How to Write in the Summer

Summer can be a strange time for writing.

If you work full time at a desk job or on a screen, the last thing you want is to spend more time at the desk when the flowers are in full bloom, the sun’s beating down, and the fruit is getting ripe.

I’m just about finished teaching a course on Developmental Editing for Fiction. The last week of teaching is one of the things that marks the beginning of summer for me. [It’s one of my all-time favorite courses to teach; it’s so rewarding to share what I know about being a ‘story doctor’ and seeing so many intelligent, interesting people run with it, either to help writers or improve their own novels.]

Now that the teaching has wrapped up, I’m looking at my whole routine around writing and work. To quote Hamlet: “To write more, less, or not at all…that is the question.”

1. Make it different

How do you write in the summer? You can start by making it different. There has to be a difference in our lives from time to time. The rhythms of our animal natures must be respected. Winter and summer aren’t the same. Nor are spring and fall.

But I believe that how our rhythms will differ in the summer season is something each of us can decide for ourselves.

If you want to get a project drafted or completed before September, you might consider bringing your notebook or laptop on vacation (personally, I like vacations with zero pressure to write–although I don’t always do them that way).

Or you might sign up for something like Nicole Janz’s 30-Day Flow Finder program for writers (50% off until June 28). I don’t know Dr. Janz, but I have downloaded one of her workbooks and it’s very useful.

On the other hand, if you have been nose-to-the-grindstone all winter and spring, it might do you good to schedule a complete break, do the bare minimum at work, and spend most of your free time outside, clearing your head. Or if you have kids, serving their needs while you also try to work your day job.

Whatever the shifts in your seasonal energy, being aware of them and making room for changes will give you the recharge you need.

2. Think Strategically

If you’re interested in the world of traditional publication for whatever you’re writing, it can be good to know that publishing, like most industries, has seasonal cycles. Rumor has it that bad months for submitting work to agents or publishers include June, July, August, November, December, and January.We’re also encouraged to avoid months with major book fairs, like Frankfurt (mid- to late October), London (mid-April), or Book Expo America (usually May, though it seems to have been postponed lately).

Ha ha! Hmmmm. I’m trying to figure out which months are left.Luckily, we have actual data from Mark Gottlieb, whose guest post over on BookFox on the best and worst months to submit combats those myths. If you’re getting ready to submit, it’s worth a read.

3. Plan Ahead

Summer snuck up on me again this year. I’m at the point where I need to figure out a plan, or it’ll just get wasted in long hours at my desk doing things I could just as well do in the winter.

So here’s what I’m thinking I’ll do:

Start and finish work earlier in the day, to catch some of the sunshine and top up my Vitamin D;

Write it first. It being the novel. First being during the first 30 minutes of my 7 am Silent Zoom Writing Group, 4-5 days a week. I’m taking advice from Kate McKean on this, whose free Substack on Agents and Books will be of interest to all writers.

Clear a few days for my house moves (yes, there will be 2. Long story) by scheduling deadlines around them.

Check out some grants and retreats to see what might help me have a wilder summer next year. If you’re thinking this too, let’s both do it! Here are two good links:

*Funds for Writers (grants & other opportunities)

*Poets & Writers listing of Conferences and Residencies

Or might I direct your attention to Mineral School, where I had two wonderful weeks of writing (seems like forever ago). Subscribe to their newsletter and be the first to learn when they open to residency applications for next year!

I guess what I’m saying is, thinking about summer as a 2-month period that can be different from the rest of the year will help you make the most of it. And if “making the most of it” looks like taking longer breaks from work, sleeping more, and spending time in nature, that’s great.

Or if it’s doing something wildly different from your usual, that’s great too.

Give yourself what you need and your world will become a happier place.

Cheers,

Pat

PS. What do you have planned this summer? Hit “reply” to let me know–I love your emails!