Writer Reset

These weird in between days are historically the best time to rest - we all need it! But we also feel a pull to be creative or plan for the new year. So we created this “writer reset” as 12 days of activities that take 15-60 minutes to ponder, note, remember and, sometimes write. The purpose of this reset is to help us recenter our writing on the why, what and how of our own writing practice - because that is what it is, “practice”. All of the best writers have routines or habits but admit that isn’t all their writing relies on nor is their talent. We all are practicing every day or every week to better express our thoughts, our dreams, our stories and our emotions onto a page in hopes of capturing a reader's imagination, intellect, appreciation and most of all wonder. This is what we do - these 12 days are to help us refocus our individual practice.

1st Caveat (because  a lot of us neurodivergents have caveats) is that we wrote this for ourselves, not just you. 

2nd Caveat - These don’t actually have to be done in order, on time, or to this calendar - it is just what worked for us. 

3rd Caveat - We created Instagram and Pinterest posts for each day- for visual learners. But if you want everything at once  -  please find it below. 

Here we go! 

Day 1 - Comfort (15 Minutes)

“Start with cozy, comfortable and quiet.”

1. Take 5 minutes to sit in silence (without your phone), and picture 5 things that bring you comfort.

2. Take 5 minutes to draw a picture of - or write about one or more of these cozy or comfortable items, people, foods, or spaces.

3. Take 5 minutes to write more about 1 of these. How would incorporating it into your routine look? How would it help?

Day 2 - Reflection (15 minutes)

1. Take 5 minutes to sit in silence (without your phone), and remember the first time you enjoyed writing.

2. Take 5 more minutes to remember the first story or stories that made you want to create, or to read more or to write.

3. Choose one of these memories to write about for 5 or more minutes. Focus on how it changed your thoughts or feelings about reading, writing or storytelling.

Day 3 - Inspiration (15+ minutes)

1. Take 5 minutes to sit in silence (without your phone), and reflect on a story you created that made you feel proud.

2. 5 Minute ponder - Why that story? Why was it different? Was it the topic? Or how you created it? Or was there positive feedback or praise?

3. 5 minutes to dig deeper - What was the inspiration of that story? What inspiration in the world, in your life or reading made this story more powerful or connected to you or your audience?        

Day 4 -  Informed Reflection (20+ minutes)

1. Why do you like writing? Choose 3 words that describe your passion.(e.g. solitude, expression, creativity, sharing etc.)

2. Examine your previous answers. Determine the What, Where, How & Why of your ideal writing landscape. What inspires your creativity? Where do feel safe, inspired and productive? How might you create or ensure a routine, space or time for your writing? Why might these help?

Day 5 -  The Hard Stuff  - Pure Self Reflection (30 minutes)

1. What kind of writer are you? What type of writer do you want to be? (You don’t even have to write it - just think it.)

2. Share/Scare - Do you like sharing your work? If so, how? Under what conditions? If not, what scares you about sharing?

3. Visualize yourself as a “productive” writer. What does that mean to you? What does that look like? Again, you don’t have to write this down, but it’s helpful - you can burn it later.

Day 6 - Direction (45+  minutes)

1. Write at least 100 words to describe a possible writing space, timings, and boundaries for loved ones to respect. 

2. Visualize - draw, create, or even take a selfie of yourself in this space. (Bonus - create a 2nd picture of yourself typing or reading.)

3. Create and Plan - Create a vision board with your 3 WRITER WORDS, yourself and your inspiration. Make 3 goals focused on those words and imagine 3 types of success for each.

Day 7  - Rest  (60+ minutes)

1. Sleep - New Year’s is always tough. Even if you don’t go out, it comes with expectations. Rest and Self-Care are the main agenda today. 

2. Hydrate - Drinking water seems all too simple. But for many of us we don’t do it, or enough of it. Remember hydration isn’t just water but electrolytes as well!

3. Self-Care  - Take 15 minutes to pamper yourself in at least one way. If you can’t - envision how your Main Character would be pampered, and use it as an experience to write about later. 

Day 8 - Study (60 + minutes)

1. Podcast - Listen or re-listen to a writing podcast you enjoy. Or search for an author interview to listen to. 

2. Read a post about something you struggle with or need to clarify. (Examples: POV, Showing, Plotting, Editing etc. ) Or at least track one down to read another day. 

3. Read or re-read a book on writing, even if just a chapter, take a moment to see how far you’ve come! (Or choose one to re-read this month:).

Day 9- Plan (30 minutes)

1. Set Goals - What do you want to accomplish? Set 1-3 goals for each, and align these goals to some sort of timeline or schedule. Yearly, monthly, weekly and/or daily. Post your main goal and a daily goal in your writing space. (For extra accountability text it to a friend or writer chat.)

2. Visualize - How do you work best and where? Take a picture of yourself, draw a picture or create one of you “being a writer” then post it in your writing space.  (Is this any different from what you visualized a few days ago? If so how?)

3. Motivate - How can you reward yourself? Associate a gift (it can be an actual gift or something like 15 guilt free minutes of playing a game or napping etc.) with accomplishing or attempting each goal. 

Day 10 - Imagine and Try (45+ minutes)

1. Think - Take time to just imagine and think. (You can use prompts or just let your thoughts flow.) You can set a timer but you don’t have to.

2. Write - Try to write about something that popped into your mind. It doesn’t need to be a story, you can journal, describe a character, an object or even write down a memory. Write for 5-10 minutes.

3. Reflect - How did that feel? Was it easy? Or did it seem difficult or boring? Take 5 minutes to think about what worked, what didn’t and what might help.

Day 11 - Microfiction Challenge (15 minutes to 60+minutes)

1. Prompt  - Choose your own genre then include the following objects and setting in your story: knife, lemon, ribbon, garden party.

2. Write - Set a timer & a word goal for yourself. 

   1. Timer - 15/30/60 minutes.

   2. Word goal - 100/25/500 words.

   3. It’s okay if you have too many words or take a bit longer to write.

3. Edit - Leave your story for at least 15 minutes. Then set a timer for 15 minutes and edit what you wrote. Try to reduce your word count to the limit you set or take out at least 5 words per 100 words written. (We like word limits because they force us to carefully choose our thoughtful inclusions.)

Day 12  - CONGRATULATIONS TIME TO PLAN, PLOT, & BUILD!

Congratulations writer! What will you create today? Choose your next adventure from below,

Plan  

• Plan your writing journey?

• Plan your editing goals?

• Plan where, when and how you will write or edit?

• Plan at least 3 alternatives to try when life happens.

• Plan your own rewards for accomplishments!

Character Build 

• Names and descriptions of the Main character, the sidekick/friend and the villain/antagonist.

• What drives them?

• What do they fear?

• What do you like about them?

• How do they annoy you?

Plot

• What genre are you writing?

• What story beats are you following? (If you are unsure spend 15 minutes to look up a few- you don’t have to use them, but they make things easier when you are stuck:)

• What is your theme or message?

• What’s your inciting incident?

• How do you imagine the climax?

• Do you have an ending in mind?

• Is there a plot twist?

• What drives the story and main character forward? (What is their goal?)

 

Day 13 - Time to Write!

Congrats Writer! You completed your Writer Reset. You are ready to write!

1. Ready - set your writing scene with what you learned. (Everything that serves you best!)
2. Set - Set your timer with your goals, plot and characters in mind.
3. Go - Write!

 

I'm sure there is much more to do! But we hoped this was useful! Please let us know!