(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
If I could hide away from the world and write all weekend every weekend, I probably would (more often than not. Beach weekends need to happen, too). That's not how most writers' lives work, alas. We write when we can. But every now and then you get a day that's a gift--or even just half a day--where you can set your imagination free. How do you seize that day?
1) Unplug. If you're reading this blog, you're probably already all about the analog life, but take that up a notch. Put a focus app on your phone and make good use of it. Or give your devices to a friend for the day. Part ways with the things that might distract you. Bonus: You can bring your favorite pens and notebooks and spend some quality time with them.
2) Take care of your body. Dress comfortably so you can settle in. Have water and a snack nearby. Don't give yourself reasons to get up once you've hunkered down to write. If you know you'll get restless, take a long walk before you sit down. It will get your endorphins going, work out your fidgets, and you'll be grateful to sit down and focus.
3) Pick a good setting. I like to be close to nature when I write and I like to be able to rest my eyes on a nice view when I'm between thoughts. You might prefer a city skyline, or a bustling cafe. Organized writers' retreats are a wonderful place to escape for the purpose of writing. But be careful to ...
4) Set social boundaries. When you are around other writers, it's natural to want to talk about writing. And that's good! Take a break from the isolation of the write life. But make sure you have work time set aside and stick to it.
5) Underpack. It's tempting to want to bring lots of projects, or all of them--everything you want to work on. But if you only have one day, just bring one project. Only one. Set an achievable goal for yourself. Focus on that one goal. You'll be more likely to hit the finish line if your efforts aren't divided between your goals.
Having a day to write is such a rare, precious thing. So savor it and make the most of the time. I was lucky enough to get such a day this week. It was wonderful, even though I did break a few of my own rules. I socialized a bit more than I'd intended, but we've all been a little too isolated this past year, so I forgive myself. And I brought two projects: The haunted house story I need to write on a deadline, and this blog post. I'll let you figure out which one I actually got done.
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