catch-up week, I’ll be writing in longer stretches and keeping the rest of my life (meals, laundry, etc) as simple as possible.

The wonderful thing about being a professional, full-time writer is that I have a realistic understanding of both the creative process and the publishing industry. But while having deadlines helps me get the words down, real life always enjoys throwing curve balls. That doesn’t mean that trying to write a rough draft in a month isn’t worth the time and effort. It just means that I know I need to take care of myself with healthy food, lots of water, exercise, and sunshine that comes in the form of fun and self-care. And, no, they’re not the same thing. I’ve posted about this in previous years, but here’s an updated list of some things you can do for yourself as you write all the words:

A Few Self-Care Ideas for the Rough Draft Spring ChallengeTAKE BATHS. There’s something so inviting and relaxing about a bath, even as the weather gets warmer. If you need some ideas on how to add herbal remedies to your bath, check out The Romance Herbalist. There are a number of inexpensive bath salt recipes that will elevate your experience in the tub.DRINK TEA & Sparkling Water. Stock up and drink your favorite teas and flavored seltzers to help soothe your throat and prevent finger cramps as you type. Keeping yourself hydrated also helps with your eyesight. Dry eyes during deadline weeks is a real, uncomfortable thing.REST YOUR EYES. It’s so important to give yourself time away from the screen. Eye strain is real and it can be debilitating. Go take a walk or a nap or meet your friends at the pub. Just get away from the screen and give your eyes a break. GET OUTSIDE. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get some fresh air and vitamin D. And walk in silence while your let your subconscious work on your novel. It always amazes me when I come up with the perfect solution to a plot problem while I’m walking through the woods. GO THRIFT SHOPPING. Since I volunteer in a high-end thrift shop, now is the time that people are doing their spring cleaning… and dropping off things to get ready for the summer. You’d be shocked at the amazing deals on NEW things that can be found at thrift shops.SPEND TIME WITH NON-WRITING PEOPLE. It doesn’t matter if you go out to dinner, grab a coffee, or go see a movie. Spending time with others who don’t write helps you get out of your own head and eases your mind. You’ll be shocked at how often non-writer friends can solve plot problems over a pitcher of mojitos! SCENT YOURSELF. If you can handle scents, light a favorite candle or choose a wonderful hand cream or add scented salts to your bath. Scents are powerful things and certain ones, like lavender and lemongrass, can help both your conscious and subconscious mind rest and relax.PLAY BOARD GAMES, VIDEO GAMES, OR DO PUZZLES. I know it may seem silly to play games and work on puzzles, but these games provide two things: Spending time with people and friendly competition in something that has nothing to do with writing. Writers tend to be solitary, but unless you’re playing solitaire it’s difficult to play a board game or an online multi-player computer game by yourself. And while you can work on a puzzle alone, it’s always more fun with friends. This kind of time away from your WIP rests your mind and reminds you that there is a life outside of the stories running through your head. (Although watch the screen time with video games if you need to rest your eyes)WORK IN THE GARDEN. It’s that time of year when garden beds need to be prepped for the spring plantings. Whatever your garden looks like, no matter how large or small, spending time with your hands in the dirt is a good way to rest your mind and allow your subconscious to plot without the hard work of staring at a blank screen. FIND ANOTHER CREATIVE HOBBY. Whether is doodling, working on your planners, or cooking a new meal, doing something else creative–especially something you can share with others like a meal–is another great way to alleviate the stress of writing an entire book in 30 days.KEEP A STORY JOURNAL. This is something I’ve been doing for years. It’s not a list of books I’ve read (I actually don’t do that anymore), but it’s a journal of the stories I consume throughout the week, whether movies, TV series, plays, or books. I journal about the types of stories I’ve consumed and what worked and didn’t work for the genre. Was the mystery too easy to solve? Why do I love Beauty and the Beast stories so much? How did they make that silly heroine become really smart at the end? Just journal whatever comes to mind because, I promise, it will all end up in your subconscious which is where you Muse lives. So feed the Muse!COOK A MEAL. I don’t like food shopping or cooking, but I like to meal plan and I love to eat. And for some reason, when I’m on a tight deadline, I have a need to make delicious, home-cooked meals. Maybe it’s a control thing. I can’t control my characters, but I can control what I eat and drink. I’m not sure why, but when I’m cooking (and doing the laundry and taking a walk), plot problems seem to solve themselves. If you need an idea for a meal plan during a deadline month, I have one here.EARLY SUMMER PREP. Sometimes, when a story isn’t going well, I need to organize things. And while I do this to make the summer travel plans and events easier, the routine of organizing, sorting, and making simple decisions gives my Muse some downtime. And, just like with cooking, laundry, walking, etc., sometimes the best ideas come when you’re not looking for them.A PRAYER TO THE MUSE. Since I’m mentioning Muses, here is a prayer from Homer’s The Odyssey where the narrator opens this epic story with a prayer to a Muse, begging for this story to be told well, all the way to the end. It’s kind of silly, but you can make it part of your routine when you sit down and write. GIVE YOURSELF GRACE. Writing a book is hard. It’s draining physically and mentally. So when it all becomes too much, give yourself the grace to stop and rest. Have a picnic, plant a garden, or just sit and listen to the early Spring birds chirp away. And try to remember that this is supposed to be fun!

While some of the above ideas cost some money (I’m looking at you, lattes, thrift shops, and flower bulbs!), most don’t. These ideas are separate from rewards because they’re not about motivation. They’re about keeping yourself sane and healthy while you work so you end the month feeling as great–or better–than when you started. Good luck to you all and I hope the words continue to flow!

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