You have heard that people are creatures of habit.
I knew people who used to have a cigarette and a cup of coffee at certain intervals throughout the day. It was a habit. Get to work, pour a cup of coffee. Finished lunch, have a cigarette.
I had habits like that too. Not smoking, but running.
Every time I would go in the workout room and start lifting weights and doing my thing, the closer it came time to get on the treadmill, the more good ideas I got for my story.
In fact, sometimes I would sit down and bang out a whole chapter rather than run.
(Running is not something I enjoy doing, itโs something I enjoy having done.)
Now, I mention this because everybodyโs schedule gets really out of whack during the holidays. Friends come in from out of town, or relatives; you’re going out and buying presents and decorating. Writing time will be traded for shopping time, or Christmas party time.
Don’t worry about it.
It’s December, very little gets done in December as far as writing goes.
Just realize that any progress is progress. You’ll find out in January your routine kind of goes back to what it was and you’ll be all set to be a productive writer again.
Unless you don’t, in which case you’re fucked, but these distractions affect all aspects of writing. Editing, marketing decisions, you name it. I have a lot more distractions this year. My daughter is about to have two or three weeks off school! That hasn’t happened for a while. Donโt expect much to get done during that!
Worse than that, as some of you are aware, I tore a tendon in my leg. It’s a little tiny baby tendon (longinus plantarus) and you only have to stay off it for a couple days and then you pretty much good as newโbut as a runner, I had to bench myself for a few weeks!
Which, as I just explained, runningโor the threat of getting on the treadmillโwas where some of my best ideas came from.
Not having to worry about getting on the treadmill has caused me to not have as much writing creatively as I would normally have.
Plus it’s December and I have all distractions every else has with relatives coming in from out of town and going to parties.
And chocolate. There’s lots more chocolate around her and Christmas. I don’t mind that particular distraction.
Anyway, rest assured of this one thing: It’s all going to get back in order in January sometime.
So, do what you can for the rest of December, and make a note for yourself next year that this is just how it works. Don’t get down on yourself.
Unless you get to January 15th and you’re still not writing. Then, yeah, put a foot in your own behind.
.
REBLOG me!ย Orย SHAREย this post on Facebook and Twitter!ย See those little buttons down below? Put on your glasses. There they are. Click them. The FOLLOW button is now in the lower right hand corner.
Got a QUESTION? ASK IT!ย Hit the Contact Me button and Iโll see what I can do. (I have lots of smart friends.)
Dan Alatorre is the author of several bestsellers and the hilarious upcoming novel โPoggibonsi: an italian misadventure.โ Click HERE to check out his other works.
39 replies on “The December Writing Struggle”
Lovely seasonal post, Dan. Good to see you relaxing with your daughter… and I love the beginnings of your beard, really suits you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not a beard, it’s just stubble – that’s the style, a few days’ growth. The problem is, I think about 1 in 100 or less hairs on my head are gray. Look at that picture – I don’t dye my hair. It has maybe 1 gray hair for every 300 brown hairs. But in the stubble/beard, about HALF of the hair is gray! What the hell is up with that? And I don’t even like the stubble that much, it just helps define my jaw line and hides a lbs I’ve gained not running. I’m used to how I look without stubble. But if it’s gonna be gray, I’m not sure I like it that much. I’m tempted to shave it off every morning.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
…happy christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this with your readers!
LikeLike
Great advice ๐ I incidentally don’t run anywhere, for anyone, so I applaud anyone who does. My inspiration comes whilst walking miles with a hyperactive Jack Russell ๐
Have a fab Christmas x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think doing anything with a Jack Russell counts as running. I’ve seen those guys in action.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I’ve been dragged along the ice by her – on my arse – too many times to mention ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet. They aren’t like the dog on Frasier!
LikeLike
I know the struggle. It’s been so bad in the past that I usually take a writing hiatus in December, of course this year refuses to allow it, go figure. haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I end up taking a forced hiatus. I’d like to be writing but there’s a lot of stuff that says no. It was this way last year, too, so I surrender.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha, sometimes that’s all you can do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was smiling while reading ….can totally relate…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Gotta tell it like it is. No point in beating yourself up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Source: The December Writing Struggle | Dan Alatorre – AUTHOR […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this with your readers, Cindy!
LikeLike
So as the holidays crept up on me this year, I started getting up two hours earlier than normal. grins. It’s been really good, too, until today. This morning I got up as tired as I went to bed, not a good sign on my longest day of my week schedule wise. bleh.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are fighting the good fight. Keep it up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like workouts, something is better than nothing.
Sorry about your tendon problems. I’ve been suffering from a stiff neck for the past few months, which makes writing a literal pain in the neck. PT has made a huge difference, but I have had to change my writing habits because I can only hunch over the laptop for so long before I’m stiff again.
LikeLiked by 3 people
My hope is that (A) I don’t tear the one in the other leg and (B) that once torn, there’s not chance of re-injury. That wasn’t fun!
LikeLike
well, when you get older…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. Cos I’m so damned old. Don’t end up on Santa’s naughty list this close to the big day, missy!
LikeLike
I’ve done the neck thing too … 4 weeks of it and no sign of going … but hey I’m so much older than most of you … grey hairs I’d just like some of any hue! … and like most of you now surrendering with good grace to Christmas and family (as if I have a choice!).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hang in there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am not a runner, that is unless I am being chased by bears, in which case I will run, but just until I can distract the bear with the contents of a trash can or slower / less cut-throat victim. Perhaps it is best I don’t go into the woods often.
Regarding December writing, I was doing awesome up until my son announced that there were less than ten days until Christmas.
LikeLiked by 4 people
And now you have told me. PANIC!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I plan on giving myself a good kick up the backside over christmas and therefore come January, I shall be writing from either fear or enjoyment. Either way I shall be writing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s the key!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hilarious as usual! Yup, I’d say it’s chaos around here. My writing has suffered for my book while I’m trying to sort out my life away in 2 weeks and drafting blog posts and dealing with the usual unexpected crap. But I managed to bang out 2000 words today in my book and between that and the great reception I received on your blog post, I’m pretty stoked! Happy holidays Dan to you and yours ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Debby! Happy holidays!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too Dan! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read your post first thing this morning like I usually do, but I’m only getting around to commenting on it now. Tis the season…
Like most everyone else, I think I should just give in to the fact that noting productive is going to happen between now and Christmas.
Anyone want to join me to bake cookies?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can send some cookies this way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have written more this December than any other but have done no walking (running causes problems with tendons) and must get back outside for vitamin D if nothing else. Lovely family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aha, you’re the one.
LikeLike
I like this time of year because you can plan all the things you’re going to do in the new year … in your dreams!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s for sure. I had a big day planned yesterday and my wife was like, you’re coming to Savvy’s Christmas pageant singing thing at 10am, right?
Plans = gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful inspiring post! Just keep moving, right!? ๐ You have a beautiful family. Keep off your leg, give it a few days and you’ll be good as new :). Happy Holidays!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the holiday distractions will be over soon enough, then we can get back to regular writing. All in due course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe.. Don’t remind me ;). Kidding ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person