by Kariss Lynch, @Kariss_Lynch
I just got engaged! It’s so weird and wonderful to type that sentence. Here’s what I’m already learning: experiencing that sweet moment and the rollercoaster of emotions since has been helpful in deepening character emotions and scenes.
The same is true with all other areas of life. Every time I travel, meet new people, try a different restaurant, or spend a special moment with a loved one, I file it in my bank to draw from as I write. Our personal experience deepens our characters and makes our scenes richer, because—just like our characters—we are always growing.
I feel like this reminder has been timely going into a season of the holiday festivities and wedding planning where writing time will be scarce, if not non-existent for me. Usually that reality is accompanied by guilt and then discouragement that my story didn’t move forward. However, I am coming to realize that I am always creating, always researching, always spotting new ideas for stories—even when I don’t recognize it in the moment.
So when you’re struggling to figure out when to squeeze in writing time, here’s how to have a guilt-free holiday season:
Stop.
Savor.
See.
Stop your normal schedule in favor of the joy and uniqueness of the holidays. Savor the moments. Be fully present. See the interactions around you. Treasure being around loved ones and file those feelings away for a scene later. Writing can wait (unless the urge is just too strong to ignore). Being present cannot wait. Don’t miss it!
Many of our best writing moments will happen away from our computers. They will come because we lived, we experienced, and we savored. No matter our genre, our experience deepens the reader’s experience, because they ultimately long to connect, relate, and see themselves or something familiar in what we are writing.
Invest in your writing and your readers by diving into the experiences of the holidays—of daily living, traveling, and relationships. Your writing will thank you for it later. And your readers will, too. Happy holidays, friends!
Recent college graduate Kaylan Richards has spent her entire life following a plan. Go to school. Get good grades. Do what you love. Love what you do. Only what Kaylan loves requires a sought after internship. She doesn’t want to wait. She wants to help people now. And on the eve of her decision to leave her life-long plans behind, the man she wants to forget walks back into her life. Navy SEAL Nick Carmichael never dreamed he would love a woman more than he loves serving his country. Now he’s finally ready to win her heart, but this time she’s the one who wants to leave for the most poverty-stricken country in the western hemisphere. And it’s his turn to watch her go. It’s the worst earthquake Haiti has ever seen. Kaylan is trapped in the aftermath, and Nick is a world away on a mission to catch a terrorist. As they find their way back to one another, Kaylan and Nick must learn that love grown in the midst of tragedy can truly conquer all. But only if they have the courage to fight for it.
Kariss Lynch writes contemporary romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. She is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves to encourage her readers to have courage. In her free time, she hangs out with her family and friends, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.