Holidays can wreak havoc on the best of intentions, especially when it comes to writing. There’s just so much else pulling on you. And unless you’re on deadline with an assignment you’re getting paid for, the easiest thing to set aside is usually that book you’re working on.
Then comes the new year and all those resolutions. I’m guessing that most people make them, but I’ve never been a fan, mostly because no one keeps them for long. “May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions,” read my favorite 2023 holiday card, apparently quoting American actress and director Joey Lauren Adams whose film credits include the starring role in 1997’s Chasing Amy. Talk about a great line!
But back to the topic at hand—getting back to writing that book. Before attack-of-the-holiday-season, you were probably writing regularly enough for that motivation to turn into momentum. Just as you found your mojo and started rolling, you allowed yourself to get sidelined. That’s the equivalent of shooting yourself in the ass.
Okay, that’s perhaps a little harsh for those of you who don’t do this chronically. So, let me give you another analogy.
Think of a surfer riding a wave. Whether they’ve sat out there for hours waiting for the right one to appear or happened to hit a great set of waves at the perfect time, now it’s go-time. They pop up on their board if they’re experienced, or struggle up if not, and carve across the wave, letting the ocean’s energy propel them forward. Are they going to bail after a couple of turns? Hell no! They’ve worked hard for this ride. So, once they drop in, they’ll squeeze out every possible bit of that ride before they have to paddle back out against the current for the next one.
If you’ve let your holiday schedule trump your writing schedule, you’re going to have to paddle back out to catch that next wave of momentum. Just remember that even though starting back up could prove difficult, keep at it, and it will get easier again. And the next time you’re tempted to back-burner your writing, maybe you’ll remember not to jump off the surfboard quite as quickly or for quite as long.
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