What if life never got in the way of writing? What if I told you there was a way to guarantee you’d always be able to write? (Even if you have “writer’s block.” Even when you don’t feel like it. Even on those days you can’t get out of your own way.)
Clearly I can’t guarantee anything, but I can tell you WRITING IS A CHOICE. (So is everything else you do.) To make that choice, you may have to make other tough choices. It’s all about making writing a priority. And to do that, you need to be prepared.
What is a survival pack?
One morning I was texting my friend Dede Nesbitt (also an Admin Assistant here at WU) about my writing productivity woes. I was distracted by everything. Everything. Everything. It was one of those days I didn’t feel like writing. I was “stuck” on a difficult scene I wasn’t sure how to resolve. I’d been dragging around the house and hadn’t gotten around to exercising or showering. She was having a similar day (although to be fair, her problems seemed much more pressing: her two young kids and dog were energetically running around the house because it was a teacher in-service day. She was equally frustrated, though, that writing was often taking a back seat to… well, lots of things.).
Anyway. You get the point.
We texted back and forth about what to do about it. During the course of the conversation we came up with the idea. We needed something, some way to protect our writing, to make our writing top priority, to make sure we were able to write everyday. In short, we needed a way to survive. Survive as writers. To rescue our writing. And that’s when we came up with the—wait for it—survival pack.
You Are Not Alone
I know what you’re thinking. Come on. A survival pack? What does that even mean?
Think of it.
You’re stuck on a particular character or scene and you avoid your work in progress. Or your kids are sick. Or you’re not feeling well, but you’re not so sick that your life is on hold. Or you don’t feel like you have time to write—just that hour between dropping your car off at the mechanic and making dinner. Or you really don’t have time to write: you work full-time and after you put your kids to bed when you usually write, you just want to sit down with a glass of wine.
Maybe it’s even worse… maybe you’re so far out of the writing life, so off your writing game you can’t imagine finding a way back to your work in progress.
Or even to writing—at all.
Here’s a Case Study (hint: this is me): I have a manuscript in the middle of revision, but I was not making great progress because I have an overly-active and reactive rescue dog who needs (or thinks she needs) to go out every five minutes. I was flying by the seat of my pants for meals, going to the grocery store every day. I wasn’t exercising regularly, and every morning I meandered to my writing, visiting several social media sites before I even started writing (Instagram is my drug of choice so that also entailed going out and getting the best photo possible for the most likes possible). After I sat down to work, if I got stuck on a scene, I’d go back on Instagram (gotta check those likes, right?) OR I’d do something even more embarrassing to admit: I’d play Two Dots on my phone.
Before survival pack, I would panic or give up. That’s it. The day is shot. I can’t overcome inertia. I can’t write. Why even bother? The day would be a total loss.
Survival Pack in Action
I have an old green Army rucksack; Dede has a high-tech ice climber’s backpack. The secret to survival pack isn’t what’s on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside: pre-planning, anticipation, prediction of what could go wrong. Life gives us all challenges, but these are obstacles and not dead end/road block/turn back now signs. You can make a plan—a survival plan—for (almost) every eventuality that can get in the way of your writing.
This is the heart of the survival pack.
1. Plan Ahead. Look at your calendar a day or week in advance. (If you don’t have a planning calendar, this is a good time to get one.) Is there a time that won’t be good to write? Are you a first thing in the morning writer like me? But maybe one day you won’t have time? Then plan for another time. CHOOSE.
Real life problem: I’m a morning writer but my friend Renee can only get together for coffee in the morning (she has a kindergartener). If I get together with Renee, it interrupts my flow and I “can’t write.”
Survival pack: When I can’t write from 7-11 as usual, I’ll write later. Yes. I will. If I meet Renee at 9, I’ll come home at 11, and I’ll write until 1. If I feel like I can’t, I’ll text Dede and she’ll “encourage me.” Accountability partners are game changers.
2. Create an optimal work environment—physical, emotional, and mental. Exercise everyday. This is critical for me before I even sit down to write which means getting up a little or a lot earlier. Practice mindfulness. Acknowledge the things that are going on in your life that you can’t control and then let them go. Acknowledge what you can’t control and plan for what you can. If you know you need a snack or cup of coffee in the middle of a planned writing session, keep a bag of almonds next to your station and keep your coffee in a to-go cup by your desk.
Real life problem: I’m up against a deadline and I don’t have time to exercise first thing in the morning. Later in the day it’s too hot or I’m too tired.
Survival pack: I will exercise after I finish or I will take a break and exercise because my physical health is a top priority. Not to break into song, but… there is only one me.
