Making Time to Write this Holiday Season

As the countdown to Christmas day continues, most everyone is naturally all wrapped up in preparing for the big day (and the eve of the big day and the day after the big day?).

Whether it's shopping, baking, or hosting holiday gatherings, you are probably engaged in time-consuming activities related to the season.
Although your dedication to these tasks is completely reasonable and most likely pre-planned, your ability to meet these demands and still have to write may not be as realistic.

In order to maintain your sanity through the holidays, you should not allow your writing time to totally disappear. You may find yourself feeling somewhat stressed out, as you try to tackle the gift buying and deal with the family get-togethers.

I honestly believe that if you make time to write during this hectic season, you may alleviate some of the inevitable anxiety associated with the holidays. Writing can be as relaxing to writers as watching television is to couch potatoes.

You should not overlook the value of a little me time (or break/rest time for you alone). Schedule some me time or free time into your busy day, and then actually TAKE IT!

During this break period (however small it may be), you may find that it will help you to write about your worries and/or aggravations. You could accomplish this goal by:

  • Recording the events of your day into a diary of sorts before you go to sleep each night.
  • Writing random thoughts or jotting down brief notes as they come to mind through out your day.
  • Carrying a journal with you to family gatherings, shopping expeditions, holiday celebrations and related events and then use it to write whatever you feel like writing about at any given time.
  • (For example, you may observe something that inspires a story idea or you may want to record actual images, scenes or conversations that occur during these seasonal festivities.)

    Making lists of things associated with the holidays that you either know a lot about or want to learn more about ? which in turn could serve as possible article ideas for next year at this time.

    Chronicle your feelings about your child as you watch him experience his first Christmas and then continue to do this each year until he no longer believes in Santa Claus (or until you no longer see the look in his eyes expressing the natural awe of the season that only children have).

    Compile your account of these yearly events into a memoir for yourself and/or as a gift to share with your child when he gets older. You could also use your chronicle as a stepping stone for a possible book about Christmas, children, holidays etc?

    Whatever you write about or however you choose to use your writing time, your primary goal will be achieved, if you just TAKE TIME to write during this busy season!

    Best of luck to you and Happy Holidays to you and your families.

    Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.a sp

    In The News:

    Yahoo! News: Top Stories

    In this Oct. 15, 2008 file photo, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, right, listens to Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve, before speaking at the Economic Club of New York. President-elect Barack Obama is likely to name Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary in a time of intense economic turmoil as he rounds out the upper echelon of his Cabinet, a senior Democratic official familiar with the deliberations said Friday. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)AP - President-elect Barack Obama intends to name Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve, as his treasury secretary to confront the nation's intense economic turmoil, senior Democratic officials said Friday.



    President-elect Barack Obama, with money in hand, looks to pay for his order during a visit to Manny's Deli in Chicago, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)AP - While President-elect Barack Obama publicly sidelined himself during congressional debate over an auto industry bailout this week, he and his top aides quietly prodded congressional leaders to find a solution to rescue struggling automakers.



    Nebraska lawmakers Tom Carlson, left, of Holdrege, Lowen Kruse of Omaha, John Wightman of Lexington, and Norm Wallman of Cortland visit briefly Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, on the floor of the legislature just before the final vote of LB1, which puts a 30-day age limit on children who can be dropped off at Nebraska hospitals under the safe haven law. The bill easily passed 43-5. (AP Photo/Bill Wolf)AP - Gov. Dave Heineman signed into law Friday a bill adding a 30-day age limit to a safe-haven law that allowed 35 children — including teenagers as old as 17 — to be abandoned at state hospitals. The law, approved hours earlier by the Legislature in a 45-3 vote, goes into effect Saturday, and makes Nebraska the 14th state with a 30-day age cap. It had been the only state with a safe-haven law without an age limit.



    Joerg Schoenbohm, Brandeburg state Interior Minister and current chairman of the German Interior Ministers Conference, center, opens the final day of the ministers meeting in Potsdam, Germany, on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. At left is German Federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. German security officials said Friday they will drop their attempt to pursue a ban of the Church of Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of unconstitutional activity.  (AP Photo/Bernd Settnik Pool)AP - Germany is dropping its pursuit of a ban on Scientology after finding insufficient evidence of illegal activity, security officials said Friday.



    Canadian Minister of National Defense Peter MacKay, center, shakes hands with his Australian counterpart Joel Fitzgibbon, as U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates walks past at the conclusion of a news conference on Friday Nov. 21, 2008, in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Canada. The three are taking part in discussions of International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) Regional Command South, which is comprised of forces from Canada, Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom, and the United States. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Mike Dembeck)AP - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he would like to add significant U.S. forces to the war in Afghanistan before national elections scheduled for next year, and that grim depictions of backsliding in the seven-year-old war are "far too pessimistic."



    AP - A college student committed suicide by taking a drug overdose in front of a live webcam as some computer users egged him on, others tried to talk him out of it, and another messaged OMG in horror when it became clear it was no joke. Some watchers contacted the Web site to notify police, but by the time officers entered Abraham Biggs' home — a scene also captured on the Internet — it was too late.

