Welcome to the busy season!

Ever tried to arrange a get-together with friends or more distant family in December? I know for one, if I want to-do that, I have to start planning in September. There is something about certain times of the year when every weekend could or is spent at some event or other. The summer can be like that until August when organisers, reckon no one will turn up because they’re on holiday.

Just a glimpse of the wall near our local supermarket tells the story; concerts, Christmas Fayres/Fairs/ Bazaars…chose your preferred word, are advertised in posters, banners, or signs using cartoon characters. I’m sure, if you tried, you could spend every weekend from mid November until December 25th attending something local and that’s without visiting any of the professional Christmas Markets, Winter wonderlands, light trails…The list is endless.

So it makes life harder for the writer who is trying to balance work, family life and some semblance of a personal life and squeeze in some writing. Perhaps we should all call a halt in December and admit defeat. After all, if you’ve completed the challenge of NaNoWriMo, that’s a n impressive start on any new work in progress.

But I’m advocating a different approach; enjoy the space. Savour what you’ve done and reflect. After all, who writes a novel with a massive life event on every page or even in every chapter? Although the writers of some modern soaps think differently with murders, attacks, revenge plans, sex, unwanted pregnancies, all in the space of one month. Is real life like that? I’m not convinced.

We all have days, weeks perhaps even months when life is at a slower pace, when nothing much happens. In our writing, these lowkey spaces, not filled with action, form the basis for more character development, deeper interactions which influence the future or reveal unknown secrets. They can set the scene, hint at rivalries yet to come, or attractions not yet voiced.

It's the same for us. Who knows what will happen when we let life flow without endless to do lists or packed schedules. I like the words from The Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter three:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

So rather than feel guilty if progress stalls, enjoy the space and get ready to be back in action in the New Year.