3. Predictable Problem—make a plan. You don’t feel like writing and you already didn’t write yesterday so what’s the point? Your dog wants to go out for the third time in an hour. Assess. Is she sick or just bored? Your in-laws are coming to visit for a week. You know you’ll be entertaining them all day long or even just in the morning. What will you do to make sure you can still get writing time? Make a plan in advance.
Real life problem #1: My daughter’s rescue dog lives with us, and she is the most energetic dog I’ve ever seen (think leaping over furniture in a single bound), and she wants me to take her out all the time. This is distracting.
Survival pack #1: Give Milo the pup a Kong toy. Put in time (away from writing time) to train her. Determine her nap schedule.
Real life problem #1: You’ve got too much going on in the morning to write (and you won’t have much time later). What can you do?
Survival pack #2: Read what you’ve most-recently written the night before you go to bed so when you do have time to write, you can hit the ground running.
4. Disaster Planning—plan for the truly unexpected. Okay, this is arguably your toughest challenge (it is mine). Your kids are sick. Your dishwasher is on the fritz and you need to call a repair person. You sleep through your alarm. Your car breaks down. You wake up sick. A friend needs some help. In advance of anything like this ever happening, you have a plan. You put it in your survival pack.
Real life problem #1: My computer loses a blog post due Monday (yes this happened with this post and it ate into my fiction and exercise time).
Survival pack #1: I go back to exercising and writing my WIP after I finish the post… more about this later.
Real life problem #2: Your kid throws up at 5:30 a.m., and now he’s home sick from school.
Survival pack #2: You step away from your pen and paper or computer and turn your attentions towards your child—assessing their needs, and making them comfortable. You then print out the chapter you’re editing or grab notes you’ve brainstormed and do the best work you can right where you’re at.
A Word about Tough Choices
Sometimes small fixes aren’t enough. You’re starting a new job. You’re moving across country. Even worse. An important relationship ends. Someone in your family is seriously ill (or you’re seriously ill). Things are really tough—really tough—and the pressure is on. Writing is truly last on your mind (or maybe not on your mind at all).
A few months ago I wrote a blog about adaptation, specifically how my husband’s depression was affecting my writing. When things got tough (for him and consequently for me) I tried all the smaller fixes I’ve mentioned above. Unfortunately, I was still distracted and not very productive. Finally, when doing my survival pack assessment, I realized smaller, incremental steps just weren’t enough. I realized I needed an overhaul. I needed more time and emotional energy. I made the tough choice to stop writing for a book review blog I’d contributed to for two years. A week ago, when that didn’t feel like enough, I made the even tougher choice to step down from being an assistant editor here at Writer Unboxed, something I’ve loved doing for three years.
I want to write fiction. Bottom line. I want to get published. It’s the highest priority in my life behind my family. And I need to give it the respect it deserves. I owe that to myself and to my writing.
Sometimes you might even choose to take a break. That’s more than okay. Life sometimes requires breaks. Remember. Survival pack is all about choice. Making those sometimes-very-tough choices. Not letting life happen to us, but actively making choices about what will happen, how something will go.
Case Study (this is still me): My computer ate the first draft of this post. I thought about writing to Therese (all things Writer Unboxed) and telling her I couldn’t do it. But I didn’t. I chose. First I texted Dede, and with a little nudging from her (she told me I had to do it), I re-wrote the blog, I exercised, and then I revised ten pages of my WIP. It wasn’t easy, and I had to own up to myself and to Dede that I was thinking of skipping both the exercise and the fiction, but I didn’t skip anything. I exercised. I worked on my WIP. I chose. #survivalpack
It’s all about choice. I can choose and you can choose, too. We can do this.
What are your biggest challenges? What does your survival pack look like? What’s in it to deal with your challenges?
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About Julia Munroe Martin
Julia Munroe Martin (@jmunroemartin) is a writer and blogger who lives in an old house in southern coastal Maine. Julia's other passion is photography, and if she's not writing at the dining room table or a local coffeeshop, you'll likely find her on the beach or dock taking photos. Julia writes The Empty Nest Can Be Murder mystery series as J. M. Maison.
I love the way you emphasis choice here, showing how those choices can be large or small, and how they can fit into various scenarios. Thanks, Julia!!
Thank you for your kind words, Lisa. I’m so thankful you’re one of my accountability partners! Couldn’t do it without you! xox
((Julia)), you are absolutely right that it’s up to you. This should be every struggling but perseverant writer’s daily mantra:
The most potent survival pack helpers for me have been notes-to-self (see: notes from a desk series), and a word-count meter — just a piece of paper with my ultimate word-count goal to the right and my progress bar, colored a little bit more every day.
