How do you fit in writing during the holidays?
Happy December everyone! It's time to reflect for the last time in 2013, set some goals for the remainder of the year, and talk about writing. First up, in terms of last month's goals, I was mostly successful. My biggest priority was to finish up my most recent project, and I did! It's off to the editor now. I can't wait to tell you all more about it.
For me, December will be all about my next project. I've got a solid outline and need to just apply myself. Speaking of that, I want to talk a bit about writing during the holidays. It can be incredibly challenging, and I want to give some tips.
Guard your writing time. It can be infinitely more difficult to abandon your writing efforts when ice skating, hot chocolate, and old friends are calling your name. Obviously, it's important to enjoy the season and the people in it. But, as always, writing needs to be a priority. Pick a time to write and stick to it whenever possible. When I was writing Mara, I would trek to my favorite local coffeehouse and write for at least two hours. When I was there, I was focused on my writing. I wasn't on Facebook, my phone was turned off, and family and friends knew that I was busy. I was able to finish Mara by the end of that year, and that was largely due to the fact that I stuck to a routine.
Be realistic about when you will and will not be able to write. There are certain days for me during which writing will not happen. If there is a holiday party after work, I probably won't be able to push myself to write 2,000 words during the hour in-between. As a result, I need to set aside extra time for that writing before. It's a matter of knowing yourself.
If you miss your word count or don't like what you write, it's okay. Set goals. Set deadlines. However, if you look at a scene and think that it's horrible, don't beat yourself up about it. Put it aside and just keep writing. If you wanted to write 5,000 words and only wrote 3,000, it's okay. Do better tomorrow. Just keep writing.
Bring a notebook everywhere. Yes, I've said this before, but this is especially important during the holidays. If there's a long line when you're shopping or the friend from high school that you're meeting is late, write. Write what you see around you. Play with description. Journal. Experiment with a different perspective. There is a lot of unexpected downtime during the holidays, and taking advantage of it can help you feel better if your regular writing time didn't yield the best results.
Read, read, read. For me, I'm lucky enough to have a winter vacation from work. It's important that I fill those hours with writing, but it's also equally valuable to kick back with a book and drink some hot chocolate.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment or catch me on Twitter as @veronicabane! I'd love to hear from you.
V
For me, December will be all about my next project. I've got a solid outline and need to just apply myself. Speaking of that, I want to talk a bit about writing during the holidays. It can be incredibly challenging, and I want to give some tips.
Guard your writing time. It can be infinitely more difficult to abandon your writing efforts when ice skating, hot chocolate, and old friends are calling your name. Obviously, it's important to enjoy the season and the people in it. But, as always, writing needs to be a priority. Pick a time to write and stick to it whenever possible. When I was writing Mara, I would trek to my favorite local coffeehouse and write for at least two hours. When I was there, I was focused on my writing. I wasn't on Facebook, my phone was turned off, and family and friends knew that I was busy. I was able to finish Mara by the end of that year, and that was largely due to the fact that I stuck to a routine.
Be realistic about when you will and will not be able to write. There are certain days for me during which writing will not happen. If there is a holiday party after work, I probably won't be able to push myself to write 2,000 words during the hour in-between. As a result, I need to set aside extra time for that writing before. It's a matter of knowing yourself.
If you miss your word count or don't like what you write, it's okay. Set goals. Set deadlines. However, if you look at a scene and think that it's horrible, don't beat yourself up about it. Put it aside and just keep writing. If you wanted to write 5,000 words and only wrote 3,000, it's okay. Do better tomorrow. Just keep writing.
Bring a notebook everywhere. Yes, I've said this before, but this is especially important during the holidays. If there's a long line when you're shopping or the friend from high school that you're meeting is late, write. Write what you see around you. Play with description. Journal. Experiment with a different perspective. There is a lot of unexpected downtime during the holidays, and taking advantage of it can help you feel better if your regular writing time didn't yield the best results.
Read, read, read. For me, I'm lucky enough to have a winter vacation from work. It's important that I fill those hours with writing, but it's also equally valuable to kick back with a book and drink some hot chocolate.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment or catch me on Twitter as @veronicabane! I'd love to hear from you.
V
No comments have been added yet.
