Well hello there, Reader!
If a month were a marathon, it would be December. Forget the Twelve Days of Christmas. It’s more like the Wicked Winter Dash. 😮💨
On Saturday alone, I had to go to my little cousin’s (my cousin’s son) 4th birthday party. 🥳🎂
Then go home, change, feed the cats, 🐈🐈 and drive an hour across the Bay to a dinner with my dance friends.
Then head to my dad’s to help him and my brother clean out all my mom’s old clothes to donate to charity. 👗👚 (She passed away from leukemia this past Spring.)
Needless to say, Reader, it was a lot. And it was only a day. And December has 31 of them.
So if you’re like me and your winter is an exercise in, “how long can I run on this treadmill of life before I fall flat on my face?”
Here are 3 ways to squeeze some writing time into your busy holidays:
1) Utilize Notes apps
Are you currently trapped in an even longer CostCo checkout line now that everyone’s discovered how awesome they are? (And they’re basically boycotting the other guys.)
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 January!
✴️ 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
December is a busy month between community events, work parties, and rehearsals for the holiday pageant. Which can mean long hours away from your ideal story writing environment.
But don’t let those hours sitting on a folding chair 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 wrapping presents, baking that latest batch of holiday cookies, or sticking stamps on greeting cards? 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 create some holiday cheer.
✴️ Did you know that same Apple Notes app can also create audio notes?
Well, Reader, I hope these tips help you keep up your creative holiday cheer this winter. Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully festive week.
Your cohort in storytelling,
Kat Vancil
🐱
PS 👉 What’s your favorite terrible holiday movie? Hit reply and share!
Our favorite new addition is It’s a Wonderful Knife, which combines It’s a Wonderful Life + campy comedy slasher flick.
Did your friend, co-worker, or some rando you met at a con forward this email to you? First off, they have good taste.
Secondly, you can join the Storyteller's Saga too, and get edutaining emails delivered to your inbox weekly by clicking the golden button below.
|
|
Steven J Morris
Hi! If you enjoy fantasy with snarky humor, I've got some books for you. My newsletter takes you along the creative journey, and keeps you informed of what's brewing. |
