In his book ON WRITING: a Memoir of the Craft, Steven King says that he writes 10 pages a day, even on holidays. While that is an admirable achievement, it does make less diligent writers feel somewhat wanting – especially at Christmas. After all, it's not just one or two days that get sacrificed; it always seems to be weeks. Shopping, planning, cooking, children home on holidays, office parties, catch-up days with friends... not to mention Christmas day itself.
So, pleasant though it may be to catch up with family and friends at Christmas, writers often view the festive season with a feeling of panic. Yes, holidays are fun – but what about The Book? Chapters won't write themselves, and deadlines still have to be met.
Usually, these concerns about not being able to write are mixed with a healthy slug of guilt: "What kind of mother/daughter friend am I, anyway – should writing be more important than friendship?" The answer is, of course, NO – writing should not take precedence over friendship or family needs. Well, not all the time, anyway! The secret to managing all facets of a writer's life – particularly at Christmas – lies in careful planning, so all needs are met. This will ensure that social obligations, family fun and writing tasks all get equal billing.
1. Take a Long-Distance View and Deposit Writing Hours in the Bank
Take a realistic look at all commitments for the weeks around Christmas and New Year. Most people have a fairly good idea of what their obligations are going to be. Work out how many extra hours are going to be needed and plan ahead.
Put extra hours into writing in the month leading up to the 'silly season'. Writing hours in the bank are as good as money in a vault. Writers who know that they are ahead of schedule feel much more at east joining in Christmas activities.
2. Be Choosy About Office Christmas Parties and Other Functions
If some social engagements come under the umbrella of 'obligation-only' gigs, then be ruthless: cut them out. Many people would prefer not to go to the yearly office Christmas party... so if this applies to you, why go? If the main concern is that "people might feel that I think I'm too good for them" then make sure there's a believable reason for not going. (With the number of functions that are scheduled during the festive season, nobody will be surprised to hear that it's not possible to make it to the office Christmas party.) Those who are brave enough to be honest can simply say 'No, I decided not to go."
Be Productive – Write a Book, Don't Play Games!
When writing time is at a premium, every hour spent at the computer must count. (Fifteen minutes snatched in the waiting room at the dentist can add value, too – always have a notebook and pen handy for quick scene outlines or plot twist ideas!)
Most writers waste a lot more time at the computer than they'd like to imagine. Read Mary Jaksh's excellent blog post How to Stop Digital Fiddling and Start Writing to become aware of how easy it is to spend time on unnecessary tasks. Mary offers some valuable tips on settling down to actually get words on the page. That's sure to free up time for a harried writer who needs a few extra hours to go Christmas shopping!
4. Delegate Christmas Food Preparation and Look for Online Gift Vouchers
Don't give in to broad hints about hosting Christmas dinner if deadlines are tight. Take a deep breath and tell the family: "Sorry, I can't volunteer to do it this year." Offer to bring a scrumptious dessert to someone else's house instead – and then buy it instead of making it.
And if there's simply no time left to shop, go online to buy this year's Christmas presents. Online shopping is not only convenient, it's a great idea. It's possible to purchase online Christmas gift vouchers for just about anything these days, from 'Experience Vouchers' for a day out with a difference, to jewellery and books.
A little bit of forward planning for writers will go a long way. Get a few writing hours in the bank ahead of time, say no to unwanted Christmas outings, let someone else host Christmas dinner and either delegate shopping or do it online. And above all, make sure that the hours that are spent in front of the computer writing count!
Marg McAlister - Marg McAlister has tried on a good many writer's hats in her career, and has enjoyed wearing most of them. Her writing achievements ...
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