The perfect weather for writing

February can be a bleak month. How do you overcome periods of

lethargy and re-energize yourself creatively and otherwise?

by Dietrich

The cold months might just be the best time for writing, the bleak of

winter driving me indoors and to my desk, while the nicer weather’s

more likely to tempt me outdoors with all of its balmy distractions.

Personally, I like the changing seasons and I try to make peace with

whatever it’s doing out there, even when it’s cold and wet for long

stretches. Inside, it’s always warm and toasty, and it’s where I can

write up a storm of my own. 

I don’t often feel lethargic at this time of year, but there are things I

would consider to shake off any doldrums that might show up.

Pursuing another creative outlet can be rewarding and also re

energizing. I’m often working on different art projects or I’m

picking up my guitar and noodling away. 

Sometimes, it’s nice to just get out and go for a coffee with friends.

Or, if it’s raining sheets, I might turn on all the lights in the house,

put on the fire, turn up the heat and bake a batch of cookies and

make the place smell nice. Cookies have a way of fixing any gray

mood.

A visit to the gym or going for a long walk can keep me from

feeling like a sloth. And it’s a heck of a way to work off that

impending big cookie-butt too.

Laughter is also a great way to avoid the glum. Switching on South

Park and watching Kenny get killed again and again is always good

for a chuckle — as is watching comedians like Dave Chappelle,

Jimmy Carr, Greg Davies and Sarah Millican. 

And filling the air with great music — playing tunes that feel

empowering or ones that evoke happy memories — it’s uplifting

and has a way of transforming any dull mood.

Writing a to-do list and ticking off things that I’ve accomplished is

yet another way to counter feelings of inaction and boost my mood

— just look at all the things I’ve done today! 

And a nice reward for those earned ticks is to put on a record and sit

by that warm fire with a good book, one that might also inspire me

to get back to writing.

The Bleak Midwinter

 

1. Feb. 3 Group 2 - February can be a bleak month. How do you overcome periods of lethargy and re-energize yourself creatively and otherwise? 

 If there was ever a bleaker February, I don’t remember it. It isn’t lethargy I have to overcome; it’s rage. So in order to avoid the topic that brings that on, I’ll just go with the last part of the question; how I re-energize myself creatively and otherwise. The best way, of course, is to take a long, wonderful vacation. I’m thinking lying on a beach with a tropical drink:

Or maybe a little swimming, a little snoozing, and a lot of beach reading. 

But that isn’t always possible, so here are some mini-vacation ways that I energize myself. 

 Art—A good play, opera, symphony, art museum, or gallery. 

I didn’t mention moves or TV series because although they might be satisfying, part of the energy boost is getting out! So it might also be going to a craft fair. The trick is to immerse myself in the experience. Really look at the art, really listen to the music, really get engaged with the theater. 

 Outdoors—a hike, a bike ride, a bird-watching expedition, a drive to someplace beautiful that I’ve never been, an excursion to a flower conservatory,
or a neighborhood garden walk.

Again, the renewal comes from paying close attention. Look at the tree trunks, look at the tiny flowers on the hike, stop and find out what kind of succulent that is in the garden. 

 Food—cooking it and eating it. I love to cook, especially for a group. I like to sample new recipes, combine things so they look beautiful on the plate, and prepare them carefully so they taste exquisite. But I also love to eat out. There’s a particular restaurant here in LA that always has a new twist on the dishes they serve. The menu changes often and it’s always an adventure. It seemed like a passing fad, but a lot of people used to post their meals on social media. I always enjoy looking at the photos. I think the visual aspect of cooking is almost as important as the taste.

Drink—I don’t mean slugging back a so-so glass of wine. I mean ordering a cocktail that is inspired, or paying a little extra for a bottle of wine that is a gorgeous color, has a wonderful scent (oh, excuse me, nose), and tastes divine. But it doesn’t have to be alcohol. I have a friend who brings over exotic teas, and I love sampling them. A well-made cappuccino is satisfying, and it isn’t just the caffeine that’s restorative, but the smell and taste. 

 Reading—I read so much for work (editing, blurbing, editing my own work, reading because I promised I would, book clubs), that sometimes I forget to read my favorite authors or a book that sounds intriguing. When I’m feeling gutted creatively, I can really get renewed by reading a well-written book. Or sometimes it doesn’t even have to be well-written if it has characters I can engage with or a plot that intrigues me. I do have to admit, though, that if it has more than a couple of grammatical errors, I don’t find it satisfying. 

 Conversation—a good, in-depth conversation with one or more friends where there is laughter and good will can be just what I need to renew my creative spirit. (and good food and drink during the conversation does hurt either).

I’m looking forward to many of these conversations in five weeks when Left Coast Crime kicks off in Denver!

Getting Creative in Gloomy February

February can be a bleak month. How do you overcome periods of lethargy and re-energize yourself creatively and otherwise? 

Brenda

Living in Canada, the winter months can be gloomy. At the darkest stretch, the sun sets about four-thirty in the afternoon, adding a few minutes of sunlight a day after the winter solstice, but it is still getting dark around five o'clock as I type. The sky is often overcast, and we usually have snow or frigid temperatures with the odd above-seasonal day. The warmer temperature melts some of the snow, which later freezes when a cold front comes through, making walking and driving hazardous. Little wonder we Canadians are obsessed with the weather, heading for southern vacations when we can this time of the year.

I spend more time indoors in January and February than other months of the year. My way of escaping is to write. Sometimes, though, it's difficult to make myself settle down to work, but I have a few tricks to get myself energized and focused. 

First, I open the manuscript that I'm currently working on first thing in the morning on my laptop. I reread whatever I wrote the day before to get my brain thinking about the next scene. I don't force myself to get started at this point unless the feeling moves me.

I normally work out in the morning and find this is the best way to get energized. The days I don't feel like exercising, I bribe myself by saying, just do this exercise and you can stop ... then I go on to the next and usually complete the entire routine. I also curl a couple of times a week and find this break from the house and all concerns helps to refresh me. Curling is a very social sport, so interacting with others balances the solitariness of writing.

In this regard, last week, our chapter of Crime Writers of Canada held a social gathering that I helped to organize. Seventeen experienced and new authors got together over dinner and drinks to talk about our writing and the business. It was fun and invigorating.

When It's time to sit down and get to it, I often light a candle, sometimes turn on the gas fireplace - set a calm, creative mood. Music playing in the background is also helpful for creativity. I aim to write at least 500 words a day, especially important this February because I have a June 1st deadline to submit the manuscript to my publisher. A deadline certainly is a big motivator, but setting my own goals keeps me on track.

Reading also stokes my creativity, and I always have a book on the go. Watching a movie or another creation motivates me as well. I started watching Mad Men last week (never had watched an episode before) and find relaxing and taking in an episode or two clears my mind. I use it as a reward when I hit my word count for the day.

I used to dislike February because it's the middle stretch of winter when we're all tired of the cold and snow, but I've learned to embrace the early darkness and the opportunities to write with fewer distractions.

If any of my ideas help to spark your creativity, then my work here is done :-)

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