Do what you must, but do, and without regrets or apologies.
Finally… We have been extremely fortunate to have your help here at WU for three years, Julia. You have done so much good, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the time you’ve spent on behind-the-scenes work at WU; I have a sense of just how many hours you’ve volunteered here. But I’m proudest of this step you’re taking right now — for yourself, for your story.
Write on!
Thank you. For these kind words, for sharing your survival pack, for the opportunity to work together, and for… well, for everything that I might have missed thanking you for. You are the best. Yes, write on. Onwards. <3
Julia, I could feel that nervous energy through your post. But you made the right choice. Writing is not only a gift you give yourself but to others who need to hear your words. And it’s true for your fiction as well. Why yes, it’s been one of those weeks last week and I thought I could get back on track but now kid#2 is down and I’m scrambling to get him on meds without having to make an appt. which will be a colossal waste of both time and money since I know what’s going on. I’ve already given up on today but I shouldn’t. Yes, the morning is shot but there will be the afternoon … Thank YOU.
YES! You can choose to write this afternoon! (Although with sick kids, sometimes you can’t of course that’s harder.) I’m glad it resonated, and I so appreciate your kind and supportive words! Happy writing!
Wow, Julia, your post resonates with me as well. Been one thing after another with personal health issues for the past several months. Although healing and resolution is happening, it is a long, slow, slow, process with at least a couple more months to go before I’ll be fully up and running.
Patience. Perseverance. Pushing through the discomfort and pain even for a few minutes is my survival pack as I continue editing my completed novel. And when that seems impossible–letting it be okay to rest and regroup.
As always, you touch on the important issues…of life, living, and following the call of writing…thank you.
Hi Micky — thank you so much for your very kind words. I’m so sorry to hear about your health issues but glad to hear you’ll be up and running soon. Sounds like you have a plan going forward for the survival pack, and that’s awesome! Here’s to writing. xo Julia
What a helpful post! Writing doesn’t seem to be easy for anyone, though the individual challenges vary. This is good to hear because it can be discouraging to read about those writers who report feeling divinely inspired to the point that their work “writes itself.”
In my case, it’s the mental energy that is difficult to summon when life gets in the way and the distractions exhaust me before I even sit down.
Thanks, Julia.
I thank you for your kind words — I agree that it’s so comforting to talk to other writers and have the commonality of writing not feeling easy. And I know exactly what you mean with this… it “is difficult to summon when life gets in the way and the distractions exhaust me before I even sit down.” I’ve been there too. Take care and here’s to writing.
Julia:
Your post was the first thing I read this morning and it described what I was feeling exactly: everything happening all at once. The cat, the car, the lawn all demanding attention. Thanks for reminding me that we can’t control what life throws at us, but how we respond is ultimately our choice.
You’re very welcome, Christine. And that’s a really good way of putting it… “we can’t control what life throws at us, but how we respond is ultimately our choice.” Love that. Hope you had a good writing day!
I love this. Thanks, Julia. Thinking of writing as a choice–as well as many of the distractions–has helped me make more time for writing in the last few years. And accountability partners are key!
So glad you like it, Jess! And yes, writing is definitely a choice for me, and our Tuesday calls are a true accountability touchstone. I can’t imagine my week without talking to you!
Great post, Julia. I use a lot of the tricks you mentioned: planning ahead, snacks, exercise, etc. But I also use reading WU. When I’m feeling not very much like a writer, I read a few columns and get inspired. Thank you to you and all the other contributors and makers of this work.
That’s awesome that WU is in your survival pack! Yes! I’d agree that the inspiration from other writers (in print or in direct communication) is so so helpful and encouraging. Here’s to the writer community of WU!! So happy to hear how you get inspired!
Well, you already know my survival pack is the little red backpack that I took to UnCon. It makes sense, since it’s quite literally a survival pack already–it carries my epi-pens and safe snacks and bandaids–so the metaphor is powerful. It includes my planner, my colored pens, and of course lots and lots of stickers. I have my UnCon shirt and my NaNo winner shirt and my Star Wars hoodie to wear when I need a little extra magic. I have one of Marta’s necklaces to remind me to persist. I have my boots for when I need to be brave. Those are all great for mindset.
I also have my wheelhouse, which might be the most useful thing. (For those who aren’t familiar with it, the wheelhouse is a thing I learned at a workshop with Maggie Stiefvater and Courtney Stevens. It’s a way of looking at what you have available to draw on to fuel your writing.)
