September Writing Prompts
By mid-August, we have fully embraced summer. We amble on our summer feet.* We leisurely sip our lemonade. The days are long and our thoughts come s-l-o-w.
But how does this summer slowdown affect our writing? We don’t want the hazy lazy days of summer to make us less productive. We want to make the most of these longer, quieter days. With only a few short weeks left of summer, here are some tips to help you stay focused on writing.
Tip 1: Revisit Your Writing Goals
Did you set specific writing goals at the start of the summer? Whether it’s completing a certain number of pages, finishing a draft, or submitting articles to publications, don’t give up now that you are in the home stretch! Reevaluate your goals and give yourself clear objectives as you finish out the summer.
Did you have trouble sticking to your goals? Perhaps the community found at a writing class or workshop will help you stay accountable!
Tip 2: Take It Outside
If writing at your desk while it’s beautiful outside bums you out, why not take your writing outside? Bring your laptop to your patio or go old school and bring a pen and a journal to a shady spot at the park. Read our Captivated by Outdoors Spaces blog for inspiration!
Tip 3: Capture Ideas on the Go
Summer excursions can spark new ideas for your writing. Did something interesting happen at that concert you went to last night? What about the bit of dialogue you heard at the park? Bring a notebook or a note-taking app with you on your adventures and jot down thoughts, observations, and inspirations while you’re out and about.
Tip 4: Read
Stephen King famously said: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Summer is the season for reading. But what to read? Check out the various summer reading lists provided at this time. Everyone from Barack Obama to our Team offers suggestions.
Tip 5: Stay Flexible and Be Kind to Yourself
Summer often comes with unexpected events or changes in plans. It’s essential to remain flexible. If you can’t stick to your usual routine, adapt and find alternative times for writing. And remember, it’s okay to take breaks or have “off” days. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t meet every goal—the idea is to keep progressing.
We hope these tips help you stay focused during the final stretch of summer. If you’re thinking ahead to fall, grab a pumpkin latte and sign up for one of our fall writing classes.
*Summer Feet – “When summer comes and you walk outside barefoot often enough that you form a rough protective layer of skin on the bottom of your feet.” – Urban Dictionary
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