END OF THE YEAR WRITING BREAK

/ D.L. Finn, Author

Hi SEers! Denise here today to talk about taking an end-of-the-year writing break.

I like to set aside the last two weeks of the year to spend with family and enjoy the holidays. I hope everyone who celebrated yesterday and all the other seasonal holidays, including today’s Boxing Day, found some joy and magic.

Today, I appreciate the leftovers and maybe some good deals on holiday items, but I also start looking toward the new year.

It’s only a few days until that ball drops in Times Square, and 2022 is gone. I spend this week reflecting on the past year and feeling hopeful for the new one.

There are projects I didn’t get to and many new ideas I want to embrace. This is the perfect time to catch up, relax, and decide where to spend energy in the new year.

End of the Year Writing Break Ideas

  • Take a moment to appreciate all you’ve accomplished this year. You may not have gotten to everything, but every word written, read, or new skill learned is a reason to celebrate!
  •  Give yourself a break from social media. We have a wonderful community, and we want to offer our support all year, but taking some time for ourselves is okay.
  • Put your current work aside. This always allows us to come back with fresh eyes and ideas.
  • Try something new. Have you wanted to write poetry, a short story, non-fiction, or start a journal? Now is the time to do it!
  • When was the last time you tidied up your website? I admit to being behind in updating many areas of it. This break gives me the time to do this.
  • Spend some time reflecting on your past. Flip through the photo albums and watch the old videos. Enjoy the past while acknowledging all you’ve learned.
  • Do nothing. Maybe you need some downtime to watch movies, read, or hike in nature. You know best what will replenish you.
  • Set some goals for the new year. Do daily word counts or setting up a time frame for your first draft work for you? Does announcing your intentions help? I don’t make New Year resolutions, but I decide when to release a book and how to take better care of myself. There are always setbacks, but I believe in putting the intent out.
  • Does your office or where you write need a good cleaning or organizing? I know mine does!
  • Is your computer up to date? It needs a checkup and some maintenance, just like a car or us.
  • Hang out with family, friends, or your pets. Enjoy some laughs and good company, and make fresh memories.
  • Go look at the decorations before they get taken down, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in town, go to the mall, take a walk on a local nature trail, play in the snow, or go swimming. Have some fun!

What about you? Do you take a break, and if you do, what do you do?

52 thoughts on “END OF THE YEAR WRITING BREAK”

  3. I love this. I deleted my Facebook account earlier this year, and it has been so wonderful! I am taking a short hiatus from my blog until after the new year so that I can catch up on some other things that need to be done (including finishing writing my first novel and some of your tasks that you shared in your list). Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope that you have a happy New Year 🎊

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    • I love you found something to cut out you didn’t need or use! Great you can focus your time on finishing that novel and catching up. Thank you! Happy New Year to you as well 🙂

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  5. A wonderful reminder, Denise. I do take a break from social media and writing at the end of the year. Usually the last week or so. It helps me to re-charge. I spend time with family, which allows me to appreciate those I have in my life at this point. But when the new year arrives, it’s back to work. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  7. Wonderful advice, Denise. I’m still on break 😊 and loving the time with family. Doing anything out of the ordinary opens our eyes to the miracles around us. We need these breaks, and you’ve offered ways to feed our souls. Thank you! ❤️

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  8. This is terrific advice, Denise. I have a proposal due after the first of the year, so I wanted to take a little break after it’s turned in, but I’m afraid I’ll be getting hit with edits on another manuscript. That said, I’ll definitely make the time to play around with my nice new 2023 planner! Happy New Year! xo

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    • Thanks, Jill 🙂 Playing around with your planner sounds fun! I hope you get a break between your commitments. Happy New Year! Xo

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  9. I always take a writing break toward the end of the year, Denise, although this year it was more of a forced break because of coming down with a wretched sinus infection. Even so, it certainly helps to step away from social media and online commitments just to refocus on self and family for a while. Wishing you a Happy New Year!

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    • It is wonderful to take that break and enjoy family and ourselves! Sorry about the sinus infection, though, those are miserable! I hope you are feeling better. Thank you, Happy New Year to you too 🙂 xo

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  11. Great timely advice, Denise. I have definitely taken a break from social media and visiting blogs, but will return full force soon! Thank you for these tips. The end of the year is such a great time for reflection and acknowledging accomplishments. They should never be taken lightly!

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    • Thank you, Jan 🙂 I’m continuing my break, and always miss visiting blogs. It is such a wonderful time for reflection and counting our writing blessings. Here’s to a creative new year!

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  13. Sound advice methinks. Advice that I probably will not follow but good advice none the less.
    The one thing I did do (taking your advice though I had not read this list at the time) was to stop social media for the month of December. I could post from a central hub but not read anything. Anyway, that only lasted two weeks (lol- I am here- reading this) but here is the thing. In those two weeks I started a new novel from scratch, produced four new short stories (two of which are rather good) Tidied up my website (much needed) and wrote a couple of magazine articles. In the two weeks since I started back on social media, I have …done a little editing.
    No wonder I called this sound advice.

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  23. Pingback: END OF THE YEAR WRITING BREAK — Story Empire – Typography

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