It’s back to school week here. Routines are filling the calendar. Our alarms are set way earlier. I can feel myself easing back into “real life.”
To put a cherry on top, the weather this week is what we like to call around these parts ‘false fall.’ Just under 80, dry, cool mornings. Right now, I’m writing this with the windows open and a sweatshirt on. Perfection!
(Don’t worry, in a few days we’ll be back to sweltering 🥵)
If you’re anything like me, back to school time feels a lot like New Year’s.
It’s the start of new things. The weather feels energizing. My life schedule is busy-busy in the fall, which means I’m more locked in for my work hours since there is less flexibility in passing a task to the evening or the next day. I also have several events coming up this fall that I’m excited about.
This summer was filled with emotional angst getting a kid ready to launch into his college journey. I had some agent drama this summer (more on that soon). Both really sucked the air out of my creativity.
But now, with the older kid settled and adjusting to college life, the younger kid back to school, and the drama settled, I feel motivated to get back to my creative work.
And yet, I find myself still avoiding it.
I had coffee with a writer friend this week and she shared similar feelings. We were both eager to get back to our creative work, both having had to put it aside this summer for a variety of reasons, and yet were both looking at each other hoping the other had the answer as to how to start (or at least I was hoping she’d tell me how to start).
So, how do we start after a fallow period? How do we return to the work? How can we invite the muse to stay after locking them out for so long?
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Oh, you thought I was going to answer those questions? I was hoping you were going to answer them for me.
Worth a shot.
Okay. Well, let me share with you what I am doing this week:
- Trying to give myself grace. Writing, at least for me, isn’t like flipping a switch. It’s more of a slow burn and I need to build the proper kindling and fan the flames before it takes off. Expecting to sit at the page this week and instantly be inspired or find the solution to all my story problems for the idea that’s been hidden under the leaves all summer is only setting myself up for failure. Instead, I’m embracing that I have time to figure this out. It doesn’t all have to be written today.
- Planning. I’m doing a lot of thinking and journaling about what works for me and my writing process and what doesn’t. I’m thinking about block scheduling, timing, and what I need to feel set up for success.
- Dipping my toe back in the water of this story idea. I’m returning to some notes I made this summer and carving out a little time for brainstorming. Basically, I’m reintroducing myself to the idea and not pressuring myself to “write” yet, but rather just get the gears moving again.
- Reading/Resting/Exercising/Phone Limits. When I’m feeling good, these things are all in good balance. This summer has been more of a survive and advance situation and some of my feel good routines flew out the window. I need to return to the things that I know make me feel the best and feed my creative brain.
- Making plans with writer friends. This past week, I spent a lot of time with some writer friends celebrating the launch of a friend’s book. It filled me with such joy to spend time with these people. Connecting over creative pursuits and sharing our struggles and wins has been such a lovely and nourishing part of my writing life. I’m prioritizing surrounding myself with creative people right now to bring that part of myself to the forefront.
Next week, I will probably start inviting some actual writing exercises, prompts, and story specific work to my creative reentry. But this week, I’m sticking to mentally preparing.
And that feels right for me.
The key is finding what feels right for you.
I believe that the muse is always around, always ready. It’s us, the writers, who are often not ready to hear what she has to offer.
This week, I’m getting myself ready so I’ll be receptive when she starts whispering again.
I’m doing the equivalent of cleaning house for a guest and hoping she’ll feel welcome when she arrives.
In the meantime, just the idea of getting back to the page is filling me with hope and excitement. Something I haven’t felt all summer about my creative writing, so I’m taking that little nudge of a feeling as a big win.
What is your big or small back to school creative win?
Share in the comments!
The book launch I mentioned above was for Sharon Kurtzman’s The Lost Baker of Vienna*. Photos above after her Quail Ridge Books launch (left) and a group of writer friends after her author talk at McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro (right).
Sharon’s writing journey is one for the ages that all led to her debut historical fiction novel based on the events of her grandmother, mother, and aunt’s journey to America after surviving the Holocaust.
*this is an affiliate link so if you purchase the book, I do receive a small commission. But feel free to buy this book at your local independent bookstore.