    AP - The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday ordered a year-old boy back into the home of an adoptive couple who had to give him up months ago after not telling the biological family the woman was pregnant.

    Bulgarian archaeologists work near a Thracian bronze chariot discovered near the village of Karanovo. A bronze chariot dating back to the second century AD has been unearthed in a Thracian burial mound in southeastern Bulgaria, archaeologists said Friday.(AFP/BGNES)AP - Archaeologists have unearthed an elaborately decorated 1,800-year-old chariot sheathed in bronze at an ancient Thracian tomb in southeastern Bulgaria, the head of the excavation said Friday. "The lavishly ornamented four-wheel chariot dates back to the end of the second century A.D.," Veselin Ignatov told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from the site, near the southeastern village of Karanovo.



    AP - Police have arrested a man suspected of leaving greasy, graphic imprints on the windows of stores, churches and schools in a small Nebraska town. A 35-year-old man was caught in the act by police early Wednesday morning, Cherry County Attorney Eric Scott said Friday. The man hasn't been charged yet, but authorities believe he is the vandal some townsfolk have dubbed the "Butt Bandit."

    In this Nov. 12, 2008, file photo, Memphis Grizzlies' Quinton Ross defends New York Knicks Jamal Crawford (11) as he shoots a three point shot in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn. The Golden State Warriors traded disgruntled forward Al Harrington to the New York Knicks for guard Jamal Crawford on Friday. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman, File)AP - The New York Knicks traded Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford in separate deals Friday, parting with their two top scorers to free up coveted salary-cap space for the summer of 2010. Crawford was sent to Golden State for forward Al Harrington. Hours later, Randolph was shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers along with reserve guard Mardy Collins for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.



    Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke (R) nods as he listens to President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Timothy Geithner before addressing the Economic Club of New York in this October 15, 2008 file photo. (Lucas Jackson/Files/Reuters)Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama on Friday moved toward nominating Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary and charging the respected head of the New York Federal Reserve with helping pull the United States out of an economic nosedive.



    Pedestrians walk past a Citibank branch in Singapore November 18, 2008. (Vivek Prakash/Reuters)Reuters - Citigroup Inc has begun talks with the U.S. government as its plummeting share price raises doubts about the bank's ability to survive, a person familiar with the matter said.



    Leaders of the U.S. automotive industry testify at a hearing held by the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington November 19, 2008. From left are General Motors CEO Richard Wagoner, Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli and Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)Reuters - Detroit automakers began work on turnaround plans demanded by Congress in return for $25 billion in aid as General Motors Corp said it would cut production more and give up two of its controversial corporate jets.



    Traders work in close quarters on the main trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange early in the trading session in New York City, November 21, 2008. (Mike Segar/Reuters)Reuters - U.S. stocks stormed higher in a late rally on Friday to cap another volatile week as investors welcomed reports that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his point person to combat the U.S. economic crisis, instilling confidence about the administration's ability to take action.



    A British military vehicle drives past an Afghan man in Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province October 20, 2008. (Abdul Qodus/Reuters)Reuters - The Pentagon is considering a plan to send more than 20,000 troops to Afghanistan over the next 12 to 18 months to help safeguard elections and quell rising Taliban violence, officials said on Friday.



    Reuters - U.S. banking regulators seized California banks Downey Savings and Loan and PFF Bank & Trust late Friday as the housing crisis claimed two more victims from the financial crisis.

    Reuters - A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired a missile in the North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan killing at least four people, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.

    President Bush walks across the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House, November 21, 2008. (Jim Young/Reuters)Reuters - U.S. President George W. Bush held talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program with Chinese leader Hu Jintao on Friday, the first in a series of meetings U.S. officials hope will lead to a renewal of six-party talks by early December.



    An everything-must-go sign in Coral Gables, Florida. The economic team of US president-elect Barack Obama came into view as fears mounted on the global financial crisis and more mass job cuts loomed worldwide(AFP/Getty Images/Joe Raedle)AFP - The economic team of US president-elect Barack Obama came into view as fears mounted on the global financial crisis and more mass job cuts loomed worldwide.



    Peruvian President Alan Garcia delivers a speech during the opening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Lima. Leaders of the 21-member APEC group are to seek ways of turning back the world economic crisis as they gather in Lima amid unrelenting bad news from the Asia-Pacific region.(AFP/Presidencia)AFP - US President George W. Bush began Friday his last scheduled foreign trip, meeting the leader of increasingly important China ahead of a summit aimed at containing a spiraling financial crisis.




    A Mothers Keepsake

    A mother's bracelet is a personalized bracelet that celebrates the most important... Read More

    Find New And Exciting Halloween Masks For Your Next Costume Party!

