Hey writing friends!
Please tell me you’ve stocked up on pencils, notebooks, and folders. Assure me that you’re ready to take on September with fresh stacks of index cards and post-its. Nothing says, I’m ready to get back into a writing routine, like old school back-to-school supplies. Even if you write in Scrivener. Even if you write in Word. Or google docs.
Why?
There’s something about approaching the month of September as a new beginning, that makes getting started on a new project that much better. Who says you need to be enrolled in a formal class to benefit from the back-to-school vibe?
At the end of each summer, I buy 3-4 notebooks with matching folders. Each colored set is designated for a separate project. That way, if/when I begin brainstorming a new manuscript during the year, I’m ready.
Why all the different colors? Well, mostly because I love color. But also because I like to assign a color aesthetic to each story. Sometimes a specific color will jump out at me, like my next early middle grade project. In my imagination, it has lilac & violet images sprinkled throughout. So purple it is!
Practically speaking, I’ll use the notebooks for brainstorming character names, titles, plot, setting, and world building—whether that’s with pictures, maps, or doodles. If I’m lucky, I’ll have a whole collection of ideas to pull from before I outline and draft. However, sometimes I draw or write my thoughts on scraps of paper instead. So, the folders help to keep them organized as well. Later, when I’m ready to outline and later revise, I use index cards with post its and foam board to create my story board.
Research shows that we are wired to hit refresh each September. I guess 12-16 years (or more!) of school conditioning have done that to us. But is that a bad thing? Not in my book. Channeling your inner student with all the curiosity & enthusiasm that a new school year brings is most definitely an incredible motivator. I say embrace it.
Have fun with a new project or new manuscript this fall. I know you have a story or two just itching to be written. So, get to work, armed with an all-in perspective. See what you can accomplish in this first semester of the 2024-2025 school year!
If you’re looking for extra motivation and writing tips or teamwork activities and free classroom downloads, don’t forget to explore my full website here. New stuff hit the site over the summer. And, even more will be launching next month. I hope you’ll stop back!
As always, thanks for reading. Cheers to a phenomenal September full of inspiration and progress!
