I had planned to write this blog post as a summer vacation trip idea for writers. However, with COVID-19 flipping everyone’s plans on their heads, it’s hard to say whether or not summer vacation will even be possible this summer. If you still want to get out of the house and write in the wilderness, keep reading for some social-distancing-safe tips for writing in the woods! If you’ve read my blog post on writing at the beach, you might see some overlap with a few of the tips, but what can I say? Some of these were just too good to leave out! If you haven’t yet read the post, click here to check it out!

Of course, we’re all trying very hard to keep a safe distance from each other, and with regular travel out of the question, we’re quite limited as far as summer fun in the sun goes. If you’re an introvert and/or a writer, this might not be the worst time in the world for you, and in fact, I have been enjoying the extra time at home! However, I too am starting to go a little stir crazy after being cooped up in my house for months on end (and not of my own volition).

Secure a stellar view

First things first: you’ve got to find a forest nearby. Obviously, you want to be safe, both for pandemic and general forest safety reasons. But check around to see if there are any camping sites you can visit safely during this time. Some parks may still offer campsites to visitors as long as they keep a safe distance from other park patrons. If you live near a more rural area, then this may not even be an issue for you. Just be mindful of park pests, bugs, and bears!

You want to find a nice, secluded area if possible. The serene sounds of the forest will help you stay focused while you work on bringing your next fantasy novel to life.

Set up goals for the trip

Of course, a writing vacation must entail some amount of writing, but it’s likely you will want to plan other things to do when you’re not writing, as well. Consider planning hikes, stargazing, and fishing trips if there’s water nearby. Additionally, you should outline your goals for writing. Consider your project and decide how much you actually want to get done on your trip. Then, cut that amount in half. If you end up completing more of the manuscript than you initially thought, awesome!

Get down and dirty with nature

Go hiking, fishing, swimming in the river. Cut up your own firewood and build a campfire. Test your survival skills and try to build your own shelter. Put all of the techniques you learned, from watching Naked and Afraid, to good use while you’re in the woods. If you’re writing a fiction based in the wilderness, having first-hand experience will increase the believability of your story and worldbuilding within. Additionally, pretending fend for yourself in the wild will immerse you in the moment and enrich your experience.

Soak in the stars and solitude

There’s something so serene and calming about being out in the woods. Use this opportunity not only to stay focused and productive but also to employ some mindfulness. For most writers, it’s not everyday that they get to just sit out under the stars and write the night away. Be present during you trip so you can make the most of it.

Make sure to pack all the essentials

There’s nothing worse than getting to your destination and realizing you’ve forgotten something you knew you needed to pack. I’ve made a little mini list for writers to ensure they’ve got all the right tools in their toolkit for writing in the woods.

• A comfy set of clothes for hiking in (don’t forget the boots!)

• The Novel Planner for Authors by Kristen Kieffer

• On Being Stuck by Laraine Herring

• your Story Binder and a pencil!  (if you’d prefer using a laptop in the woods, bring a solar charger so you never run out of power!)

• a notebook to jot down random ideas and inspiration

• a novel in another genre for leisure reading

• Bug spray. Don’t forget the bug spray.

• You might bring the anti-itch cream too, just in case…

Bring a friend or family member

If you’re quarantined with others, it can be hard to keep from biting off each other’s heads after being stuck in the house for months on end. Instead of being irritable, allow everyone to get some fresh air in the forest. Even just a change of scenery can work wonders for your relationships—both with loved ones and with your writing. On the flip side, if you’re quarantined alone, consider taking a solo trip into the woods! Just be sure to leave the horror books/movies at home if you’re travelling solo!

Limit your exposure

If you do end up bringing your electronics with you into the wilderness, make sure to set them down. It’s nice to capture the beauty of nature in the occasional Instagram photo, but don’t let notifications and DM’s keep you from achieving what you initially set out to do—get closer to finishing your novel, and experiencing the beauty of nature through your own eyes instead of a camera lens.

Write, rest, repeat.

Like I mentioned earlier, you will want to have plenty of activities planned, including writing and not writing. If you want to make the most of this trip, then take everything in moderation. Make time for writing and make time for resting. Then repeat. To have a meaningful AND productive writerly vacation, all it takes is a little discipline.

Make time for cold ones and fireside chats

Sitting by the fire is a fantastic time to get introspective. Chat with others if you’ve taken a family trip or write some poetry beneath the stars. Don’t forget to pack an extra cooler with your favorite booze for those late-night, fire-side chats. Consider sharing your favorite creepy stories or having a heart-to-heart with loved ones whom you might have taken for granted during this chaotic time.

Don’t get stuck rewriting.

It’s probably the hardest piece of advice in this entire blog post, but seriously, don’t get stuck rewriting. Work on writing only while you’re travelling and save the editing for later, once you’re home and once you’ve completed the first draft. I know it can be so hard to quiet our editor brains, but we have to if we want to write effectively. Remember, the edits can wait, but the writing can’t. Stay focused and happy writing.

That’s it for my 10 rules for writing in the woods. If you want to check out my blog post on 10 rules for writing on the beach, click here! Leave a comment telling me what you thought and if you’ve ever done any of these, or if you have any tips of your own be sure to let us know below!

Thumbnail photo by Gabriel Sanchez.

—Payton