5 Tips to Regain Post-Summer Writing Momentum

Welcome to “Ask the Coach.” As a writing coach, I answer questions from writers about making the work of writing happen, tackling craft, business, and personal questions along the way. (Have a question you’d like answered? Check the details at the end of the article about how to submit one.)

Today I’m responding to a question about recovering a writing practice after a busy summer.

Great question! Many parent-writers are in a similar boat, including me.

First, good for you for staying connected even at a minimal level — that will make it much, much easier to regain your momentum.

Here are some tips for getting back on track with writing when your writing practice has been disrupted by all the good stuff summer has to offer.

1. Remember, it won’t take long to reconnect to writing.

To start, don’t worry. Although you’re likely feeling disconnected from your current script, remember it won’t take long to reconnect and refocus once you give yourself a chance to write regularly and deeply again.

Since you’ve already been working on your script to a degree, try a read-through of what you have so far to remind yourself what you’re doing and why. Journaling about your script can help in this department too — reconnecting with your “big why” behind the script that inspired you to write it.

Then, set a goal to work on it regularly 5 to 7 days per week as you gear back up — for even just 15 minutes at a time. It’s perfectly OK to start gradually. Sometimes writers find restarting on full-blast can be procrastination-inducing, so give yourself some space as you rebuild.

Or, if it feels manageable to jump back into your prior schedule, go for it!

2. Update your writing schedule.

Speaking of your writing schedule, this is a great time to review your calendar and writing routine. As a parent, once your kids start school again, you’ll have somewhat more predictability in the coming days (other than when they catch their first colds for the school year!). Map out a schedule that works well with the more structured time you’ll now have available. It’s OK to revise your routine as things shift and change in your life (a constant state of affairs for parents).

3. Create supports to help you stay on track.

Then, build some supports to help you stay on track. This can look like taking a class, working with a coach or mentor, or buddying up with another writer. The idea is to give yourself some kind of “accountability” so you know others are expecting your work — a useful trick to help you stay motivated.

Alternatively, try setting a self-created deadline to help give yourself a timeline for your work.

4. Tap into the “back to school” energy.

There’s a convenient aspect to the fall energy of “back to school” we can all rely on right now — a sense of motivation and activation to recommit and move ahead with projects we’ve maybe let languish a bit. (I notice this phenomenon at the start of the year, in the spring, and in the fall — keep an eye out and lean on all three!) Give yourself permission to “start over” with this revitalized energy to take action and make writing happen. It can feel fun, empowering, and even exciting.

Don’t think of this as a slow, struggling reboot, but a fresh, happy restart.

5. Set a target amount of writing time for each day.

As you’re rebuilding your momentum and writing practice, decide where you’d like to be, writing-wise, after you’ve built a full head of steam again. An hour? Two? Eight? What’s the target writing time you’d like to hit each day? (Or aim for a certain number of pages or other milestones).

Be clear about what you’re targeting so you know when you get there.

Warmly,

Jenna

Rebooting a writing practice is something writers will periodically have to do, whether because of illness, travel, summer, or other life events. (More on a similar topic in my recent article about not being able to write the same way anymore.) The good news is that you’re coming off a summer of fun and reconnecting with the joy of writing! Enjoy it and give yourself the space you need to get back on track.

Thank you for reading, and happy writing.

Screenwriters, what challenges do you run into that you'd love to see us address in our articles? Take our short survey here, submit your question to be answered anonymously via my online form here, or email me directly at askthecoach@calledtowrite.com. Look for answers to selected questions in my monthly “Ask the Coach” column on the third Thursday of the month.

Find me on Twitter @JennaAvery and Bluesky @jennaavery.bsky.social.