
Imagine this. You’re sitting at your desk, toiling away on your latest manuscript. It’s been a frustrating few hours (or days, or weeks, or years) and the words aren’t coming together the way you’d like. You decide to take a break just as the doorbell rings. It’s the mail carrier with a registered letter for you! You accept it, and then stare.
The letter is addressed to you in your own handwriting, with the title “writer” in big bold letters before your name. And the postmark is from five years in the future.
You tear the envelope open with trembling hands. What advice is your future self sending you? Is it the name of the agent or publisher certain to accept your work? The plot for a best-seller? A slice of your future royalties?
None of the above. Yet the words are still important — perhaps the most important you can send yourself.
What does the letter say?
THANK YOU.
Every day, even on the bad ones, you’re creating your writer self of tomorrow. The decisions you make, the efforts you take, the food you feed your brain, all play a part in your future. How mindful are you of that path?
If you’re like most writers I know, not as mindful as you could be. Writing is often an “extra” in our lives — something that gets squeezed in around everything else. Here are some suggestions for changing that and making it the priority your future self will thank you for.
Pay yourself first. It’s sound financial advice, but as writers our most precious commodity is often time. Are you putting writing at the top of your to-do list?
I started a bullet journal in January, and after a few months I noticed a trend. Writing was always on my list of goals, but almost never at the top. Even though my list isn’t always ordered in number of importance, I thought the place I’d mentally assigned it was an interesting tell on how seriously I was taking my craft.
So I made a conscious effort to change. I now put “write” at the top of my monthly, weekly, and daily goals, and when I set my schedule every Sunday, I actively seek out and protect those times on my calendar when I can carve out an hour or two for my manuscript. This effort hasn’t just resulted in more writing time. It’s also helped me change my mindset about how much of a priority writing needs to be for me.
Invest in education. Pick a conference that’s far enough in the future that you can save up to attend. (The next Writer Unboxed UnConference, anyone?) If that’s way beyond your wallet’s capabilities, how about a local class? An online workshop? A new book on craft? An old one borrowed from the library? There’s something out there that will fit your budget and stretch your brain. Find it.
Create your tribe. Look for people who will help you level up — who take the craft of writing seriously, who invest their time and energy in getting better. These are the people who on days when you just can’t find the time to write, commiserate — but then encourage you to put your butt in the chair even if it’s only for 15 minutes. The people willing to endlessly discuss plot, point of view, and character development. The people who read your writing with an honest eye, giving you the gift of feedback.
How do you find these people? Look in places where writers congregate — this community is a wonderful place to start, but so is your local library and bookshop. But by far one of the best ways to find these people is to be one of them. Like a post, leave a comment, strike up a conversation about a book or an author, join a writing group. Be the encouragement you’re seeking.
Develop a routine that feeds your mind, body, and spirit. It’s hard to create when you’re stressed, unwell, or drained. Take the time to care for yourself. Sleep, exercise, and explore activities that bring you joy and offer respite both from the hard parts of this world and from writing itself.
That’s my list. What are YOU doing today that will earn a thank you tomorrow from your future writer self?
About Liz Michalski
Liz Michalski's (she/her) first novel, Evenfall, was published by Berkley Books (Penguin). Liz has been a reporter, an editor, and a freelance writer. In her previous life, she wrangled with ill-tempered horses and oversized show dogs. These days she's downsized to one husband, two children and a medium-sized mutt.
Hey Liz – Maybe it was something born of this week in particular–all of this planning and preparation for others. But as I was making a big pot of soup yesterday (for something hot to put in the bellies of my wife’s family, who will be stumbling through our door in staggered pairs and squads over the next 48 hours), I almost inadvertently stumbled upon a kind thought. Which isn’t so strange, except this kind thought was about me… Or rather about my work.
I passed my inadvertent kind thought about myself along to a writer friend (as in, “get this”), who (very kindly) affirmed the truth of it. Which made me realize how rarely I’m kind to myself, or even acknowledge how long and hard I’ve striven, writing-wise.
It’s a wonderful boxed-set you’ve offered here, Liz: the gift of mindfulness packaged up with the forethought of gratitude. May each of us include our own efforts as we count our blessings this Thanksgiving, and then mindfully strive to be worthy of more gratitude on this week next year.
Thanks, Liz. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
So many people talk to themselves in a manner they’d never use for other people Vaughn. I’m so glad you were kind to yourself and found affirmation with a friend. I’ll offer mine here too — you are a wonderfully kind person and writer! (And Happy Thanksgiving — good luck with the soup!)
My butt is in the chair today, and it will be again tomorrow. Even on the days when I want to give up, I do my grumbling from here. My way of time traveling evolved out of my struggles with Resistance. I imagine my 90-year-old self looking back and being glad that I stuck with it. Even on my darkest days, I feel gratitude for being given this wonderful obsession to weave tales. Thanks for a wonderful post and have a grand TG.
My butt needs to get in the chair soon, Susan! I’m impressed by your tenacity. Good luck with the weaving of tales, and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
All excellent points, Liz, at a time of year that lends itself naturally to reflection on the bigger picture.
I’m going to start gifting myself Sunday trips to the university to write. There’s a room there filled with hushed intent where I find it easier to dig deep.
PS: I’m a fan of bullet journals, too. (Was modifying a Moleskine before that became a thing.)
How did I not remember that you do a bullet journal too, Jan? We could have exchanged tips in Salem.
Your Sundays sound lovely — I hope they come true for you. Thanks for commenting and for your advanced read and help!
I love this post. That is all.
XXOO
I love this post. I procrastinate too much, which becomes a burden for my future self. I was just thinking the other day that would never treat a friend that way. I would not mess up their plans because I was too lazy to do something. So I’m now trying to think of my future self as a friend. I need to treat her better.
That’s so astute Julie. Learning how to treat yourself as well as you treat the people around you is an important skill and one most of us need to work on. Good luck with it!