This year for Christmas, I decided to actually take some time off work for the holidays. I usually try to take a day here and there to enjoy the festivities, but this year has reminded me that it's important to slow things down and enjoy your time. Enjoy downtime - which I have very little of. Enjoy time with family and friends. Enjoy time doing the things you love. 

So, for the next two weeks, I am planning to work as little as possible. Yes, I will still need to be checking my email and staying on top of the urgent things, but outside of that, I'm really going to try and set work down for a bit.

What will I do with all my free time?

Well, number one, of course, is spend time with family. I've got all kinds of activities I want to do with my boy, and I'd like to take him on a couple of local adventures while we've got some dedicated time together. 

Number two is focus more on my writing. 

Now, I'm still healing from my dang hand surgery, but I've been able to make some really good progress on Fated over the last few weeks doing 10-20 minute writing stretches at a time. ​I would like to continue to do that, because I still can't write for more than about 30 minutes max without my hands bugging me too much, but I'd like to open up a few more times during the day where I can get in a 10-20 minute stretch. 

Why is this important to me? 

Outside of the fact that I have a goal to release this book in the spring, working on re-writing this story has fueled my passion for the trilogy, as well as for writing in general. I feel good when I write. I feel happy, like I'm doing what I'm meant to do. During my time off, I'd really like to focus on that feeling a little bit more intentionally. 

I think it's so important to dedicate time to focus on the things that you're passionate about, to chase your dream, to make progress in whatever it is that gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. 

​Anyway! Today's post doesn't have a ton of structure or meat to it, but I just wanted to share with you all what I'm planning, and I'll be sure to update you on my progress when I'm back to work!

Note: If you enjoy this blog, or you find any of my posts helpful or inspiring, please share them! We're all in this together. 

I'll also be sharing a reflection of how 2025 went for my author endeavors, so check back next weekend for that. 

Happy holidays, everyone! 

I hope you all are staying warm and safe out there! In my experience, winter is a time of year that makes it all too easy to feel trapped, unmotivated, uninspired, or even depressed. Any of you who have read my more recent poetry collection may have noticed that many of my poems of winter talk about how much I miss the sun. 

However, winter can also be a time of magic and wonder, and if you let it, this cold season can inspire like no other. Today, I wanted to share five ways that the winter season inspires my writing.

1. Winter night walks, particularly with the snow falling on the trees. 
I tend to have a really hard time with the short daylight hours and cold, dark, long nights. I love to walk, and I struggle when it’s too cold or too dark to go out. But there’s something really magical about going out in the dark and the cold, with that frigid fresh air, looking up at the dark silhouettes of trees against the colorful darkness of the sky behind them and snow falling all around. Especially if it’s those big, fluffy flakes of snow. 

When I was a kid, I’d deliberately look to walk after dark, because I loved the way the snow looked as it fell past street lamps. Looking into the sky at the snow falling like that always made me feel like I was floating in outer space. 

2. Peppermint hot chocolate and early mornings. 
These two things here do not have to be combined for me to feel inspired by them, but oh boy, when they come together, it’s one of my favorite winter things. I loooooove getting up early in the morning, long before the sun has even attempted to rise, turning on the lights to my Christmas tree, getting some cocoa or coffee, and curling up with my laptop or a good book. Early mornings are special to me no matter what time of year I get them, but the wintery ones always feel just a little bit more magical.


3. Sweaters and super fuzzy socks.
I feel like I don’t really need to explain this one, as I think a lot of people feel the same way, but I’ll explain anyway. Getting dressed in a soft sweater and some super fuzzy socks - especially when paired with a nice soft blanket - is an instant mood lifter for me. When I dress like this, I feel somehow more motivated to write or read, and I think that comes from feeling totally safe and comfortable. And gosh, who doesn’t love dressing like a cloud?


4. The idea of Santa in general.
Christmas time is full of whimsy and magic, and even as an adult, I still cling to that holiday time wonder. But now I get to share it. I get to share the holiday magic with my little boy, who is now old enough to really get into it. I get to watch the same wondrous glow on his face that I had as a kid every time he sees Christmas lights, or presents, or someone brings up Santa (or gingerbread. He’s super into gingerbread this year, even though we don’t ever have it at our house because I’m allergic to cinnamon). 

5. When the world is covered with fresh snow.
I love this situation when the snow is fresh and the world looks like a perfect frozen wonderland. When the snow falls like this, the world feels totally still. It’s picturesque, like an old painting, and it makes me feel like I’ve been transported to a quieter, simpler time. But it’s not just the overall picture or the feeling that I love about times when the world is blanketed in snow. I also love that everything looks so beautiful up close. 

The snow sparkles and glistens, making everything look like glitter has been dumped across every surface (without the mess). The way windows frost over in magical looking patterns, even the way those thin layers of ice form and break. It’s all just… beautiful. And I adore the way the world smells just before it snows. 

​I’ve mentioned in previous posts that my current major work in progress is Fated, the last book in the Bound Trilogy. This book pretty much exclusively takes place in winter, and it’s been fun incorporating snow into the different places they visit and the various battle scenes that occur. Because this book has such a snowy atmosphere, I’ve been grateful to have this more intentional outlook of the winter season this time around.  

So, you’re a writer. That means you have the power of words at your fingertips, which to me, means endless possibilities.

Today, I wanted to share a quick list of suggestions for things you can do with your writing this holiday season. If you can think of any others, leave suggestions in the comments!

Here is a list of ten things you can do with your writing this season:

1. Make your own holiday cards. 
It’s not very often that I buy holiday cards. I think they’re beautiful, and I love sending them, but I often feel like they’re just… too impersonal, written generically for everyone. One magical thing you can do as a writer is create your own holiday cards with words that come from the heart - your heart.

2. Write someone you care about a long, hand-written letter. 
In this day and age, it’s almost foreign for people to hand-write each other letters. This is something that my husband and I have always done, and we work to keep this up even when things get busy. To me, there’s nothing more meaningful than getting a hand-written letter from someone telling you how much they care. 

3. Write a poem. 
This is pretty straightforward, I think. There are tons of great emotions, scents, sensations and experiences this time of year that make for some great poetry fuel!

4. Describe what you love (or don’t love) about winter.
Whether you enjoy winter (like I do initially) or get tired of it (like I do after Christmas is over), writing about the things you love or dislike about the season can be a way to foster hope on those far too cold days, and remind you there are warmer days ahead.

5. Describe in vivid detail your favorite winter treat. 
In my experience, writing about food is a great (and super fun) way to foster creativity in new ways.

6. Write a winter-themed short story. 
Tap into the magic of the holiday season or winter in and of itself by writing a winter-themed story.

7. Write about your favorite holiday memory.
Again, I feel like this time of year is particularly good at bringing up some joyful memories. Take some time to reminisce, and really dig into those memories!

8. Write your own Christmas story.
Whether you rewrite a popular story or write your own from scratch, telling your own Christmas story is a great way to bring about the holiday spirit.

9. Reflect on your experiences this year. 
What did you enjoy? What worked well? What would you like to improve moving forward?

10. Write out your goals for the upcoming year.
I find this time of year is a great time to look to the future and set goals for myself.


I’d love to know if anyone has other great ideas to share. If you do, please leave a comment! If you do any of these things and would like to share, I’d love to read what you write! Feel free to email me!