The Christmas period means a hiatus in our writing, whether we want it, or not. The weeks prior to Christmas Day are filled with preparations, shopping, decorating, wrapping, invitations to, and planning of, various events etc. and we feel overwhelmed as well as frustrated, but especially if we are immersed in a current writing project. Time away from our creativity has ramifications for us, as well as those around us. So be kind to yourself and your loved ones so get planning.
Personally, I find not being able to write at any time raises a feeling of malcontent, a disaffected cloak of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It is a physical as well as a mental malaise. This is compounded for those of us who participated in the November Writing Challenge. It is especially difficult when we cease the frantic daily word count to achieve that elusive goal of fifty-thousand words within the month. However, there are ways to achieve celebrating the Christmas season and enjoy writing time without compromising either. Firstly, choose something that will not take too long, (beware rabbit holes on the internet!) but will satisfy your craving for the written word. Secondly, don’t feel guilty for prioritizing your writing, having the outlet allows us to center ourselves and achieve a sense of fulfillment, thus being in a better mood. An all round good thing, I’m sure family and friends will appreciate. I know mine do. I can become quite grumpy.
There are several ways to attain this contentment. We can make a list of our past year’s writing achievements; thus enabling us to evaluate them as a collective. List every completed project and submission, and also upcoming opportunities for the coming year. Take a good look at each one and ask yourself which projects were successful, which took more time than expected, which ones were too much hassle for time spent, which ones did you enjoy the most, what benefits did you gain? With this analysis we are able to plan projects for the upcoming year and what goals we want to achieve. Decide on what you will concentrate on in the year ahead, will it be a new novel, or revisions and/or editing of one. Will you submit to anthologies, magazines, contests, or research a new publisher, agent, or editor? Will you venture into a new genre, or age group? If, like me, you have a freelance business are you sending out proposals for new clients, or renewing contracts? Bear in mind that with such a plan you can accomplish a better writing schedule for the weeks and months ahead. There are a multiple of options for planning projects, from old school paper calendars and planners for the more visual and tactile personality types, or digital ones with pop-up reminders. Research each one and find which format works best for your personality traits and your process.
Other ways to submerge yourself into your creativity is to write in sprints, or short periods of time, say thirty minutes to an hour. This can be accomplished by writing responses to prompts (words, images or other writing exercises, there are plenty on the internet) thus creating a short story or poem. Maybe an upcoming project needs structural planning or the construction of character profiles, the research for a location or setting, or the creation of the initial plot arc. An even simpler option is to compile a holiday journal, similar to daily journaling, where we can write out special moments for later reflection. A new holiday journal a year can become a family heirloom for future generations or the basis of a memoir.
The next step, of course, is to create the space to do these things. This begins well before the Christmas period with an efficient pre-planning for the gift buying, wrapping, food preparation, and travel plans. Then take a focused look at viable writing opportunities – identify the best times/days to write and mark them on a calendar, mindful you may have to be flexible. Can you get up earlier, or stay up later? Are there times you will be left alone – make the best of them!
Traveling by car, train, or plane can allow us some ‘downtime’, although it may not always be possible depending on our circumstances. Always carry a notebook, or utilize the note function on your phone. As writers we all know the best ideas never stay in our memory banks – so write it down! Look at suitable quiet places/locations that allow you writing time, whether within the home, or outside it. Can you cut down the functions you attend, or shorten the time spent at them? And there is, of course, that strange week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when the excitement has diminished, the kids are occupied with new toys and every meal is a ‘leftover’ surprise.
The main thing to remember is not to feel guilty for wanting time to write, after all everyone else is indulging in their favorite things, so why not you? Creativity is as important as any other human function if not more, so stake your claim on immersing yourself in your precious craft.
Mandy Eve-Barnett is an Edmonton Best Seller, multi-genre author, writing children’s, YA and adult books. With ten books published since 2011, and one more launching in July 2025, and another nine in various stages of completion, her writing life is full. This does not include her writing in numerous anthologies and magazines, and a variety of non-fiction projects through her freelance business as well as presentations and panelist positions at various writing conferences.
Mandy draws on over 10 years’ experience as a multi-genre author, freelance writer and writing community advocate. She is the current Secretary of The Writers Foundation of Strathcona County and past President of the Arts & Culture Council of Strathcona Council and past Secretary of Alberta Authors Co-operative.
She hosts the local Writers Circle monthly meeting and creates weekly writing prompts for the WFSC website.
Mandy has been blogging since 2010 and has over 3000 subscribers and visitors from 209 countries.
Discover more about Mandy Eve-Barnett at http://www.mandyevebarnett.com.
Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - December 2024.
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