The interesting thing is what I’ve added this month thanks to doing Story-a-Day: skills and habits. I’m taking Cathy Yardley’s advice and tracking when and where and how I write, and I’m learning how to set myself up for success. I’m planning ahead for days I won’t be able to write after the younger kids are in bed, so I get it done earlier. I’m saying no to things. It will be interesting to see how I can apply those things next month, outside the Story-a-Day structure.
YOUR PACK!!! How could I forget it — and I now wonder if subconsciously it inspired the survival pack! You’ve already implemented the very spirit of the survival pack and I love that the wheelhouse and Story-a-Day skills and habits as well as Cathy’s tracking have been added to it. LOVE this, Laura Jane!!
Thank you, Julia, not so much for the specific suggestions (though they were great), but more for the underlying message – don’t let yourself be a victim (of circumstance, needy dogs, or whatever). The victim mentality instead of the survival pack mentality has often led me to depression, and that’s like a suffocating layer that tends to stick and drag me down. From there, writing doesn’t happen.
No question, there are times when we have to drop everything and take care of what’s in front of us – particularly when it involves the life and well-being of ourselves or others. We all know those times, and I think we all understand not to blame ourselves when they occur.
And there are times when things are crazy and everything that can go wrong does, and it’s important, though not life-threatening. Your survival pack notion gives each of us the freedom to find what works for us and put it to use, and if we can’t think of anything, you’ve given us lots of ideas to keep the writing flow going.
One reason this strikes home for me is that I may well be moving cross country in about a month. If that happens, I’ll have my survival pack ready to write on the road…
Thank you for your kind words, Carol. I love the idea of the survival pack hitting the road, and I can imagine how critical it would be! I like this and agree to not “let yourself be a victim (of circumstance, needy dogs, or whatever).” I have also had the feeling of suffocating where writing doesn’t happen — so hard when that happens. But I’m glad to have given some ideas for what might work to give the freedom to write. It’s what we all hope for: the writing flow. Take care, and all luck with the move.
This is a very inspiring post. I’m currently in the position of driving both my daughters to and from work with no end in site. (neither of them drives for very good reasons). Since my younger daughter works 30 minutes away from home and for only 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, I pack up my stuff and work at the library where she works. It’s not ideal but I get it done.
Bonus- the head librarian has started calling me her “author in residence” and is planning a reading and launch party when I publish!
You have me great ideas for being even more organized and committed when I get hit with “life.”
So happy you got ideas for how to get more organized and committed when you’re hit with “life” — thank you! And happy that the post resonated with you; your comment really resonates with me because at times this year we’ve had one car, and I’ve had to drive my husband to work. It sure felt like I was commuting too… but not going anywhere, LOL. So I think the library would’ve been a very good option (if I hadn’t had the dog…) As for the head librarian calling you the “author in residence” and planning a launch party? AWESOME!!
Julia! You make such good points about taking the time we can control and making deliberate choices about how we spend that time. It’s really inspiring and a good reminder to be careful about our time where we can (which is often more time than we might want to accept.)
Thank you, Nina — for reading and for the comment. Means so much. It’s really true that we often have more time than we might want to accept… that’s an important reminder, too!
Julia, I’m late to get here but hope you still see this note. Thank you for the survival ideas in this post–as someone who carries a backpack pretty much everywhere, I love the metaphor and definitely will remember it. I hope you writing goes well! Thank you for working with the WUnderstudies/guest post authors. It was wonderful to work with you. (And see? I’m trying to stop just lurking!)
Heather! So so happy you stopped by to comment — THANK YOU for your kind words! — I love that you have a physical backpack and that you’ll keep this tucked away! And it was all my pleasure to have had the chance to work with you. So happy that you are now no longer a lurker!! Way to go! Let’s stay in touch. I’ll be excited to see where else your writing goes. Take care!
Oh this is you Julia! (happy rescue dog)
All the while I was reading my head was nodding, “yes. yes. yes.”
I’ve been so distracted lately. My first draft needs a huge plot revision. And I don’t feel like I have the energy for that right now.
I have a new story in mind — and this time, learning from my mistakes of drafting first novel — I’m plotting it extensively. I’m not as disciplined about sitting down to think and sketch out plot lines.
But I’m excited about this quirky new idea I have.
I’ve got to head to the library or somewhere away from all the todos around here. Make it matter.
A good idea about tracking writing habits. I need to make changes. xo
Hi Jamie! Glad you can relate (well, you know what I mean…) My current manuscript also has major issues, so I get that. I wish I had a new story to write (my mind seems obsessed with this one problems and all). Quirky idea! That sounds cool! Agree on the getting away from home to focus. Now, if the rescue dog could stay alone I’d be golden! Thanks for the comment, Jamie, sounds like you’re on a good path! xox