If a season were a sport, summer would be a triathlon. 3 months of near constant movement, gaslighting ourselves that we can achieve everything we didn’t accomplish in the previous half a year.
And I’m no exception, Reader. I mean, in one week alone I had…
A national holiday,
A friend’s birthday party,
A board game night,
A doctor’s appointment,
Hanging out with my little bro,
My cousin’s daughter’s birthday,
A D&D game,
Plus working on my next novel and non fiction book.
Needless to say, Reader, it was a lot. And that was just one week.😵💫😮💨
So if you’re like me and your summer is less vacay and more “how long can I run on life’s treadmill before I fall flat on my face?”
Here’s 3 ways to squeeze writing time into your busy summer holiday:
1) Utilize Notes apps
Are you currently trapped in an even longer line at the airport ✈️ because reasons. 😒🐘 Then why not utilize the Notes app on your phone or Google Docs to jot down some story ideas?
It’s better to get them down now while they’re fresh in your mind. Because if you wait until you’re free and sitting in front of your computer, you might not get a chance until halfway through September!
✴️ Did you know the Apple Notes app is interlinked between your phone and computer? So whatever you create on the go can easily be transferred into your story document later.
2) Travel Notebook
Summer is a busy season between festivals, trips to the seaside, out-of-town visitors, and excursions to beat unreasonable heat waves. 🏝️ Which can mean long hours away from your ideal story writing environment.
But don’t let those hours sitting poolside keep you from getting your words in. Take along a travel notebook (like my upcoming Story Quest Log) to capture all that creativity.
✴️ Did you know all newer MacBooks come with Apple Dictation? This free usability feature allows you to easily transcribe pages from physical notebooks to computer.
To turn it on, just go to Apple menu 🍏 > System Settings, then click Keyboard ⌨️
I set my keyboard shortcut to launch dictation when I press the 🌐 key twice.
3) Voice Memos
Don’t have any hands to spare while slathering on the sunscreen, grilling up the burgers, or chopping up melons? 🍉 No problem, Reader!
Most phones and devices come with a free voice memo app or audio recording program. So just hit that big red record button and dictate your story ideas as you partake in the summer fun. 😎
✴️ Did you know that same Apple Notes app can also create audio notes?
Well, Reader, I hope these tips help you keep up your creativity even through the dog days of summer. ☀️ Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully festive weekend.
Your cohort in storytelling,
Kat Vancil
🐱
PS 👉 Fun Fact: The “dog days of summer” refers to the hot, sweltering period between July 3-August 11. Historically defined by the rising of Sirius, “the Dog Star.” Ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans believed the star’s brightness increased the sun’s heat and caused the rise in temperature.
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Sloan Fiffer | Editing & Writing Coaching
Sloan Fiffer
Hi! I'm a writer, editor, and writing coach. I help writers of fiction and non-fiction find their voice on the page and make their manuscripts better. I'm also a translator, language learner, and an estranged puppeteer & performer. I love sharing stories across borders of geography and form, and I love looking at what we can learn about writing from other arts & disciplines. |