    For most people that don't enjoy wearing messy makeup, Halloween masks are... Read More

    Christmas Holidays: 5 Ways To Make This Holiday Your Best Ever

    For many people the end of a year is a time of... Read More

    This Mothers Day -- Give The Gift Of Fitness

    Do you know a Mom that deserves a special gift this year... Read More

    Holiday Candy Canes Are Festive and Fun

    Candy canes are everyone's favorite holiday treat. Just think about how versatile... Read More

    Patience

    Ever since my girls were little, I've tried to teach them patience.... Read More

    Overcoming Loneliness this Christmas

    Christmas is one of those times when the social norm is to... Read More

    Free Christian Ecard and Christian Ecards

    A free Christian ecard is comprised of inspirational quotes, musical greetings, messages... Read More

    Christmas Lights Add Sparkle To The Holidays

    Electric Christmas lights have been around since the 1880's. It is no... Read More

    Perfect Presents for Mom

    Every year we search our brains for a unique, exciting gift for... Read More

    10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day

    Memorial Day is a day for remembering those who have laid their... Read More

    Fathers Day Gift Guide

    Fathers Day is the one day of the year when you can... Read More

    Holiday Gift Ideas For Antique Lovers

    1. Knowledge is Power. Whatever the area of collecting ? depression glass,... Read More

    Ill Be Home For Christmas

    Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 29, 2004I have... Read More

    Color Easter Eggs Naturally With Dyes From Your Kitchen

    The most beautiful dyes for Easter eggs come from foodstuff you probably... Read More

    Valentines Day! The Sweet and Romantic Holiday

    When I think of Valentines Day I think of Chocolates and Flowers.... Read More

    Holiday Expectations

    As the holidays approach, I find myself wondering how I'm going to... Read More

    Mothers Day is coming-Dont Blow It!

    Mother's Day is May 8th. And, you do realize all of the... Read More

    A Resolution Worth Keeping

    New Years Resolutions: Making them is a tradition -keeping of them is... Read More

    Dress To Impress! Find Your Sexy Halloween Costume And Shake What Your Mamma Gave You

    Everyone loves to look and feel good, right? Well, why don't you... Read More

    Valentines Day

    Ever wondered how February 14 became, the day on which we celebrate... Read More

    Fathers Day and Flowers

    Father's Day is about to be celebrated in Australia. The first Sunday... Read More

    How to Reduce Your Stress this Christmas

    In theory Christmas is a time that is filled with joy and... Read More

    10 Tips to a Stress Free Holiday

    "The stress-free way to enjoy the holidays is to plan, take one... Read More

    Is Labor Day Passe

    In a word, yes !Labor Day, which started in 1882 to honor... Read More

    Wolves, Goats, Martyrs and War: a History of Valentines Day

    Valentines Day is one of the most enigmatic of holidays, having appeared... Read More

    Youre How Old?!?

    "Well, Happy Birthday! How old are you anyway?""Oh, I'm just 29 ?... Read More

    Beyond All Tied Up With A Bow - Great Tips for Creating Beautifully Wrapped Holiday Gifts

    No matter what the season, packages make a statement even before they're... Read More

    Holiday Dieting: A Sweet Way To Cheat!

    If your diet is making you a humbug this season, there's some... Read More

    How to Make a Gift Basket

    Gift Baskets are an ideal gift for nearly any occasion. Gift baskets... Read More

    Nine Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Head To The Office Party

    One thing you can count on during the holiday season is the... Read More

    Mommy...Daddy...Is There Really A Santa Claus?

    Is there really a Santa Claus? Any parent who hasn't been faced... Read More

    Fitness Tips On How To Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season

    This holiday season don't be trendy ? avoid the Seasonal Seven (the... Read More

    50 Ways to Acknowledge Your Employees Before and After Labor Day

    For most people, Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer, back to... Read More

    Use H-O-L-L-Y to Beat Christmas Cooking Stress

    What does holly, that untidy traditional greenery you just have to festoon... Read More

    Creative Kid Birthday Cake Ideas

    A Creative Dream Come TrueA hush falls over the room as you... Read More

    Kids Birthdays - How to Throw an Unforgettable Kids Birthday Party

    Kids take their birthdays very seriously, and are extremely disappointed if their... Read More

    Dont Forget Grandmom - Shes an Earth Angel Too!

    Have you ever thought what you would do without your Grandmom ?... Read More

    Stress-Free Party Planning

    It's a fact; most of us feel immediately stressed and harassed at... Read More

    Celebrate Your Freedom: 6 Important Freedoms to Celebrate Everyday

    At the end of the movie "Braveheart," William Wallace is tortured but... Read More

    The Cheapest Christmas Ever!

    Have you ever said "I wish we didn't have to spend so... Read More

    Tips for Planning an Egg-stra Special Easter Party

    Bunnies & chicks, colourful eggs, and the hunt for hidden chocolate. It's... Read More

    Home For The Holidays: Heirloom Stories Are A Perfect Gift

    Selecting the right gift for a special someone is sometimes joyous, sometimes... Read More

    Tis The Season For Love ? and Stress!

    The holidays are upon us and for many people this is the... Read More

    Making Time to Write this Holiday Season

    As the countdown to Christmas day continues, most everyone is naturally all... Read More

    30th Birthday Gift Ideas

    Choosing a birthday gift for a friend about to turn thirty years... Read More

    The Christmas Dress

    From the time I was a very little girl, I had always... Read More