Holiday Relaxation Ideas for Writers

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we are looking toward Christmas. As writers, most of us can use some time of relaxation and a break from our normal writing schedule. Several writers try hard to plan their schedules so they can take December off. I make a list of things I want to do when I have some “free time” to do things I don’t get done when I am working. 

Relaxation means several things to writers. Here are a few suggestions in case you have not made a list during the year.

6 Ways Writers Can Relax During the Holidays

• 1. Take a leisurely run or bike ride, being alert and aware of your surroundings that might work well as a story or part of a novel you may be working on. 

• 2. Call a friend you haven’t seen in a long time and ask him or her to play a round of golf. 

• 3. I love to sit and read books others have written. Now I am working on a novel, so I am reading mostly fiction and studying other writers as I read, taking notes of aspects of fiction writing that I need to work on. Even during times I am working on a book of my own or assigned articles, I usually read four or five books a week.

• 4. If you have grandchildren or children and you feel you don’t get to spend a lot of time with them during the school year, plan a special day just for that child or grandchild. Make a big deal that it is their day. If they like to shop—shop. If they want to go to a trampoline park—go jump with them. If they like to go to the library—go help them pick out books. If they want to go to a ball game—grab your pompoms and go.

• 5. You may also have friends you feel like you need to catch up with. Give them a call and chat for a while. Find out how their families have grown. Go to lunch or out for coffee. I have several friends I plan to reconnect with this December.

• 6. Sit down with your husband and plan your family goals for 2025. If your family is anything like ours, we live by the calendar so we don’t miss anything.

Speaking of 2025, I would love to invite you to put the Carolina Christian Writers Conference 2025 on your schedule. The dates are March 7-8 in Greer, SC. The website is www.carolinachristianwritersconference.com and you can find out all about it there. If you have additional questions just let us know at info@carolinacwc.com. We would love to see you there. The early bird price goes until February 14. I would love to meet as many of our readers as possible and get to know what you are working on with your writing. If you have never been to a writers conference, let this be the year when you take a bold step with your writing and find a conference to attend. You may want to find a friend to travel and room with. It adds the element of a girls’ get-a-way.

When I came home from the first one I attended in 1990, I was so excited my children immediately exclaimed, “I think she’s been to writers paradise!” They were right. I had found my peeps.

Above all, spend some time thanking God for His gift of Jesus to us. No greater gift has ever been given. And, how blessed we are that he called us to be his print messengers. Let’s be faithful to what He has called us to do and give Him our best words to introduce others to Him.

“O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

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Holiday Relaxation Ideas for Writers from @LindaGilden on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Linda Gilden is an experienced, bestselling writer, speaker, award-winning editor, marketer, and speaking coach, ghostwriter, and writing coach. Author of 40 books and 2,000+ magazine articles, Linda appreciates a great story. She believes with our stories, we can change the world one word at a time and loves to encourage others to do that through writing coaching and personal tutoring. Her newest book was released in November: TRADING SHADOWS: EXCHANGING A LIFE OF SECRETS, FEAR, AND DOUBT FOR A LIFE OF FREEDOM WITH THE ALMIGHTY.