To plan or not to plan summer writing projects, that is a critical question:
Let’s not pretend. All research and scholarly writing projects need a plan—a systematic way of coordinating tasks through time to help you manage what can often feel unmanageable.
We could go into our summer months without a writing plan, but, knowing the benefits and how writing planning helps protect our summer fun time, why would any of us really want to?
Before the glorious and distracting months of summer are upon us, we will benefit greatly by taking some time (10-30 minutes) assessing where we are in relation to our current writing projects and goals. No matter what those are or what career stage you are at.
Early career scholars and senior scholars alike benefit from reflecting at the close of the spring semester on what they accomplished and what they will either put on hold or continue to work on over the summer.
Your summer writing plan can be as simple as putting a current project on hold. Taking care to leave notes and information that will make your fall return to the project easier. You may also be less tempted to worry or ruminate about the project if you know it is well contained—awaiting your return.
Your summer writing plan can be as complex as creating a list of tasks associated with each section of each article, chapter, proposal, or other project you wish to complete by August and then mapping a path to completion on your summer writing schedule and calendar. Not for the faint of heart.
Many of will plan somewhere between these two options by identifying a project or two that has been languishing or ready to start and that we will pick up with renewed energy.
Again, take a few moments to sketch a plan in a form that works for you—or if you do not yet know what works for you, experiment! Summer months are a fabulous time to practice and learn about you as a writer, today, as you are.
Writing retreats are also a great way to build planning and build writing into your summer. Low-stakes and just the right amount of social pressure to get some good progress made.
The payoff for planning your writing is that you can also plan for and take summer vacations! What rest or recreation adventures will you take this summer knowing that your writing projects are progressing as you wish?
Until we meet again, may your writing be brief, frequent, low stress, and highly rewarding!