Episode 34: [MINDSET] Adapting Writing Practices to the Changing Seasons of Life

Adapting Writing Practices to the Changing Seasons of Life, a conversation with your podcast hosts, Stephanie Oswald, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Wilson

As a writer, you often find yourself navigating the ebbs and flows of life alongside your creative pursuits. This delicate balance becomes even more apparent during the summer months, as you may be faced with a disrupted schedule and demands for your time that are different from other times of the year. In this week’s podcast, we share insights about how it’s possible to adjust writing routines amidst the joys and demands of life and we offer you some points of reflection on the adaptability required in any writer's journey.

Seasonal Shifts in Writing

The shifting seasons are often accompanied by changes in routine. This is not just true for our writing, but for many aspects of life. When summer arrives, we are met with the promise of freedom and adventure, but it also brings a distinct shift in routines for many families, which can be an added challenge as a creative with school-aged children. There can be a significant increase in caregiving responsibilities, adding to the complexity of your daily schedule, or you find yourself immersed in managing various commitments beyond your writing.

It’s okay if you’re facing challenges when it comes to maintaining a consistent writing practice. You might need to try different strategies to see what works. In the podcast, we share how we attempted early morning and afternoon writing sessions only to find ourselves encountering interruptions and a lack of creative flow. Despite setbacks you might face, when you take time to acknowledge the challenges and give yourself grace in the process, you’ll be able to prevent creative blocks and get back to your writing. 

Renewed Focus and Community

There’s a cyclical nature to creative productivity. With the shifting schedules of summer, you might need more periods of rest and this doesn’t equate to failure as a writer, but are essential phases of renewal for your creative pursuits. When you shift your perspective from self-criticism to self-care, you’ll find yourself able to nurture yourself as a writer and sustain a long-term creative life.

As summer is beginning to come to a close, at least where we are located, and the new school year is set to start, we know there will be more changes to your writing schedules. New challenges will arise, but taking this time in the summer to reflect will only help strengthen your writing. We also encourage you to find a community of writers, even if it’s a small group of 2 or 3 or you, to connect with and provide each other with accountability, support, and guidance.  

Celebrating Yourself

You are resilient amidst the ups and downs of life. When you embrace your adaptability, honor your  intuitive rhythms, and seek inspiration from diverse sources, you can thrive in any season. It’s important to celebrate each “win” along the way no matter how big or small. 

We invite you to subscribe to our email list to be the first to know about our weekly podcast episodes and upcoming group programs for writers!

If you prefer video versions of the podcast or want to leave a comment on this specific episode, you can find all of them on our YouTube channel.

Transcript

0:01

Welcome fellow writers to the Inspired Writer Collective podcast, your go to hub for all things writing. We're your hosts, Elizabeth and Stephanie. Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or just dipping your quill into the ink well of creativity, we're absolutely thrilled to have you with us. Drawing from our experience in publishing diverse writing genres and the daily grind of showing up for yourself, we're here to be your writing companions. Expect insightful discussions, expert tips, and a dash of inspiration as we navigate the twists and turns of the writing journey together. So whether you're listening on your commute, during your writing session, or just relaxing at home, get ready for an immersive experience that celebrates the art and joy of writing. Hi,

Elizabeth: 0:49

Um, our writing practices. This has been especially noticeable for each of us in our writing this summer. Summer. Now we both have school age children and so therefore our lives revolve around the school schedule in the sense that all of a sudden in summer there's a whole different repertoire of activities than there are during the school year. There's an uptick in travel and that sort of thing that is not, you know, available or accessible while the kids are in school. And especially for me, I have a huge increase in my child care demands. During the summertime. This is a time where not only do I have my own kid, but I also make some additional income by keeping a couple of other kids, which means that the days I used to spend sitting here in this office working on my writing. Um are trickier to manage so we'll talk a little bit about that throughout this episode about how we've navigated that how we've Succeeded or not succeeded yet in those endeavors so if you're feeling that that grind of the summer and that change of pace and the fact that you have to make some additional or different shifts to your routines, then listen into this episode. If nothing else, we'll you may be able to commiserate with us. Um, or maybe we can offer some kind of tip or insight that you find to be helpful. Stephanie, give us a little bit of an update because it's been a minute. Um, give us a little bit of update of where your writing is and what your sort of writing practice looks like in this particular moment.

