It's that time of year again. NaNoWriMo is just around the corner, and writers are either outlining their latest and greatest masterpiece or waiting until the last minute when inspiration strikes at midnight. Each year I talk a little bit about NaNo, so I thought I'd share some preparation information that Alex and I wrote for The Writers' Rooms and has been modified for classroom use. A lot of these tips can actually be used in your everyday writing as well, so even if you're not doing NaNo, you can still benefit.
Read moreSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Writing
Fall has finally arrived (despite the 80 degree weather today). Orchard trees are heavy with ripe apples. Pumpkins and Halloween candy already line the shelves. And Starbucks has a line a mile long for a new pumpkin-spice drink.
Oh yeah, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is kicking in.
In short, SAD is a type of depression that's brought on by changes in the seasons. While most people are afflicted during the fall/winter months, there are those, like a few close friends of mine, who struggle with spring/summer SAD. Both are forms of depression, but while winter depression leads to oversleeping, craving carbs, weigh gain, and low energy, summer depression deals more with insomnia, weight loss, and anxiety. Of course, each person is different, and your symptoms may vary.
I can concur, though, that when winter depression starts to set in, I generally want to hibernate. The dream of wrapping up in a warm blanket with hot cocoa and carbs and nesting on the couch with pumpkin bread sometimes gets me through the day, even if it does make me less productive later.
I know there are people out there who don't believe that SAD is a thing. How can the weather have such a change on people's moods? Well, if weather changes can lead to someone having migraines, why is it so unbelievable that they can cause depression as well? For winter depression, the longer nights and lack of light tends to set off people's circadian rhythms in a negative way. I already have trouble sleeping, and winter depression makes it harder for me to get up in the morning to face the next day. I find myself wandering around my house at night, unable to get myself to sleep because I don't want to face the morning, and then I'm even more exhausted come sunrise, which doesn't prep me for a good day at work.
The low energy, trouble sleeping, and difficulty concentrating can have a very negative impact on my writing as well. When my brain is snarling with negative thoughts (guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness), sometimes the last thing I want to do is put my fingers to the keyboard. NaNoWriMo can pull me out of that mood for about a month, but then it's back to me curling up on the couch, not wanting to move or even look at my screen. I'm probably the least productive during my winter months simply because I just don't have the energy to come up with ideas.
It's a wonder I'm actually able to launch books in December.
SAD isn't something to take lightly. When things get bad, it's not unusual for people to have thoughts of death or suicide. That likely is what pushed me towards my near attempt in February. The depression was just too much to handle, and I slipped over the edge.
So what can you do to combat it? Treatments can include light therapy, medications, or psychotherapy. I started light therapy last winter, and I could tell it made a difference. I set up special light boxes and just sit in their glow for 30-45 minutes everyday. The light is supposed to simulate sunlight, which can help with my circadian rhythm and mood. I'm actually going to start using the boxes again starting today before it gets too dark outside, just so I can start to feel their affects.
I've been told, too, that an increase in vitamin D can also help with your mood during winter depression. However, you want to be sure you talk to your doctor about that before you take pills, to make sure you're not getting too much vitamin D.
Other things to consider if you're struggling with SAD:
Be kind to yourself. You're not alone in this struggle, so don't beat yourself up for feeling this way.
Create a safe, comfortable environment for yourself. If it means setting up blankets and pillows for you to snuggle in after work, then do that. At least you'll know it's waiting for you.
Reach out to friends or family if you're struggling and maybe go spend time with them to get your mind off of the depression.
Hot baths or showers, massages, or other things that bring physical comfort.
Light-hearted movies/shows. My depression often gets worse if I watch sad stuff, so try to have back-up things you can watch to make you feel a little better.
Put up Christmas lights. I know this sounds silly, but I'm always a little happier when I have bright Christmas lights up during the dark months.
Keep a journal and write out your emotions. Writing can be very cathartic especially when you don't understand why you're feeling so bad.
Have the suicide hotline available: 1-800-273-8255 If you feel low enough that you're afraid you might want to take your life, please call the suicide hotline, visit your local hospital, or reach out to someone you trust. It will get better.
Depression can feel like a dark tunnel without a light at the end, but in the case of SAD, it doesn't last forever. The changing seasons can bring you relief after a long, difficult episode. There's no shame in admitting that you're feeling this way. Like I said, this affects many people, and you're not alone at all in your struggles. Just know what steps to take to help you safely through it.
Do you struggle with SAD? What kinds of things do you do to help yourself? List them below!
Learning Self-Care as a Writer
I know I've talked about this topic before, but it never hurts to get a reminder. I definitely need one right now. Self care can come in many different forms. It can be as "simple" as getting more sleep or eating better to nourish your body. But for writers, there's even more that we can do to treat our minds and bodies kindly.
