How a Writer Can Celebrate the Holidays, Be Productive in December, and For The New Year

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

For many those phrases bring to mind trimming the tree and baking cookies whose recipes only come out at this time of the year. But what does that mean for writers?

Yes, we dream of houses with fresh garland on every corner, multiple Christmas trees that are meticulously decorated, brightly colored sugar cookies that you have worked on for hours with your children, presents wrapped well in advance, and December deadlines met in mid-November.

However, that is a dream, isn’t it? Even so, there are things writers can do to make December productive and carry them well into 2023. Here are some suggestions to not only help celebrate the holidays but also feel productive as a writer as well.

5 Tips for Writers to Stay Productive

1. Simplify. Magazines and television show picture perfect houses always ready for drop-in company or large family gatherings. Why not pull out your favorite things and leave the rest for another year. At our house we want to focus on Jesus and the reason we celebrate Christmas so many of our decorations center around that.

2. Don’t overdo the baking and gift giving. Do as many things as you can do things ahead of December. Bake cookies and put them in the freezer. Buy all the gifts ahead that you can and get them wrapped. 

At our house we became overzealous one year and did all our shopping in September. But once the television commercials started playing, we found ourselves left with a lot of gifts that weren’t what the grandchildren wanted. So lately we have adopted a “wait for their lists” policy. Once they tell us what they would like, we can purchase the gifts they want without doubting it’s what they want. And often the closer it gets to Christmas the more likely it is they will be on sale.

3. Decorating the tree is one of our favorite family activities. Our tree only has nativity ornaments on it. One year as we were decorating one of my children said, “Mom, why do you have Moses on the nativity tree.”

“Moses?”

“Yes, see right there.”

I looked to see the baby in a basket that for years had a spot among all the baby Jesus ornaments. I had assumed that the Sunday School teacher had not had a manger or trough and had found these tiny baskets for Jesus to lay in. Moses had a basket when he floated among the bulrushes. Jesus was in a trough in the stable!

We had a good laugh at my mistake and I apologized and said Moses would probably always have a place on our tree!

4. Intentionally point to Jesus in everything you do. As we celebrate his birth, Jesus should be front and center. Actually, we should live that way every day of the year. At our house, not only does he get a birthday cake but we sing and speak of him often.

Use this time to share Him with others. Let them know why this season is special. Invite people into your home and celebrate together.

5. Make a list of all the funny and special things that happen in your family. Or maybe a problem you had to solve among family relationships and how you did it. That will come in handy as you begin your 2023 pitches.

Do not let anything or anyone put you on a guilt trip. Christmas is for family, fun, and sharing Jesus. What you get done will be great. What you don’t will not be missed, and you can catch up next year.

Merry Christmas to all you writers out there. May your holiday be filled with love, laughter, family, and lots of stories to write for 2023.

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How a Writer Can Celebrate the Holidays, Be Productive in December,  and For The New Year, tips from author @LindaGilden on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Linda Gilden has coauthored 11 books with 5 different coauthors and has #12 and #13 coming out in 2022, adding a new co-author to the list. She loves every one of her coauthors and enjoys collaborating on interesting projects with them. She also has written many books on her own and realizes what a treasure and blessing a good co-author is.