Stephanie: 3:00

So, in this particular moment, I can't say that my writing practice is very interesting or one that I would say anyone should model their own practice off of now, because I'm It hasn't really been happening much because I've been focused on not only my children and my family and travel and there's just been a lot of other writing pieces that have come up, um, with respect to keeping up with posts and our podcasts and all kinds of things. So that has occupied a little bit more of my mind, um, than. My own writing and part of it could be just a little bit of that avoidance because it sometimes feels hard to show up when I'm not sure exactly where I am. Although I will say that when I do finally sit down with my writing, And I, I can easily pick up where I left off. so it's just that piece of get it, you know, as they say, like, get your butt in the chair, like get to the place or space or wherever it is that you write the best and, um, I mean, I will say that the last time I did a word count on my manuscript, I had over 20, 000 words. something is there I'm, you know, working with. So that's exciting to see that. And it has evolved and changed. And I think I may finally have a focus. We'll see. As of you listening who are working on your own projects, you know how things can ebb and flow and change sometimes with where you think it's going, and then all of a sudden, especially for me with fiction, characters all of a sudden do something and I'm like, wait a minute, that wasn't the plan, or that wasn't the direction I thought it was going. yeah, so it's kind of an interesting place to be. But we're definitely here to talk today about where we've been and where we hope to see ourselves going to Engage with our writing practice. So elizabeth, where are you right now with your writing?

Elizabeth: 5:15

Um, I have struggled to carve out a consistent time for writing. So we started out the summer with our, you know, time to write sessions. Um, I had scheduled them for early mornings because, you know, all the kids show up around 8 30. So I figured, okay, I'll do from seven to eight. Um, and it, it just was not ever a time in the morning where I felt the creative juices flowing. I was still like trying to have my morning cup of coffee and get into the groove of the day. And. You know just was really struggling to get any sort of effective writing done during that time Um, I definitely, you know do better when I have the chance to write with you stephanie And that was a time that's protected in your schedule for your own family And so that was not a time that you were available So then we tried a different iteration where we switched to the afternoon, trying to take advantage of when the kids I watch may be either napping or having a quiet time each day. And their nap times, because they're all, you know, four and a half and five, have fizzled throughout the summer as some of them prepare to go to kindergarten and everything. And so that also became a very difficult time, even on the rare occasions where the kids wouldn't interrupt me the entire session.

Stephanie: 6:27

Silence.

Elizabeth: 6:34

use of my feminine energy to the creative use of my feminine energy. Like I just felt like it was already drained. It was already accounted for. It was already used up and there wasn't really anything I could draw from to do And so it has been, you know, a consistent struggle and trying to find different solutions, testing them out for a period of time, ultimately finding them to not be super helpful. Um, I have been able to keep up with my journaling pretty consistently. which is helpful, uh, especially as a memoirist, you know, making sure that I'm documenting this awesome trip or this, you know, first camping experience and that, you know, it could all end up in future short stories or later memoirs. So I know that that's important to do. And I have been keeping up with that. But as far as showing up in my own writing, that has not happened. I've been using my one day a week, which is, On mondays to do all of the podcast guest recording guest recruiting all the pre interviews we do in screening um, and i've even recorded some Guest podcast episodes that haven't been released yet. Like as we're where I appear as the guest on other podcasts So i've had a number of things like that that i've been Doing so really my like open time that my kid free Time to devote to writing our business has been strictly towards the podcast For this summer, which is great because I think we've really been able to deliver some really high quality guest interviews And I hope that that You know diverse set of minds and experiences is helping to add some You know just different insights and diversity to our conversations So I I really am enjoying that but my writing has definitely suffered throughout the summer I have come to terms with it more so and just knowing that Once the school year comes again, and you know early august this isn't going to be the way it is forever. It doesn't mean that I've given up on my writing or that I'm not as passionate about getting the writing done or about writing the memoir or or getting those stories out. It's just I have to recognize that this season, especially with young kids, can It can derail a little bit and that doesn't have to be permanent. Um, but also trying to force it is not really working great either.

