Summer reading and writing
Summer means different things to different people but many of us associate it with slowing down somehow. Whether that means a vacation, lower sales volume at your job, or just the speed needed to survive the heat, we tend to move more casually. “To everything there is a season” and I’m all for using the summer as a time of recuperation and regrouping.
Recuperating can be a time of rest, healing, and growth.
I’m tall. When I was a kid, right before every growth spurt I would go through a phase of filling in before shooting upward again. My cheeks would puff, my belly protrude – then boom, I’d add another inch of height on my lanky frame. My body needed to gather itself before growing. It needed to increase nutrient intake (and ice cream) to be used to propel me upward again.
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I’m done growing taller, but I still find value in allowing myself time to work up to big goals.
Summer is a great time for:
- Taking a class
- Researching online
- Meeting informed people
- Creating more support for yourself and/or your projects
- Traveling to places you want to write about
- Trying new things/having new experiences – living life is the best place to find writing inspiration!
In my next book - the Galapagos Islands / Sekhmet statues at Hearst Castle (not in Egypt - but still fascinating)
Summer can also be a time for inventory, organization, and rebuilding.
Summer is a great time to:
- Clear out old project files IRL and on your computer
- Start a new habit
- See where all your projects stand and create/update a Story Inventory
Summer is a great time for reading.
Whether you're getting to that classic you always meant to read or enjoying a "beach novel," summer is a great time to sit on a porch with a cold beverage and a paperback. It's the perfect time to carry a portable piece of the world around and escape into it whenever life gives you a long line, a wait in the dentist's office, or an afternoon off from work.
If your looking for my very biased suggestions, check out my books!
Whether you spend the summer reading, writing, or both – summer is a great time to slow down a bit and take stock. Half the year has passed for all of your goals, duties, and aspirations. Maybe you need to ramp up for the rest of the year. Maybe you realize you need to spend more time resting. Maybe both! Summer is a great time for recalibration, relaxation, and a reset as we move into the rest of 2025.
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What is a Story Inventory and how do I create one?
Like any inventory, a Story Inventory is a list of everything you have "in stock" – from completed works to one-sentence ideas. Because I also write screenplays, my inventory is first organized by category: film, television, and books.
