Do you want to get more writing done this summer?
If you’re in school, hopefully you’re on summer break by now! This is a great chance to take a deep breath, brush yourself off, and get back in that writing saddle.
Unfortunately, I’m not in school any more, so summer means nothing to me, but I’m still looking forward to figuring out my priorities and making time for what I love.
So let’s jump into it. Here are 7 things you can do to increase your writing productivity over summer break.
1. Log Out of Pinterest (or Whichever Social Media Distracts You the Most)
I use Pinterest to gather inspiration for my stories, and before I know it, I’m scrolling through memes and recipes for chocolate chunk brownies.
When you sit down to write, sometimes it’s not good enough to say, “Oh, I just won’t open Pinterest.” You have to actually log out of that social media.
One great thing about Pinterest is that you can’t browse it unless you’re logged in.
When you log out of YouTube, it’s more of an inconvenience. You can still watch videos. But with Instagram and Pinterest, you literally can’t use them if you’re logged out.
Make it a habit: log out of social media before you sit down to write.
Or just eliminate the problem altogether by writing in a notebook.
2. Make One or Two “Writing Days” Every Week
During summer break, there are a lot of things to do.
You might have family vacations, or a summer job, or any number of obligations.
If you have a full schedule this summer, make it a priority to have one or two writing days each week.
For example, if you don’t work on Sunday, you can set Sunday afternoons as your writing time. That means, every Sunday afternoon, you sit down and write.
With the writing days, it doesn’t matter how many words you actually write. What matters is that you make time for writing.
3. Check Your Posture
If you’re slouching, slumping, or just uncomfortable, you won’t be able to focus on your writing for very long.
When you sit down to write, make sure it’s somewhere comfortable.
If you start to feel uncomfortable after a while, stand up, stretch for five minutes, and find somewhere else to sit.
Make sure to take care of your body, too. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water! Stay hydrated, people <3
If you think of a tall glass of ice water, and you start feeling thirsty, that’s a sign that you’re already dehydrated. So drink some water!
4. Change Your Writing Location
It’s hard to get off the couch sometimes.
But it’s summertime! Try something new and switch up your writing spot.
Do you normally write in bed? Sit under a tree and write.
Do you write at your desk? Try sitting on the kitchen counter instead.
Life is too short to let everything be dictated by routine.
5. If You Feel Overwhelmed, Don’t Write for More Than 1 Hour
I feel overwhelmed sometimes when I sit down to work on my novel. There are so many things I want to include in this story and so many characters to keep track of.
(For reference, “so many characters” means around 10 characters. I usually write with a very small cast, so any more than 5 characters is a bit overwhelming sometimes.)
If you also feel overwhelmed by your story, here’s a trick I’ve used to keep myself from freaking out.
Set a timer for one hour, work until the timer goes off, and then stop.
And when I say stop, I don’t mean “keep writing until you finish the scene.” Unless, of course, you really, REALLY want to keep going.
When you’re a bit overwhelmed by your story, you might not want to use up all your ideas.
That brings us to the next point…
6. Stop Before You Run Out of Ideas
If you want to get more writing done in the long term, you can’t use up all your ideas on day one.
Once you get in the zone, it’s okay to stay in the zone. But it’s even better to take a break and leave something to write about tomorrow.
When you finish your hour of writing, jot down what happens next on a sticky note. That way, you don’t forget your train of thought. Use two sticky notes if you have to.
Then when you come back the next day, you’ll know exactly what to write next.
The key with this technique is to leave something exciting for tomorrow. Write just enough to get to an exciting part of the story, then stop right before you get there.
That way, you’ll always have something to work on, and, if all goes well, you’ll be excited to write it!
And that brings us to our last and final tip…
7. Replenish Your Imagination
This summer, don’t be afraid to replenish your imagination.
Your imagination is like a gas tank.
You have to refill it in order to start writing.
When the story feels stuck, take a minimum of two days off. Don’t work on your story, don’t reread your story, don’t even think about your story.
Take those two days and refill your imagination.
Watch a new movie, or an old favorite. Read books, both fiction and nonfiction. Listen to a new album you haven’t heard before. Paint something. Start watching a new TV show or YouTube channel.
Don’t be afraid to consume art. It will give you new ideas, and give your brain a chance to rest.
Then get back into your story with a vengeance!
Happy Memorial Day! Hope this post gives you some ideas and inspiration to tackle your writing projects this summer.
What do you like to do during summer break? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading, and I’ll be back soon with a new post!
These are all GREAT ideas that I’ve found work really well for me, especially setting timers. It definitely helps to leave something to be excited about! Great post!!!
Yay! Yes, setting the timer can be such a great external motivator. Thanks for commenting! 🙂
This is actually my last summer break before I graduate college, so I plan on making the most of it in terms of reading, writing, and general enjoyment of life.
I’ve used the sixth tip before, and it is a huge help. Half the time, the hardest part of writing is starting, so it’s great if you already have something in mind that you’re excited about.
My two favorite places to write are on my front stoop on sunny afternoons and curled up on the couch with my dog late at night.
Oooh that’s so exciting!! Just one more year! 🙂 Thanks for the comment!