Stephanie: 9:04

Yeah. No, you bring up so many good points, especially. with how you're sort of processing and coming to terms with it, especially from a mindset perspective, because I think sometimes as writers, we We can be really hard on ourselves, we, you know, we think, okay, we're not doing enough, or we're not writing enough, or, um, you know, there are different ways that we view where we are in the process, or we think we want to be at a certain point, and if we're not there by a certain time, it can be, feel really defeating. I think it's good to remember, like you were saying about the changing seasons of time recognizing that sometimes they're just going to be those times in life at any stage really, um, where things will come up that don't allow you to take the time in the same way. And, and like we talked about, we did, you know, try to schedule it. And it was like, as soon as we put it on the calendar and scheduled time, All of a sudden it was completely disrupted by different factors in our life and then we were like, okay, well this isn't gonna work. And then, and then too, like you, I wasn't always feeling the particular time that we scheduled, like that I was ready creatively to sit down. And that too is a challenge is, I mean, we love writing in community and being able to write with each other and being able to write with others that we know who are writers. And because it does really motivate and inspire just the energy. But of course, with all of our commitments with family and children and travel and whatnot during the summer, um, it just isn't always realistic. And so to be able to say like, okay, what is realistic and, you know, keeping up with your journaling. Awesome. I got back to my morning pages, which for those of you listening, if you're familiar with Julia Cameron and the artist's way, that's, um, that's her big platform that. She talks about all the time about the power just, and hers is, you know, just complete stream of consciousness. have to have any real train, you know, train, specific train of thought, which has been helpful. Um, because if you have listened to previous of our podcast, um, in episode 32 with Ian Tenenbaum, where he talks about as an, You know, the and the need to just dump all your thoughts on the page. That's been helpful for me because while I'm not like officially diagnosed, I've definitely giving myself my own, you know, diagnosis here of falling somewhere on the spectrum. so that's been interesting to bring. That back in and to recognize that some days that's all I do. And that's enough. Like I wrote something um, you know, eventually it'll bring me back creatively, uh, to my own work. But I think too, just thinking about the seasons and how with all of the different changes that happen. being, just being aware of that in, you know, your own writing life and what that looks like. And to allow, give yourself grace in those times. because I think when we're hard on ourselves, at least I know for me, stunts my progress even more.

Elizabeth: 12:44

Absolutely, and I've, I have been able to take some of this time because my time is more fragmented or I could get interrupted at any point. Um, The kids do play largely independently, um, and we go to the park every day. And so I can sit, you know, under a tree and I'll bring whatever book I'm currently reading and my highlighter. And, you know, I have gotten a lot more reading done this summer, which has been helpful.

Stephanie: 13:09

Silence.

Elizabeth: 13:24

you know I've done a lot more reading than I typically do when i'm super immersed in my own writing So the reading has come back and that's um That's been a nice way to sort of fill those gaps and still feel like I'm growing as a writer. Recently, I started picking up Shelly Reed's Go as a River, um, and just even seeing her verb usage is just like phenomenal. Like, she just uses the most gorgeous verbs, um, And so, you know that exposure to to other people's writing even is still helpful

Stephanie: 14:02

Silence. Silence.

Elizabeth: 14:04

think it just comes down stephanie to mindset and

Stephanie: 14:07

Silence.

Elizabeth: 14:08

Yes, try a couple things see if you can figure out what works for you some people have the discipline of just

Stephanie: 14:14

Silence.

Elizabeth: 14:15

it out and sitting and doing regardless of how they feel, um, for me, I'm just at the point in my life where I'm, I try to do the things that feel like good and right in my body. And I try very hard to listen to that deep, like intuition. And so if I'm not feeling it, I try to ask myself, what is it that I need right now? And if that is a walk instead then I allow myself to go for that walk instead um, and so yeah, that means I haven't gotten a ton of writing done, but I also I know this process, like I've been in this writing process for so long, it feels like, that even when I take like larger breaks from the writing, just like I had to do last summer, this is not a new phenomenon that summers are a different change of pace in life. I usually come back to the writing with a renewed vigor and some additional insights and clarity, and so I am kind of keeping that in the back of my mind, like this doesn't mean it's a detriment to my writing process. I'm gaining all sorts of, you know, insights and things that I'll be able to pull on when I actually do have the time to sit down and And put some, you know, larger, you know, word counts to paper again.

