How to Carve out Writing Moments During the Holidays

Is the holiday season crazy busy or what?

I just checked my calendar and I have three days between now and Christmas day that don't include a social event — and that doesn't take into account time needed to buy presents, mail christmas cards, decorate . . . watch Christmas movies. When is a person supposed to find time to write?

It's tempting to say, "I'll get back to it in January." Just like it's tempting to eat those extra Christmas cookies. But we have to be strong. And creative. If we don't have the time, we have to make it.

Here are a few of my tricks for carving out time. If you have any others, please share.

1. Get there early. I try to show up at lunches or dinners at least a half hour early. I use that time to peacefully sit at the table with a cup of coffee working on my manuscript. Yesterday it worked out GREAT! I got there early, and the person I was meeting was late, and I had over an hour to write.

2. Make a writing date. Find another writer and set up writing dates during the season. This can be as simple as meeting at the library with laptops. However, it's important to get these on the calendar as soon as possible.

3. Waiting in line. I spent 20 minutes waiting in line at the post office yesterday. Thankfully, I had my notebook with me so I could work on my story. It also made the wait less boring.

4. Plan writing into shopping. Take your writing with you to the mall. After you've been shopping for a couple hours, head to a coffee shop and take a break and write for an hour before going back at it. You'll give your feet a break, and you'll get some words on the page as well as gifts in your bags.

5. Get up a little earlier. If you're not too sleep deprived already, you might want to set your alarm clock for a hour earlier during the holiday season. Write when you're fresh and before you're wiped out by all the activities.

Hopefully these are a little help during the season. Keep writing!

ho, ho, ho

di

Christmas is a time for Networking

For anyone who was thinking about coming to the NWSG's (Northwest Screenwriters Guild) Christmas party, you better decide fast — it's tonight. Get your RSVP in ASAP at rsvp@NWSG.org. It's free for members and $4.00 for guests.

I'm a HUGE fan of Christmas. (When your birthday's the 23rd, you can't really help it.) Over years I've discovered that the season is not only a time for giving, but also a time for networking.

Bad Networking

Networking is not going out there, hunting down people who can help your career and sucking up to them. That's anti-networking.

Good Networking

Real networking is about going out and meeting people, learning about them and making human connections. In short — becoming friends with people. And because friends tend to do nice things for their friends when they can, healthy networking is born.

There are a variety of ways to meet people and make friends — going online, attending conferences, participating in events, etc. — but during the holiday season, networking becomes amazingly easy. There are parties galore, folks are happy, and (in my opinion) in the mood to make friends.

In fact, you'll be networking whether you know it or not. While you're drinking eggnog at the next company party and talking about about Bad Santa, you'll actually be networking. How easy is that? No swapping cards and awkward moments — just good ol' fun. Networking the way it was meant to be.

So get out there network folks — and drive safely.