Creative Seasons

This past weekend, I was organizing some of my writing projects, including the four novels that I have written. I was stunned when I discovered that each of the four novels was started in the month of December.

I was organizing because for the past two months, I have had strong inspiration for a new novel flowing within me.

I found it extremely interesting that I have always starting writing my novels in December. Why?—well my conclusion is—because it's my writing season.

This time, I paid close attention to those moments of true inspiration and my habits. The creative inspiration surfaced in late September with the first burst of real cool weather…you know, that kind of day where you feel that fall is just around the corner. Up here in Northern Indiana, it’s when the first strong cold front comes through. The front pulls the crisp, Canadian air down Lake Michigan on a strong, chilly, north wind. The inspiration for the plot flowed through October, which is also my birth month. Hmmm? I began to take many notes as the plot unraveled into November. I thought about it at work, driving, in the shower, and in that place between sleep and dreams. I was revising at the time, but that didn’t stop or interfere with the plotting.

 

When I think back, the other books were born the same way…in the same fall-to-winter seasons. I realized that I’m a winter writer. I give birth to a plot in the late summer to early fall, and start writing just after Thanksgiving, all the way to May. Now having said this, I can revise all year long or write history articles any time…but as a novelist, there is a creative writing season for me.

I’m starting my new project next week. I can’t wait!

What about you? Do you have a writing or creative season? Or do you write in every season? What is your favorite time of the year to write, or to be creative with your God-given talents?

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree