Writing Through the Holidays: Creative Routines in Busy Seasons

Let’s be honest: November through December can be a whirlwind. Family gatherings, travel, school events, gift-giving, emotional highs and lows… it’s a beautiful season, but not always a spacious one. And yet, many writers feel pressure to keep pushing through—to meet arbitrary deadlines or maintain daily word counts despite mounting obligations.

If that’s you, take a breath. Here are a few gentle reminders:

• You’re allowed to scale back. Your creative life will still be there in January. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is give yourself grace and come back refreshed.
• Small steps count. If you do want to keep your momentum, redefine what productivity looks like. Jot down title ideas in your Notes app. Read a picture book with your morning coffee. Scribble one paragraph, not five.
• Find moments of inspiration in the season itself. Holiday traditions, sensory experiences, and time with children can all plant seeds for future stories.
• Protect some “you” time if you can. Even ten minutes of quiet reflection or journaling can anchor you in your identity as a writer, even during chaotic weeks.
• Above all: be kind to yourself. You are not behind. You are a writer, even when you’re not actively writing.

So whether you revise a manuscript between cookie batches or simply think about your next project while stringing lights, know this: your creativity is still alive. And it’s waiting for you—whenever you’re ready to return.