So where is this coming from? It's probably no surprise that I have high-functioning anxiety and depression. My default is to keep doing more and more things to keep myself busy so I don't have to deal with some of the nasty internal thoughts. I also deal with the feeling that I'm "not good enough" and my accomplishments mean I'm just a little bit more worthy to exist. I really wish I hadn't tied my self-worth to my writing (or my weight), but unfortunately it's happened, and I'm trying to learn to let go. I could feel myself trying to do too much again and I realized, begrudgingly, that I needed to step back.
I just finished running the big I.O.W.A. author signing that I've written about. In the past week, I've been in a lot of physical pain due to the anxiety and tension that had built up over the months leading up to it. I have a book coming out in December that I'm still working on editing, and a few book signings on my plate. To top it off, I was considering making massive edits to my YA fantasy book, Dragon Steal, to participate in #Pitchwars later this month. All last week and part of this weekend, I could feel myself practically choking on the anxiety, and I knew that I had to make some changes.
You see, my health has been pretty awful this year. I've gotten cellulitis four times since January, my migraines have gotten worse to a degree, I've gained weight I lost, and my sleep has suffered. Most of that I attribute to being too busy and not focusing on taking care of myself. There's always some other writing project, or work, or volunteer thing to get done. I'm terrible at staying still and resting, (and saying no), but it's come to the point that if I don't start making changes, I might not be around to do all the things I want to do.
So, I decided that I would step back from #Pitchwars this year 1. to give myself a break and 2. to give my book the time and care that it needs. I cancelled one of my book signing events that would have equated to a 7 hr drive in one day all while I'm still trying to mend my legs from cellulitis. I'm trying to eat better foods and get more sleep, which means not working myself to the bone until 1 or 2 am to meet self-imposed deadlines.
Living a writer's life is hard, especially with jobs and volunteer work on top of it. I think it's easy for us to stop focusing on our bodies and put our full attention to our work. Yes, sometimes when the deadlines require it, it's necessary, but at other times, we need to remember to breathe and take care of our bodies and minds. Depression and anxiety are both so common among writers because many of us tie our self-worth to our writing. So what can we do to break away from that?
I don't have the answers, but I implore you to take some time and reflect on your own self care. Here are just a few ideas to try if you're pushing yourself too hard.
Take a break. Your book will still be there when you come back to it.
Make sure you're getting enough sleep, if not for your health, then to help your mind stay awake and creative.
Don't create unnecessary deadlines for yourself. Focus on what projects are important, and go from there. You don't have to participate in every writing contest.
Make meals for yourself. Living off of fast food sucks.
Give yourself a real vacation. Taking days off just to focus on writing isn't a vacation, it's work.
Find other hobbies outside of writing that make you happy (I play PokemonGo).
Snuggle with a pet. They need love too.
Remind yourself that your worth is not dependent on your book.
Stop and smell the flowers. Enjoy the little things in life that are so easy to neglect.
Meditate.
Have any other self-care tips? Feel free to post them below. And remember, you are not alone in this. We all struggle with self care and self love. I believe in you.
How to Write a Synopsis (The Writers' Rooms)
As you may know, I'm the Director of The Writers' Rooms, a literary organization focused on providing a free, safe environment to all writers, no matter their experience, income, gender, etc. The specific "Room" I lead is The Violet Realm, which is our Sci-fi/Fantasy group. What's a Room, you ask? It's a two-hour session with a literary lesson during the first hour and then free writing/sharing the second hour. We have a plethora of groups ranging from poetry, romance, LGBT, all-genre, with more coming soon! The community is wonderful, and I'm thankful for every person who brings their story to us. Best of all, the Rooms are free.
Tonight, we talked about how to write a synopsis. I thought I'd share it with you so you could get an idea of the information that The Writers' Rooms has to offer, and also provide some tips on how to prep a synopsis for querying an agent.
What is a synopsis? A synopsis is, in short, the summary of your story. You’ll need this if you’re querying a traditional publisher. But, this is also a great way for you to figure out the main plot of your story!
Rules of thumb:
Only name your MC and main villain (typically only 3 characters at most). Briefly outline their roles so you can refer back to them throughout the synopsis. The first time you list the name, write it in all caps.
A good synopsis should only be about 500 words. Any longer, and an agent may toss it out the window, or you may realize you have some work to do.
You must tell the whole story, including the ending gasp! The agent has to know where the story’s going, and so do you!
Focus on the main plot, not any of the subplots. The subplots are for the book.
You need to know what your characters want and make the plot out of that. What are their ultimate goals?
How to Set Up the Synopsis
You may remember from a previous session that we talked about the Beat Sheet to set up your entire story. Making your synopsis is very similar. Together, we’ll take a look at an amazing resource called “How to Write a 1-Page Synopsis” with a little flare added. Source is at the bottom.
Set the Scene: Create the stage for your world and your characters. We need to know what genre/timeline you’re focusing on. Fantasy? Show us the castle. Science Fiction? Show us the ship and the world. Enchant us with the very first line.
