You may be familiar with SAD, seasonal affective disorder. I have something similar. I call it SAW or seasonal affective writing. In the spring and summer, despite having more distractions to keep me from writing, I also have more energy to write. Though there are days when distractions usurp writing, overall my writing prevails. My output increases. Writing flows.
During winter I encounter fewer distractions, but discouragement is more likely to overtake. I still write every day, but it may not be as much and may require more effort. Motivation wavers and production drops. Though the quality, I believe, is just as good, there is not as much of it.
I suspect everyone has a seasonal aspect to their writing, a time when they write more or better, offset by another time when they write less or not at all. It’s critical we understand our writing cycles to set reasonable expectations for ourselves—and others.
For me, I avoid starting new projects in the fall. My goal is to plod through winter with an intentional focus on existing work, not adding to a schedule that threatens to overwhelm. Conversely, I embrace new assignments and take on extra work in the spring and summer, a time when I know I can complete them with ease.
Some people, like me, write more in the summer. Others write less or may even take a break, a summer vacation if you will. The key is to embrace our seasons of productivity and protect our times of diminishing returns.
Regardless of what your summer writing looks like, may you have a great one!
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Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is a full-time, career author. He’s published scores of books, hundreds of articles, and thousands of blog posts, with experience as a publisher, editor, and commercial freelance writer. A passionate wordsmith, his goal is to change the world one word at a time. Learn more at PeterLyleDeHaan.com.
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