Writing Season: Use the End of the Year to Hit the Finish Line

Welcome to the end of the Gregorian calendar year! Time to kick back, relax, pour yourself a cup of eggnog (if that’s your thing), and wait until January to get back to work.

Right?

… right?

Oh no. We have to write during the holidays, don’t we?

Cue the angry stares and pitchforks from the murderous writing mob.

Now, before you come for us in your rage state, consider the following:

1. The industry is dead in December: Much like bears during the proverbial winter, the industry hibernates. Or, depending on their income bracket, jet off to Aspen or the Amalfi Coast for the holidays. Even if you have projects in development, it’s less likely they’ll be wrapped up and waiting under the tree for you, ready to kick off the new year. And execs, managers, and agents will not be gunning to do a ton of work during this time, either. So, if everyone’s gone until the new year, then …
   
2. This is the perfect time to write something new: It’s tempting to put off that script outline until January. However, if you’re able to get a jump on the writing now, you’ll be that much further along and in a better place for next year. Plus, plenty of fellowships start taking applications in the first quarter of the year. And if you don’t have a new thing on deck …
   
3. This is also a perfect time for rewriting a project: Starting the new year with a fresh slate just feels so good. If you’ve been putting off revisiting notes on an old script or working on a character’s arc, try doing that now instead of something brand new. Not only will you finally cross that off your to-do list, you’ll be in a better place moving forward to hand that script over to someone else in January.

But what about self-care? Or wrangling the kids on Christmas Eve? Or rewatching Love, Actually for the umpteenth time?

Listen, everyone’s schedules work differently. Maybe you need to work a service job during this time to stay afloat, or maybe you’re hosting the entire season in your living room this year. Keep in mind these are only suggestions—you are not a lesser writer because you’re unable—or even unwilling—to work on your script during the holiday break.

So, if you can’t, or just don’t want to write during this time? Don’t stress about it. Seriously. You’ve earned the right to rest simply by existing on this planet and don’t let Late-Stage Capitalism convince you otherwise. The scripts will wait for you in the new year.

Now, let’s say you do want to get something done. How are you, The Writer, supposed to get anything done when there are holiday parties, flights to catch, and relatives poking your head in your childhood bedroom?

Here are a handful of tested tips and tricks for writing (or rewriting) during the holiday break:

• Work in chunks of time. The holidays are not synonymous with productivity. But getting something done in 25 minutes is better than nothing at all! Choose blocks of time that work for you and your schedule. Even 15 minutes here and there can add up!
  
• Set really small goals. Rather than chastise yourself for not finishing 20 pages a day, just aim to write two to three pages per day. If you’re rewriting, consider tackling one or two small notes a day. Do not overwork yourself! That’s what February is for!
  
• Crank up the tunes. Every single store is blasting holiday music right now, and if you’re like me, you’re over it. Give your ears a break and find some songs or make a playlist inspired by your script’s themes, characters, and/or time period. It’ll get you in the mood and out of the holiday mindset while also transporting you into the world of your script.
  
• Pick one thing to finish. Now might not be the best time to finish editing your short and rewriting your feature and getting that hour-long pilot written. Instead, pick one thing to focus on, and commit to it. For me, it’ll be working on a long treatment, and a long treatment only, on a new feature. That’s it! Once that’s done, I’m not going to freak out about the rest of my looming pile of work until January 2nd.
  
• Make it festive. There is literally no rule that says writing has to be boring work! Bust out the hot cocoa, light up some candles, and put your favorite films on in the background (bonus points for holiday movies). And lest we forget, bribery works wonders. Reward yourself for a job well done with seasonal goodies and trips to the movies!
  
• If you can’t write, try, try again. If you start with gusto on December 15th only to be derailed by [insert miscellaneous Holiday Scenarios here], don’t fret. Just find a pocket of time and get back on the horse. Stuck on a scene? Not sure what to do at the midpoint? Give yourself a break and come back to it.  

At the end of the year—or at least, the end of the winter season—those hibernating execs and reps will wake up, ready to take on meetings and read your script. Use that time while they’re sleeping to do what you need.

*Feature image by Chief Crow (Adobe)