I can’t believe that summer is already winding to a close. Kids are back at school, and soon the weather will turn cooler and the leaves on the trees will change into more festive autumn colors.

This summer has been especially difficult. Heat waves with high humidity, intense storms and smoke from wildfires have forced me to stay inside my apartment for much of the summer. You’d think that would motivate me to write more, but it didn’t. During the summer months, my mind turned to mush. If it hadn’t been for my writer’s group and weekly sprints, I probably would not have written a single word!

That got me thinking about the impact of the seasons on our writing routines. I’ve noticed that my routine and motivation slows down during the summer months, while my writing kicks into high gear in January when it’s bitterly cold outside. During those long, cold days, it’s easier for me to focus on creative pursuits to pass the time. 

Likewise, spring seems ideal for cleaning, decluttering and redecorating. I feel more energized then. I’m in the frame of mind to revise my work in progress and cut out unnecessary scenes and characters that slow down the story. Meanwhile fall is the time for reflection and education. Attending a conference, learning more about the writing craft or simply dreaming of your next story idea might be on the agenda.

Just as nature goes through periods of growth, rest, renewal, and abundance, so can our creativity, writes Marianne Jennings on her Substack, Weekly Writers Check In. “Your writing can have seasons too. That’s not a weakness; it’s wisdom.”

By paying attention to your own patterns, you might notice a rhythm to your writing behavior.  The key is to observe those patterns without judgment or criticism, says Jennings. Then take advantage of those seasonal patterns by creating a routine that taps into your most productive energies. 

Depending on your situation, your seasonal writing practice might look like this:

Winter – With less daylight at our disposal, you might feel inclined to have shorter writing sessions. Or if you’re like me and hibernate when it gets cold, you immerse yourself into your writing projects. Much like curling up with a good book, why not write one during the winter to keep your heart warm and keep your creativity flowing?

Spring – It’s a time of fresh starts, deep cleaning and planting seeds for the future. Spring might be the ideal time to take out a manuscript you had buried in a desk drawer, dust it off and tackle a revision. LIke cleaning out closets, you might cut unnecessary scenes and characters. Maybe you prefer to plant the seeds of new story ideas, then water and care for them so they grow into mature projects. 

Summer – There’s plenty of daylight to work by, so some writers might enjoy longer writing sessions or sitting out in the garden surrounded by nature and warmed by the sun. Or perhaps you move those creative writing sessions to the early morning to take advantage of early sunlight and stay out of the heat. For others, summer is too busy to write, packed with outdoor activities, fun times with family and friends. Writing might take a back seat then because you feel less focused. Instead, you might use the time for observing the world around you, people watching and taking notes for possible new stories.

Fall – With the school year starting, fall can feel like a fresh start in a different way than spring. As kids return to school, you might decide to do the same by attending a conference, reading up on craft or joining a writer’s group to get feedback on your work. Fall is about changes too. You might decide to experiment with a different genre or rethink your writing process. Other writers find the fall time to be a period of reflection, so they might daydream plots and characters. 

Every writing season is different, and no two people will experience them the same way. Be aware of how the seasons affect you then adapt your practice to their ebbs and flows. You may find a more productive way to arrive at “The End.”