What Do Writers and Squirrels Have in Common?
By Andrea Merrell
So, what does that have to do with writers
and squirrels, you might
be thinking.
Squirrels spend
the entire spring, summer, and fall months collecting seeds and nuts, storing
them away for the days ahead. They also collect various materials to make sure
their nests are cozy and secure. They make sure they have everything they need
to survive the long, cold winter. They don’t waste a thing.
This season of the
year tends to keep us inside longer. Outside activities are limited—unless you
love bitter-cold temps. There are not many conferences or workshops to attend. We
enjoy sitting by the fireplace with a hot, steaming mug and a book in our hand.
We spend more time baking, cleaning, and planning for the holidays. Once
Christmas is over and January makes an appearance, the days can seem dreary and
possibly unproductive.
May I suggest
that, just like the squirrel, we can prepare for the days of winter and catch
up on projects that have remained unfinished and untouched for months? If
you’re like me, projects on your to-do list keep getting ignored or sent to the
bottom of the stack. I’m sure there are a dozen things that come to mind that
you have been meaning to do. Let’s
look at a few.
CLEAN AND ORGANIZE
This is a hard
task for most writers. We tend to think our time is best spent writing—not
cleaning. I find that when my desk in clean and my files organized, I think
more clearly and my writing is better. It’s like cooking in a dirty kitchen;
can’t do it.
CLEAN OUT E-MAILS
This is another
area that’s difficult to manage. It’s very discouraging to click on your inbox
and see dozens (or hundreds) of unread e-mails. Discipline yourself to check
them often, then either delete them or create a file for the important ones you
need to refer back to.
BLOG POSTS
Are you behind on
your blog posts? Now is the time to think ahead and be prepared. Some people
post every day, others once a week. It’s always a blessing to have a few posts
ahead in case something comes up and life happens. This is also a good time to
invite other writers to do a guest blog post for your site. Having a file to
pull from will save you from a lot of stress.
CONTESTS
There are always
contests available throughout the year. This is a good time to venture out and
submit your stories.
CONFERENCE MATERIALS
Writers’
conferences are exciting and full of opportunities for us to grow in our craft.
It’s easy to come home with a bag full of books, outlines, business cards,
bookmarks, and handouts, thinking you’ll sit down right away and go through
what you have collected. Then you get busy, and those items go in a stack or
drawer and may never see the light of day again. Plan some quality time to pull
out these items and go through them. Toss what you don’t want to keep and put
the rest to good use. This is also a great time to catch up with people you’ve
met. Send a card or e-mail to stay in touch.
BOOKS
Take a look at
your bookshelf (Kindle, iPad, or e-Reader) and all the books you’ve been
collecting. This is a great time to catch up with some of your favorite authors
(by that cozy fireplace). When you do, give them a wonderful Christmas gift by
posting a review of their book on Amazon.
WRITING
For the writer,
writing is always a priority. It’s what we do. It’s who we are. Pull out that
novel that’s been tucked away and give it some life. Maybe you’ve been waiting
to try a devotion, article, or short story. Whatever God has placed in your
heart, go for it.
Those are only a
few suggestions for making the most of long, winter days. What suggestions
would you add? We would love to hear from you.
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