Your Summer 2023 Writing Plan
Photo by Link Hoang on Unsplash
Now that summer has officially begun, it’s time to think about your writing goals! What are you hoping to accomplish in the next three months?
For some people, summer is a time when it’s hard to focus on writing. Whether it’s family activities, vacations, or just wanting to be outside more often, writing takes a back seat. It’s also not a great time to query, as many agents are taking time off as well, and/or are closed to queries.
Other people have a bit more time than usual, and want to make the most of it.
Whichever camp you fall into, it’s a good idea to think about your goals and set your intentions.
If you plan to take the summer off, do so deliberately. Enjoy your time off, guilt-free. You might want to see what else you can do to fill your creative well at this time. You could:
Experiment with a new genre, or a new art form
Visit a new neighborhood, town, museum, exhibit, etc.
Focus on reading – for fun, as well as reading as a writer in your genre
Spend time in nature! It’s always healing and revitalizing, even if it’s for short spurts like an afternoon or a day out
If you don’t want to take the summer completely off, what kind of goals can you set that will allow you to balance fun and work? You should definitely incorporate some Artist Dates like the ones above. Make a list of things that sound like fun, and put them in your calendar.
Then, think about writing goals. Do you want to work on a possible new project? In that case, you might outline it this summer, or start to work through a few scenes, or do some research.
Even if you don’t have a hugely ambitious goal, think about setting a specific time and day to work on your writing. If it’s not a commitment, it’s not going to happen. Set an amount of time you’d like to spend on your writing, and the days (M-F? Weekends only? Every day?).
If you know you have a bigger goal in mind, now is the time to prepare to make it happen. With upended schedules and the lure of nicer weather, it may be harder to keep to your usual writing routine. Put a plan in place now for when things get off track. For me, it takes at least several days (if not a week) after any vacation to recombobulate and get back into my usual groove.
With three months before you, what can you do?
Write a first draft of a new book
Revise a draft of a book in progress
Do polish edits and start to get a submission plan in place (research agents, create your query letter and synopsis)
Yes, these are ambitious goals, but perfectly doable with a plan in place.
My goal is to finish the revision of the current MG novel by the end of June, then go back to one of the other books I have partially drafted while I wait for comments back from my readers. It would be a stretch to complete a draft, but I don’t have any big vacations planned, so I’ll have time.
I may also plan a writing retreat long weekend. I’ve learned my lesson though. I can‘t do it at home. Too many distractions. I need to be away from home, in a place and time I’ve specifically dedicated as a retreat.
Gotta hurry up and figure out the details, though. It’s the end of the first week of June already. Summer will fly by, as it always does. What will you have done by September? Share your goals in the comments!
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