Blogger: Michelle Ule
Filling in for Janet Grant who is at the International Christian Retailer’s Show in Orlando, Florida.
Summer’s here and if you’re a writer with children, visitors, spouses, or other interruptions, how are you supposed to keep working on your manuscript?
Continue writing your project, of course, but there are other things you could do with your family around to keep your moving toward “the end.”
Six tips for writers in the summer.
1. Plan a research trip
If you travel to a destination to do research on a project, it may be possible to write off your personal transportation costs on your income tax. Check with your tax advisor.
One year, my family visited the Salt Lake City genealogical library as part of my family history gathering (this trip was NOT tax deductible).
I spent eight hours in the library the first day while my husband took our two children to various child-friendly spots around the city. The second day, I spent ten hours in the library (my husband had to drag me out at the close of day. I was babbling, but done), while they went to a water park.
Had I been working on a book, my travel costs to and from would have been part of my writer’s expenses that year.
I’m considering a trip to the Museum of the Confederacy this summer for that very reason.
2. Visit local libraries while college is out
I’ll be headed to my local college next week. School is out which means parking will be available and the librarians will not be busy.
I usually visit the website beforehand for the list of books I want to view and take the list with me.
Since it’s summer, I’ll also be able to consult with a librarian about my project. I’m hoping to enlist some professional help.
Librarians generally are happy to assist you in research, particularly since their most frequently asked questions are: “Where is the bathroom?” and “where are the copy machines?”
I’m sure a question about education during late Victorian England will elicit some interest.
3. Time your writing for when the children are asleep; do social media while they’re awake
The weather is nice. Wear out the kids outside during the day; write while they sleep.
When they’re awake and occupied, keep an eye on them while attending to your social media.
It shouldn’t be too difficult to think of a tweet in between making a peanut butter sandwich and telling your six year-old to put on sunscreen.
4. Read writing books–particularly if you have kids in summer school
If you’ve got kids needing to learn this summer, why not join them by reading writing books?
You can find them in the 808 section of the library (you DO take your kids to the library during the summer, don’t you?), or purchase some.
If your child complains about having to do homework, sit beside them with homework of your own!
Take notes–reviewing ways to write better can only improve your work.
5. Read popular novels to get a feel for the market–particularly in your genre.
I spent an excellent summer years ago reading all the Newberry prize-winning books.
I read books that had never appealed to me before. Some made me weep with their beauty and I understood why they won the prize for the best children’s book of their particular year.
Some were absurd.
It was a rich experience, however, and I shared some of those books–reading aloud–with my children.
You might consider reading some of the best selling books this summer–The Girl on the Train, for example (which I haven’t read) to analyze why this particular book is a best seller.
Or even my current release: The 12 Brides of Summer Collection #1. 🙂
Or any books written by Books and Such authors–check them out on “Author News” to the right.
6. Lean how to organize social media so you can take a vacation.
I wrote an entire post on my personal blog about how to do this. You can read the post here.
If you write blogs, tweets and even Facebook posts (for a professional page) ahead of time, you can schedule them and take off without a thought.
Taking a vacation, even from your writing, will do everyone in your family a world of good!
Tweetables
6 tips for writers during the summer. Click to Tweet
A book to write, kids at home, company coming. What’s a writer to do? Click to Tweet
6 ways to advance your writing career even if you get nothing done this summer. Click to Tweet
What a great list! Though a few of these are now beyond my ability – travel, even to the library, just doesn’t work – they’re all a wonderful source of new blood and spirit. If I may, I’d like to add a couple of suggestions –
* If there’s a college in your community, find out what the kids do for volunteer work during the school year – and fill in for them in the summer. Not only will you be a Godsend to the shorthanded organization, you’ll get a feeling for what college kids do, and how they do it, when they give their hearts in service. That’s always a boon to a writer, because appealing young people make appealing characters…and in real life, readers.
* Since you’re probably able to spend more time outside, do what painters do, and organize “painting with words” outings. Painters will get together in a certain place, every week, to paint and share thoughts over what they’ve produced. Why not get together with writer-friends, meet at a location, and write a scene specific to that spot, wrapping up the session by sharing your work in a friendly crit session?
* Keeping to the outdoor theme, try to spend time outdoors at night, particularly around zero dark thirty. Pray for grace and guidance under the stars, as a kind of vigil before God’s universe-sized altar. Let His infinite Love into your heart, and into your writing, as you look across the vastness of His creation.
Amen to the night sky, Andrew. For the city-dwellers, get out of town if you can. Our last move was just four miles, but it got us away from the streetlights. It’s four miles and twice as many stars.
how are you Andrew? You had us all worried last week.
Peter, thank you so much for asking – honestly, things are not good, and it was a scary weekend, but I’m here. And neither pain nor fright precludes joy. I wrote a bit about that on my blog, and i anyone’s interested, y’all can click on my name to visit.
Andrew, I took a detour to your post and found abiding joy there. The idea, the theme, of joy has been significant to me since I was a Bible college student and a favorite professor taught it wasn’t the same as happiness. You have found joy in difficult and beautiful places. (And brought tears to my eyes with how you expressed your discoveries.
Andrew, I thank you, too. Seems like stress has been taking over my mind lately … and I’m reminded to focus on God … not the stressors. I’m meditating on Scripture. What I choose to focus on is my choice. I know that. I must be intentional. And there’s the joy. 🙂
We can be intentional in bringing joy, too…think of how hard it must have been for Jesus to focus on the simple appeal of the criminal next to Him on Calvary, who asked only that he’s be remembered. And think of the man’s joy when he learned that He would be at Jesus’ side in Paradise…all because Jesus was willing to reach through His pain and cradle another heart to His own.