Stephanie: 15:32

Well, yeah, and you're so right about the power of rest and I know we have a very early podcast episode, um, on that. have to go back put that in the show notes when this episode comes out. But, yeah, the The power of rest to, you know, bring ideas to let ideas kind of mull for a little around, you know, sort of be tossed around in your head for a little bit before they actually come out. there's so much power in that. And it's easy to forget that because, of course, we live in a culture where oftentimes rest is frowned upon. It's seen as, oh, you're not being productive because you're resting when, in fact, a creative person, it can be one of the most productive things you do. Um, and I love that you, know, ask yourself when you're in a moment of, you know, well, what do I need right now? And that's such a powerful aspect of self care. you know, that's so important as writers for us to remember the value of self care in our lives. And especially when we get busy and we have a lot of things we're juggling, it can be hard to say like, it's okay for me to rest or take a break or do something. Different or do something for myself. And especially, you know, as moms, it's even harder sometimes to say like, Oh, it's okay for me to do something for myself and it's okay for it to not be something that I'm working on, you know, professionally or whatever it is. Like I can go, you know, for a walk or I can go, you know, soak at the hot springs or I don't know, whatever it might be that, that you enjoy. And of course, Going back to thinking about, you know, Julia Cameron and Morning Pages, she also talks about the power of a walk. And I've found recently that one of the things I've been doing when I'm walking recording little thoughts for myself, um, and That's been really helpful for me to go back to, to just, you know, have things where, my ideas are, I can go back and listen to them. so that's, uh, a strategy that when I don't really feel like sitting down at my computer or putting pen to paper, that has been really helpful. And so again, I mean, as we were just talking about, like the different strategies that can come up, To help you still feel like you're moving yourself forward. Like you said, with reading, I mean, I too have been reading so much more. And we do have a lot of podcasts episodes here where we talk about how much we can, we've learned from, other authors. And so that's also powerful.

Elizabeth: 18:26

Yeah, and you've been on a lot of trips too where I know you've sent me, you know, text messages like Oh, you wouldn't believe what just happened with my rental car. That's something I could use in a story You know, you've been taking notes of these various, you know experiences that you've encountered Um in all sorts of your travels and just day to day life that I think will provide valuable insights or content um frameworks for your Your fiction as you dig back into it again as well

Stephanie: 18:57

Yeah, that's been, I mean, that's been one thing too. I keep thinking like, oh, I need to text this to someone so that I don't forget because I forget like, oh, I could open my notes app. But it's more fun when I can, you know, share something that's sort of outlandish where you go like, really, this is really happening to me right now. Um, and so I do think it'll add, you know, great content for, for my novel. And, um, So yeah, so that's been, that's been fun. And, and I know, I mean, you've, you've shared too, that even some of your newer stories, how they, you know, are going to be great for, you know, future projects, or even as we've talked about getting our work out there in the world, you know, writing a short story and. Submitting it and you've, you've had something already submitted that was published, which is awesome in this season, you know, in this past seasons that have passed. So, um, you know, there are always things that are important to celebrate. I know that. I've been listening, I was listening to, I can't remember what I was listening to because I listened to so many different podcasts and such, but there was something about the power of celebrating wins and how important that can be for just, even if it's a small win, like, Oh, you know, I wrote a sentence or I, you know, posted on Instagram. Instagram or I sent my email newsletter out or whatever it might be, you know, you can celebrate because of course, as writers, the other pieces, we wear so many hats, even if, even if you have a traditional publisher, I mean, if you've been listening for a while, you know that Abby Jimenez is one of my favorite authors and she does the majority of her Marketing. I mean, you don't see the marketing coming from her publishing company, except for when she has a book coming out, you know, she's posting stories about her dogs and she's posting, you know, stories about her writing and she's, you know, I mean, just all the different offers when books are this and that and the next thing. And so that's also important to remember that no matter what kind of publishing path you're on, there's always going to be some piece of needing to show up for yourself. And so that can, You know, be a lot of decision making and that's why the power of, you know, celebrating even small wins can be so helpful for showing up for yourself.

Elizabeth: 21:26

Yeah, and I think honestly one of our biggest wins has just been our consistency with these podcast episodes Like even as we've both had numerous trips and on various parts of the globe Um and our other like family obligations. We've still been able to put out an episode every week We've been able to bring in guests which has been so You interesting and intriguing and just breath of fresh air to me. And so many of those conversations, I know I'm going to want to revisit, um, even as I get to writing again, but even just going through those and being a part of them, recording them, you know, it, it keeps me motivated to keep going.

Stephanie: 22:07

Silence.

Elizabeth: 22:22

dust like

Stephanie: 22:23

Silence.

Elizabeth: 22:31

like I I know when school starts again I know there might be a little bit of like transition time into that routine again

Stephanie: 22:38

Silence.

