Probably the most difficult time to be a writer is during the December holidays, particularly if one celebrates Christmas.  With all the decorations that need to be hung, the parties to be hosted and attended, the gifts to be bought, and the general hyped up nature of the season, writers can have a tough time finding the discipline to write on a daily basis.  After all, we write on our own time and terms, so when no one takes notice of whether we’ve been productive or not, ditching a writing routine is as easy as helping ourselves to another cookie.  The hazard is not so much December but January, when we’ve already become used to ignoring our writing and so put off that difficult chapter opening for another, and another, day.

In the spirit of the holidays, I offer you a few gifts to keep your writer’s mind in shape:

1.   Allow yourself fifteen minutes a day to imagine new stories and characters.  You don’t have to use them later.  Merely allow yourself the luxury of creativity without the pressure to write anything down.

2.  While you’re standing in line to pay for your purchases, imagine a life for the person in front of you.  Build on the clues you can see:  what s/he is buying, what s/he is wearing, gestures, posture, whatever you can find.

3. Don’t wait until you can’t keep your eyes open before you go to bed.  Instead, allow a few minutes for bedtime reading.You may not have your own words in your head, but at least you’ll keep your attention to language and story sharp.

4. If you can, sit at your computer, or wherever you write, at the same time of day you usually do.  Even if you have to get up immediately, the routine of sitting there will be maintained.

5. If you have a PDA, set the alarm to go off on January 2nd, with the entry “Write today!”  Otherwise, write on a calendar or someplace where you will see it.  Each day in January that you ignore your writing will be another obstacle to overcome.

6.  Every day, think about how wonderful it will be to return to your writing routine.

Happy Holidays!

Debbie Wesselmann

Copyright 2007 by Debbie Lee Wesselmann