Back-to-School

 ~ by Amanda Smith

September.
The luggage is unpacked. The house is put back together. The kids are settled in their back-to-school routines. Which lends me to ask, in the words of our good friend Joey,

As much as we itch to get back to writing, finding our groove after the summer can be challenging. Here are a few strategies that help me focus my writing for the last quarter of the year.

• Find your desk

This is always my starting point. Finding my desk includes the filing of papers, and shelving of books, and general cleaning of my office. It is organizing files in ways that work for me. It is getting a physical space ready for productivity, whether it is a mostly stationary space like mine, or a portable one, like Francine’s. (the-portable-office.html) But it is more than that. It is also finding where I left off. I often read through the last couple of stories I had worked on before I had left my desk. I revisit my submission spreadsheets and query letters. It is mostly about finding my inner-desk, that place in my brain that is all about writing

• Aggressive goals

Once my space is in order, I like to pull close my goals and schedule.  On my schedule, I black out days that I know will be writing duds, such as holidays or scheduled work days, and then I aggressively write the remainder of my yearly goals into my schedule. Now, I know I might not make it. Yes, the unexpected will happen. I most likely will be called in to work more often than I anticipated. But I have my best-case scenario set up.

• Sign up for workshops

It is hard to shake off the lingering Summer lazies. Sometimes we have to go back to school to get back into gear. Sign up for a workshop, or go to a craft chat. I always leave these events fired up and ready to work. NESCBWI offers Encore one-day conferences. Encore II is October 21, and there are still spots available. (Encore Registration) The Writer’s Loft in Sherborn is offering a wonderful selection of classes and workshops (one day or multiple weeks) for the fall. (Loft Events) If you are not New England based, visit your SCBWI chapter to find workshops in your area. Often libraries and book stores will also offer workshops or author chats.

• Reset regular routines

If you are a parent of school-aged children, or a teacher, the time of day you can work on writing most likely changes once school starts. For me summer time writing happens early in the morning when the kids are still sleeping. Once fall rolls around, my daily schedule shifts and it takes me a few weeks to nail down a morning routine that works. Whether you keep “office hours”, or have to adjust on a daily basis due to other engagements, make sure that you set a daily start time.
Do you belong to a critique group or book discussion group? Often these groups take a hiatus over Summer. Don’t forget to press reset and get back to your normal routines.
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When I was a kid I used to hate the “back to school” commercials that appeared on TV mid-vacation. We used to say “back to jail” or “back into the cage.” Now I view this time of year differently. I love the excitement of new teachers and learning. I appreciate routines clicking into place, like the gears of a well-oiled machine. And I enjoy the quiet house and increased productivity that it brings. This fall, may you find your desk, reset your schedule, go back to school, and set aggressive goals to finish the year strong!
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