IWSG: The Most Productive Time of the Year

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Logo for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Picture of a lighthouse with text reading

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney, Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!
December 2 question – Are there months or times of the year that you are more productive with your writing than other months, and why?
I always seem to get a burst of energy around the new year. I don’t know whether to attribute that to the days finally starting to get longer, or just to being more conscious of time passing. 2021 already? Wow, it goes fast, when you’re not looking. I’m busy scurrying around and making plans. New bullet journal. New notebooks. New… whatever else it is that I’ve decided is going to change everything.

In general, getting into a revision slows down my word count more than I’d like to admit, and there are a few things I like to do every year. A blog-hop here, a podcast there. Shifting gears drags on me. (We could discuss the short stories during November thing, here.) And then… eventually… I get into the family birthdays/holidays/vacation time of year. Seems like there are always distractions… I mean, obligations…

This year, I’m trying to get the better of it by getting some of those short stories done in advance. (We’ll see.)

And for the benefit of mental health, it’s important to balance productivity with some kind of outside hobby or downtime. (I read a magazine article, once.)

Sign up now to get the Indie Authors’ Advent Calendar. I have a story in it this year, and so do some of my friends. If you haven’t, already, you can still hear the Halloween Special Edition of The Alone In a Room With Invisible People Podcast.

10 Comments

  1. Chrys Fey

    Reply

    The New Year always feels new and fresh. I do more in the month of January, too. And in December, leading up to the New Year.

    Happy Holidays!

  2. S.E. White

    Reply

    Ooh, an advent calendar for indie writers! Congrats on getting a story accepted. I’m looking forward to the burst of productivity after the new year, too.

    • Karen

      Reply

      You should submit something next year, if you can! It’s a fun publication to work with, even though it doesn’t pay.

  3. Liesbet @ Roaming About

    Reply

    Those darn distractions, right? They seem to be the writer’s worst nightmare. And, they never stop. They can also be called “life” and “more important things to do.” 🙂 I think you are more productive in January, because of that whole “new start” and “resolutions” thing, don’t you think? I love a fresh, empty slate as well. Happy holidays!!

  4. Loni Townsend

    Reply

    So your burst time is coming up soon!

    That’s a nice idea of getting ahead on your short stories. Me, I’m so terrible at sticking to anything that it’s taken me years and years to finish what I’m working on. Good thing I have no aspirations of being a full-time writer!

    • Karen

      Reply

      I’m always fighting to finish things more quickly, myself. I always seem to get tripped up in the revision end of things.

  5. Diane Burton

    Reply

    Congrats on your story included in the advent calendar. I always feel energized at the beginning of a new year. This one has been so weird who knows what will happen.

    • Karen

      Reply

      I feel like I’ll be happy to leave 2020 behind. I think we’ve all been through so much this year that 2021 might be the most welcomed New Year of all time.

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