Writing Gifts to Self

Christmas is now past. The presents are opened and the wrapping paper thrown away. Festivities are fading into memory as we move into the new year. Some are working to keep their New Year’s resolutions. Others may have already broken them. But I want to take a step back into the season of giving.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I read posts about the cool things you could get for a writer. Perhaps you received one of them. Whether you did or not, there are some great gifts the writer can now give to herself.

• Give yourself time to write. Make it a priority and let other chores wait. If you work best in a structured routine, set aside specific times. If that doesn’t work for you, grab different moments each day.
• Give yourself permission to write badly. No one but you need see the awful first draft, but you cannot mold it into a masterpiece until you have the raw material.
• Give yourself the chance to develop a “tough skin”. Submit your work. Don’t sweat the rejections. They are steps along the way. Ignore, revise, or re-submit as seems appropriate. Celebrate publications.
• Give yourself the freedom to say what you need to say in the manner you need to say it. Develop your voice and style.
• Give yourself a challenge. Step out of your comfort zone. Try a different genre. Read your story to someone.
• Give yourself a community of support. Join a writing circle or a writers association, either locally or online.
• Give yourself opportunity to learn and grow. Read. Attend a workshop. Take a course. Read some more.
• Give yourself space and quiet to daydream and reflect.
• Give yourself credit. Push aside negative thoughts.
• Give yourself a break, literally and figuratively. Not every day (or week) will go well. Take time for fun, to revive, and then get back to the pen or keyboard.

Happy writing.