Midsummer Reflections: A Creative Check-In at the Halfway Point

It’s hot, it’s sticky, and time is slipping past in both a blur and a crawl. Welcome to midsummer where the fireflies flicker and our goals, like our iced tea, feel like they’re melting away. We’re officially halfway through the year. Six months behind us. Six months ahead. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, a journal-keeper, or just a summer dreamer, this is the perfect moment to pause, take a breath, and ask yourself: How’s it going?

This post kicks off my Midsummer Writers blog series, a weekly Monday check-in that will carry us through the rest of summer. We’ll talk about writing and reading habits, creative burnout (and how to rest and reset), seasonal inspiration, story structure and plotting during the dog days, and a few surprises that involve folklore, fairytales, and firelight. But today’s first post is a look back, a look forward, and a guide to reset so you can stay on your path and achieve your goals.

Midsummer Writers Reset What Have You Done So Far This Year

Pull out your planner, your notes app, or your favorite pen and paper and ask:

What writing projects have I started? Finished?What goals did I meet? (Or gently let go of?)What books, films, or songs sparked new ideas?

This isn’t about judgment—it’s about noticing.

How Are You Really Feeling?

Are you energized by long sunny days, or are you hiding in the air-conditioning with your manuscript and a popsicle? Has the first half of the year worn you down—or surprised you with unexpected creativity?

Take five minutes to write a few thoughts in your journal (or a scrap of paper tucked into your book bag). Don’t overthink it. Just notice where you are. Because this half-way point is yours.

What Do You Want to Carry Forward?

Now that we’ve looked back, look ahead.

What stories are whispering to you right now?What do you want to finish before fall arrives?What’s bringing you joy?How can you make space for more fun this summer?

Maybe it’s a new writing routine, a stack of beach reads, or a plan to finally submit that short story you drafted in January. Or maybe it’s just the promise of one quiet afternoon, once a week, to daydream and write something for yourself.

Will You Participate in a Rough Draft Challenge?

It’s time for the new version of Camp NaNoWriMo which many writers call Camp RDC.

Do you have a project you want to finish to send to your agent or go on submission?Do you have a holiday story that needs to be done by August 31?Are there any books that need final polishing so you can self-publish?

There are lots of writers groups that are running Rough Draft Challenges in July… so now is the time to find one and decide!

Join Me All Summer Long

Every Monday through the end of summer, I’ll be sharing writing reflections, creative prompts, seasonal inspirations, and storytelling ideas that honor this golden, sticky, nostalgic season. Some weeks we’ll dig into craft. Others, we’ll wander. All of it will be grounded in the shared truth that storytelling thrives in all seasons, including the sweaty ones.

So grab a lemonade, find a patch of shade, and meet me here next week.

We’re only halfway through the year, and the best stories are still be waiting to be told.

The post Midsummer Reflections: A Creative Check-In at the Halfway Point first appeared on Sharon Wray.