10 Rules For Writing Your Book In The Woods (COVID-19 Social-Distancing Safe Summer Vacation Ideas!)
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.
Brilliant campfire. Photo by Ringku Singha.
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.
Illuminated tents at night. Photo by Cameron Vaughan.
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!)
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…
Family walking through campsite at golden hour. Photo by Jon Cartagena.
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
Spring Break For Writers: 10 Rules For Writing Your Book On The Beach
With Spring break right around the corner, I think it’s high time we start planning out our travel writing goals and getting together a list of things we’ll need to make the most of our writing vacation! Have you ever traveled to write? Or perhaps you’ve written while travelling? No matter the reason you’re on the road, you’ve got an incredible opportunity to get out of your usual writing environment—one of the leading cures to writer’s block, so make use of your time away from home write with your newfound inspiration and motivation!
I spent an entire month one summer (June-July 2016) in Port Aransas, Texas and it was amazing for my creativity. I wasn’t working on a book at the time, but I was writing multiple poems a day and designing my website, the latter of which required charismatic copywriting. Getting out of my usual writing space was monumental for my writing following that summer because it kickstarted my creativity in a way that prepared me for when I got back home and began writing the first draft of my fantasy novel.
Even though I was on vacation, it wasn’t all fun and games. I did have to do some writing to make sure I made the most of my time there. To keep you on track with writing while travelling, I’ve made a list of 10 rules for writing on the beach!
Beachy patio view. Photo by Sabel Blanco.
Secure a stellar view
I’m not kidding. If you don’t have a gorgeous view from your balcony, what’s the point of writing on the beach? Ocean-front lodging is a must if you’re a travelling writer. Not only is the view beautiful and awe-inspiring, but you’ll have plenty of photo opportunities. This is a must-have for any content creator, really.
Set up goals for the trip
Just like any other writing challenge, you should outline your goals. Establish a word count and a daily expected word count and outline your novel. It’s like preparing for NaNoWriMo—in order to make every moment of this creative trip count, you should do as much planning as possible, beforehand. That way, you can focus on writing and enjoying the sun while you’re there. Scrivener is a great tool for story outlining and even has a word count tracker that allows you to set a projected word count and keep track of your daily writing goals.
Soak up the sun and solitude
It’s not everyday you can wake -up feet from the sand and sun—that is unless you actually already live on the beach, which if that’s the case, I a) envy you and b) don’t know why you’re reading this blog post and not enjoying the sun!
Take writing breaks by walking in the sand, sunbathing, and swimming. Enjoy everything the beach has to offer and be sure to really absorb the experience. When you’re writing, enjoy the solitude away from home. No sound, no interruptions, and no distractions. It sounds like a writer’s haven to me!
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 on the beach.
Don’t forget to bring these essential travel writing items with you on your trip to the beach:
your favorite pair of sunglasses
your Laptop—and the charger!
your Story Binder with all your writing notes
a notebook to jot down random ideas and inspiration
a novel in another genre for leisure reading
sunscreen. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
you might bring aloe vera too, just in case…
Limit your exposure
Vacation means “an extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling” and not “checking my phone every two minutes when I should be writing.” Yes, I am talking to you, dear reader. Don’t waste your valuable vacation time reading emails, hanging out on social media platforms, or checking your text messages. Limit your phone use and spend your time writing, reading, and enjoying the beach.
Of course, you do want to make use of that photo opportunity I mentioned earlier. Photos of the beach for Instagram are permitted. Bonus points if you take a selfie of you writing on the beach!
Catalogue the coffee shops
When you arrive, find the best coffee shops for writing and befriend the baristas. You don’t have to do all of your writing in the beach house or in the sand. I’d like to think you’re researching in the coffee shop, reading on the beach, and writing at the beach house/condo. Keep your activities compartmentalized for optimum focus and consume copious amounts of coffee for maximum productivity. Okay, maybe maximum jitteriness is more accurate, but this is my excuse and I’m sticking with it.
Talk to strangers
Yes, I know—your parents told you not to talk to strangers and while in most cases that is decent advice, don’t heed it while travelling. New places + new people = new conversations and new experiences! Chat it up with the locals and try to research your novel. Maybe your YA contemporary has a surfer guy in it? See if you can find a surfing instructor or rando on the beach that can lend their experience to your craft.
Make time for margaritas!
This is especially true if you’re travelling to any of the beaches in Texas. Make time to let lose and enjoy the free time. If you’re on vacation with friends, spend a night out and see the sights your destination has to offer. Grab drinks go dancing with the locals! If it’s just you, pop open a bottle of wine and read under the stars. Even though this trip is an amazing opportunity for writing, don’t forget to do the vacation-y activities as well.
Write, rest, repeat.
In addition to budgeting fun time into your travel schedule, you should also include time off from writing. You don’t have to write the entire trip and you should include some downtime for self-care that doesn’t include partying. Hit the spa, meditate, or strangely appropriate, take a long, walk down the beach and collect seashells at sunset.
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 safe 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 on the beach. This was my spin on another post from Shayla Raquel, so check out her post here! Comment below what you thought and if you’ve ever done any of these or if you have any tips of your own!
Thumbnail photo by Rodnae Productions.