Introduce the Protagonist: Bring in your Main Character (in all caps). We want a couple descriptive words to say what he/she wants, and to help us identify him/her. Blacksmith? Banker? Butler? Let us know!
Inciting Incident: Yes, we’re taking a trip to Freytag’s Pyramid. What event, decision, or change prompts the main character to act? Is it a death in the family? A murder? A young boy buying a robot with a hidden message?
Plot Point #1: This is where we get into the first big change in the story. What’s the first turning point? What does the MC do to change the book’s direction? This is the point where your heroine might start out on her journey to travel to a different planet or go on an epic quest.
Conflict and Other Characters: Your character enters a new world/environment. What new life experience does she have? How does she meet the antagonist/villain? This is also a chance for you to bring in, say, a love interest. But again, only include important characters.
Midpoint: This is the point when the MC may have to make a 180 degree change or emotion in the story. Once she crosses this line, she can’t go back. She makes a decision that changes everything. Or maybe her cowardly nature turns to heroism.
We’re Winning! Whoops, No We’re Not: Reveal when your MC thinks she has the upper hand but then the antagonist swoops in to ruin everything. Maybe a magical item gets stolen, or an escaping ship gets shot down. For once, the villain has the advantage.
Darkest Night: This is when your MC has hit rock bottom. She has to fight through it both emotionally and physically. Maybe the villain has trapped her. Maybe she’s had everything taken away. How does she find the strength to enter the final battle?
Climax: Battle time! What happens when the MC and the antagonist come head-to-head? Yes, we do need the conclusion.
Resolution: How does the climax end? Does everyone live happily ever after, or are we doing a Shakespearean ending and killing everyone? How do you tie up loose ends, and loose romances?
Closing Scene: What’s the last scene you want to leave your reader with? Has the MC won or failed? Is there a future waiting? We want to know!
Prompts:
Take your story and write a synopsis. Use the outline above to separate out each important moment from your plot.
Think of a new story and use the outline to plot it out.
How to Steal Writing Time From a Busy Schedule
In this crazy world called life, it's often hard to find time to sit down and write. Between work, families, extra-curricular activities, shopping, adulting, etc, when are we supposed to work on our books? Many people say they have stories in their head but no time to put them on paper. I can sympathize, really. I'm usually running around from 8am-8 or 9 pm depending on the day, which leaves only a couple hours to get things done.
So what do you do? How do you steal some time from your busy schedule so you can create your masterpiece?
Meeting: Set aside a half hour or hour on certain nights and treat it like you would a work meeting or an appointment. If friends, or work, try to schedule things at that time, calmly explain you have a meeting that you can't miss. The more you do it, the more comfortable you'll be at adapting to the new schedule. It could be once a week or several times a week. Either way, it gives you time when you know you can work.
Spurts or Sprints: I learned this little trick during NaNoWriMo. You set 10-15 minutes aside, turn off all distractions, and write whatever comes to your mind. Don't worry about editing or going back to research, just write. Friends of mine and I will hold sprints to see who can write the most in that time frame. It's a fun little challenge, and it forces you to get text on paper. Likewise, if you find yourself with 10 minutes to spare, use that time to type on your phone or computer, or write in a journal that you bring along. Even if you don't get a lot out, it may get your mind moving so you'll be ready to work on your book that night.
Record: How many hours do we spend in the car traveling from place to place? How many times have you been in the shower and gotten a great idea but couldn't write it down? Record yourself. I've been on road trips and clicked 'record' on my phone and rattled off scenes and story ideas. Even if they're not directly on paper at that moment, at least I got the idea out of my head and didn't lose it. There are also speech-to-text programs like Dragon Speech that will record you and type what you say. It takes some getting used to, but it works great if you're doing dishes or some other task and want to still get the words out.
Change Sleep Time: Now, I wouldn't recommend this if you have insomnia or sleep trouble, but, if you can safely wake up a half hour early or go to bed a half hour later, you can use that extra time to get work done. One of my friends gets all of her writing done between like 5 and 6 am when she's not being disturbed by anyone. Can you do that too?
Lunch Hour: If you get a lunch break at work, that might be a great time to work on writing. Right now, I'm munching on a sandwich and writing this blog entry because I was too tired to write it last night. I still get a break from work, but I'm also being productive with my own craft. But, if you fear you'll get burnt out, make sure you still take that break.
Competitions/Deadlines: Maybe you want to try to push yourself to write because there's an anthology deadline out there, or a writing contest. I might not write for three months because I know that in November, I'm going to spend 30 days writing for National Novel Writing Month. I pour out 50,000 words, taking more time for my craft that month than usual, because I know it's only going to last a month. If you set goals for yourself, it might encourage you to find time during a busy schedule.
Whatever you decide to do to get writing time in, remember a couple of things:
You don't have to write everyday.
Take care of yourself. If you're burning yourself out writing, you're not going to enjoy it as much.
Make sure you're still getting downtime for yourself.
Have fun.
Do you have ways that you fit in writing? Share them below!