Elizabeth: 22:45

chunk than even what I was doing in the springtime, just to like jumpstart again in the fall. You know, I've been doing lots of hiking, lots of outdoor activities throughout the summer, this is sort of the peak time where we live to be doing those sorts of things, rafting trips and 14ers and that sort of thing. So it's like strike while the iron's hot, take advantage of those things that are only seasonally relevant, and then get back to the writing, but don't fall into this, you know, mental trap that means that, you know, It's the end or that's how it's going to, you know, forever be Um, and just remember that, you know, make a plan for picking it back up and what that's going to look like I've certainly learned a lot about my writing Process through this, you know, you and I both have talked a lot about the fact that we just we work better We write better words when we're writing together, you know, not only is it the accountability piece, but I just i'm I'm able to get just more in the zone when I have that structure, when I know someone else is doing it to where I'm not just logging it out on my own. Um, that's a really, you know, pivotal piece for me. So that's really helpful to learn because then as I move forward, then that's something like when we can let's write together. Let's identify those times in our schedules that we can write together and continue to offer that to our community. Because it's so helpful for my writing.

Stephanie: 24:08

Well, yeah. And as we've talked about before, especially after we went to the conference earlier this year about, you know, a couple of the authors talking about how they had formed their own little group of, uh. You know, writers of, you know, there were three of them in that group and we've certainly known other people who have, you know, or three or four in a writing group and just the power of that and whether you come and join us during our writing time or, you know, find your own people that I definitely agree with you. There's something about that, know. accountability, you're getting the energy from someone else. I know for the times when you and I haven't had that opportunity to write together that oftentimes I have to make myself leave the house. I have to go to a coffee shop. I have to go, um, someplace else. And I, I am someone who is able to, you know, write with that noise around me. Sometimes I put my headphones in and just kind of, You know, dim the sound, you know, turn down the sound a little bit so that I don't have to hear all of the conversations. But of course, too, like, as a fiction writer, sometimes little nuggets of on conversations can, you know, can add something or inspire something or just observing people out in the world. Uh, because of course, So oftentimes I much prefer to be at home and not be out in the crowds and all of that, but there is definitely good stuff out there for the right for writing inspiration But yeah, like elizabeth said, you know sort of learning for yourself and reflecting on you know, what what works for me my process and for me as a writer, and sometimes it takes time to get to know exactly what those pieces are. Um, and certainly if you're shifting into something new, um, I know for me, you know, the shift to fiction is very new. And so sometimes I think one of my blocks is like, oh, I'm not good at this. And I have to remind myself that You are good at it. You're just beginning and everybody's a beginner some point. And so it's just to work through and be okay with it not being, know, the way I want it to be the first time out, which is also something I struggle with. Um, so

Elizabeth: 26:37

I was listening to a podcast on a hike recently I think I told you about this. It was with Tim Ferriss on I think Modern Wisdom Chris Williamson's podcast and he was talking about writing One of his later books not even the first one the four day work week. Uh four hour work week. I mean, um It was one of his later ones and he talked about something about like 19 drafts and four total rewrites and it was so helpful for me to be listening to that because it was like Oh, okay. I'm only up to two total rewrites. So I'm not completely off base And even just listening to certain podcasts and content um, I found to be really motivational and inspiring for You know continuing to push forward and continuing to You know think about the writing to work on the writing in whatever capacity I can Um, and so, you know listener if that's helpful at all to you to find those podcasts maybe like this one Um that just helps you stay motivated Then I think that's amazing If you have other podcasts that you really enjoy mention those in the comments so that the whole, you know Community can see and add to our repertoire. There's plenty of listening hours to spread You don't have to be devoted to just one writing podcast Um, we are so grateful for the subscribers, for the regular listeners, um, and we hope that your summer and your writing projects are going well, and if they're not, living up to what you had hoped they would be. Hopefully this conversation today has helped you realize that you're not alone in that. And we will all be taking on, you know, some bigger writing pushes in the fall when the season changes and when the schedule gets back to something a little bit more like normal. Um, but thank you for listening. Please share with anyone that you think could use this episode and let us know what your favorite guest has been over the past couple of weeks.

28:37

Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of the Inspired Writer Collective podcast. We hope you found inspiration, insights, and connection to yourself as a writer. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe, and leave us a five star review. Remember, the power of storytelling lies within each of us, and by supporting one another, we can make a difference. We invite you to schedule a coffee chat with us on our website, www. inspiredwritercollective. com. Just like our style here on the podcast, our coffee chats are casual and a way to connect about your writing. You can also become a part of our community by connecting with us on social media. You can find us on Instagram and YouTube at Inspired Writer Collective. Let's continue this writing journey together. You can find links in the show notes. Until next time, fellow writers, may your pens be mighty and your stories captivating. Happy writing!