Great ideas about getting time outside–important to all us writers chained indoors to our keyboards!
Andrew, in many areas library books can be ordered and delivered to the homes of people with special needs and you certainly qualify. Check it out.
I will- thanks, Janet!
They probably have an online catalog, too.
Michelle, I always love hearing from you. Your posts are thought-provoking and inspirational.
Last month I attended a writing retreat at the location of my WIP. Didn’t know a single person in attendance, but we all left having been blessed by the encouragement and talents of each one there. I even revisited the joy of writing poetry (something I’ve not done since college).
Immersing myself in the setting of my novel (Point Reyes) gave me ample fodder for my story world. I even took a walk in the fog-shrouded moonlight to research the sounds and smells of a nighttime scene by the sea. Perhaps the deer I nearly collided with on the path will make its way into a future scene. 🙂
I saw your photos, Jenni, and wished I could have done a similar trip!
Thank you for your words of wisdom, Michelle. I’ve been waffling on Hootsuite. It’s good to know that it pays to persevere. Congratulations on the arrival of the first summer brides, with more brides to come!
At the time I wrote this post, Shirlee, I didn’t realize Hootsuite charges a monthly rate to be able to bulk load those posts in advance. I recently paid for it on an annual basis and chalked it up as a business expense–which, of course, it is.
Because I’ve written with a group of writers in collaboration, being able to bulk load their tweets also has been very helpful. When I write my blog posts I keep a running excel sheet listing the tweets which can then be loaded in advanced and off I go.
Of course I still monitor Twitter and respond, because Twitter is an interaction social media.
Michelle, what great tips! 🙂 I love the idea of a research trip. So . . . do you suppose I can write off a trip to Hawaii? 😉
My kids love to read, and they love the library, but I haven’t taken them as often as I should this summer. I need to get them there, and use that time.
I’m finding I need to write my writing times on my calendar as an appointment. I haven’t been getting time in to write, and I think that’s part of my problem My boys are old enough to entertain themselves during the week. When they give me writing time, I give them a reward of time or a special activity at the end of the week.
I should take advantage of the time to read popular novels. Hadn’t even thought of that. Thanks for the great suggestions, Michelle!
My husband is counting on that, Jeanne. I’ve got two proposals based on our life in Hawai’i . . . 🙂
Also, reading even novels in your genre and historical time period IS research!
I wrote about it on my own blog: http://michelleule.com/2014/02/21/historical-novels-research-tool/
I didn’t realize you guys had been stationed in Hawai’i! My husband has family out there, so we get there from time to time. A series in Hawai’i could be lots of fun to write! Get some pineapple and coconut to get you in the mindset. 😉
Jeanne, I love the idea of making an appointment to write. Normally in life I’m a planner, but even though I plan to write, I rarely say “I’m going to write tomorrow from 1-4 PM,” but I think that is the type of thing I need to do. Otherwise, I end up getting some writing in some days but on other days, it falls victim to scheduled activities and the unforeseen events. Writing always feels like a guilty pleasure to me. During this past year, I’ve been working on a degree in creative writing and, while I had no scrupulosity about writing analytical papers for my lit. classes, I always felt as if I were playing when I worked on my fiction pieces. I literally would have to remind myself several times during the writing of a piece, “You’re doing homework! You’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing.” Making a daily appointment to write might help me not only to schedule in the time to write, but give me the mental / emotional permission to spend my time engrossed in an activity I love (as frustrating as it can be at times 🙂 ).
Great ideas, Michelle. It all seems to come down to organization – again!
Organization can always help, Davalynn, but you should enjoy the summer, too!
If this site had stars, I’d definitely give your post a five, Michelle. Practical, specific, helpful. Good stuff.
Becky
Thanks, Becky. I’ve written quite a bit about writing out of my own experiences!
As a matter of fact, I read read Kristin Hannah’s fine novel The Nightingale last week!
Michelle, thanks for a great list. I use https://buffer.com/ to schedule social media posts for work and personal accounts. It’s FREE!
Thanks for the suggestion, Teresa!
Wonderful advice, Michelle. I’ve managed a decade of writing by heeding your advice of writing while my children were asleep. Either naptime or early in the morning. Desperate writers unite! Now we got a new puppy and arent sleeping…I’m hoping to get back on schedule soon.
Thank you for sharing your story, Michelle. I mean the one about the summer of interruptions. First, I felt consoled and reassured that I’m not the only one who, in the midst of frustration, looks up at God and asks, “So what was the point of all this?”
I think you are exactly right; you were ministering through the interruptions. You had your plan for how to spend the summer; God had HIs. And somehow, both were accomplished, even if didn’t feel like it at the time. St. Teresa of Avila said in one of her books (It may have been The Way of Perfection, but I’m not sure) that if someone needs your help while you are praying and you don’t leave your prayer to help the person, there is no point in your praying at all. Excuse my poorly worded paraphrase, but I know you get her point. After all, you stopped continually in order to answer God’s call by ministering to others.
I hope, at some point, that you do publish the novel. It sounds awesome.
For me, this is the first time I have been able to dedicate a summer (nearly three months!) to writing. I’m one month into it and have accomplished disappointingly little. I haven’t been interrupted per se but I have been a lot busier than I had anticipated. I’ve been away at school (Hofstra University) working on an MFA. My plan for the summer was to work on my novel and on shorter pieces to try to get published in journals. Family and friends are excited to see me (which is nice) and I have been more socially active than I had planned. Then there are those days like yesterday when the unexpected happens, nothing goes as planned, and little to no writing gets done.
Anyway, now that I’ve read and responded to your post, I am hitting the typewriter and hoping for a much more productive day.
Blessings!