The holidays are magical, chaotic, emotional, and busy time. For many authors, it’s a time when writing takes a backseat with the idea of getting back to it in January. If that’s the strategy that works for you, then stick with it. But if you feel frustrated that your writing time is interrupted, and are looking for tips to fit it in around the busy holiday season, you’ve come to the right place.
Below are simple, flexible strategies to help you write, even when the season is overflowing with travel, guests, events, and everything else life throws your way.
Redefine Success for the Season
When your routine is disrupted, expecting full-speed productivity only leads to frustration. Instead:
Set a Holiday Writing Goal Lite
Lower the pressure on yourself. Aim for smaller daily or weekly accomplishments. If you write 1,000 words a day, aim for 500 or even 250. Or maybe something as simple as touching your writing project at least twice a week, whether it’s to write, plot next scene, or edit.
Choose ONE priority project.
If you’re one of those authors who works on more than one project at a time, limiting yourself to one book can help you avoid the overwhelm that comes with too many projects during a time that’s already too busy.
Pick the novel, story, or task that matters most right now and give it the spotlight.
Break Your Work Into Bite-Sized Tasks
When time is tight, small tasks win.
Think in 10–15 minute sessions:
- Jot down a scene idea
- Sketch a bit of dialogue
- Brainstorm character motivations
- Outline the next chapter beat
- Freewrite a description or emotional moment
These micro-sessions add up, especially during weeks when long stretches of writing time are unrealistic.
Keep a running list of micro-tasks.
Have a list ready so when a 10-minute pocket of free time appears, you can jump straight in. No warming up. No indecision. Just words.
Build a Flexible Holiday Routine
During the holidays, rigid routines create stress to maintain and make you feel worse if you can’t maintain it. Instead, create a routine that allows you to adapt.
Pair writing with other habits
In Atomic Habits, Clear suggests building a new habit by pairing it to an existing one. Like building an exercise habit by doing 10 squats while you brush your teeth. You can do something similar with your writing. You can write or do writing-related tasks while:
- Drinking your morning coffee
- Dinner is in the oven
- Kids are napping or sleeping
- You’re settling down to go to bed
Anchoring your writing to something you already do makes it easier to maintain consistency.
Use pockets of time.
You can write:
- While waiting for cookies to finish baking
- During travel downtime
- In the car (if driving, use dictation)
- While guests are occupied with a movie, puzzles, or games
Protect Your Creative Space from Holiday Clutter
II don’t know about you, but during the holidays my kitchen surfaces are covered with baking tools and ingredients and my dining table is covered with wrapping items. Fortunately, I have dedicated writing spaces that remain holiday-clutter-free so I can easily sit down and write without having to clean first. Here are tips to keep holiday clutter from getting in the way of writing.
Create a portable writing kit.
Something small you can move from room to room:
- A notebook
- A reliable pen
- A tablet or laptop
- Noise-blocking headphones
Simplify your digital workspace.
On a regular writing day, I have two browsers open, each with at least 20-30 tabs. I also usually have 3 to 7 Word docs open. It’s too much when I feel overwhelmed. Instead of juggling dozens of tabs and files, centralize your work:
- Close your browser(s) when writing, unless you write online. Consider using online writing tools’ option to write offline, or have only that page open on your browser.
- One document for drafting
- One outline
- One notes file
Say No to Holiday Guilt
This season comes with its own emotional pressure. Writers often think:
“I should be with my family, not writing.”
or
“I should be writing, not doing holiday things.”
Let that go.
Taking 10–20 minutes for your creative self doesn’t mean you’re neglecting loved ones, just as enjoying the holidays doesn’t mean you’re failing as a writer.
Energy management is part of the creative process.
Use Mini-Challenges to Boost Motivation
If you need structure or community, try small challenges such as:
- A daily 100-word goal
- A 5-day holiday writing sprint
- Timed word sprints with writer friends
- Weekly accountability check-ins
These low-pressure challenges make writing fun again and help you keep forward movement.
Use Technology to Make Holiday Writing Easier
When schedules are unpredictable, tech can help you stay productive:
- Dictation apps for writing while walking or traveling
- Google Docs or Scrivener mobile for quick notes anywhere. I have Word on my phone (MS 365), and while I don’t write on my phone, I have revised and edited.
- Timers for fast writing sprints
- Brainstorming tools for when your brain is fried but you need momentum
Prepare for Inevitable Interruptions
This might be the most important tip of all.
Pause, Don’t Stop
Before you step away:
- Leave yourself a note about what comes next
- Stop mid-sentence or mid-scene
- Highlight your next planned beat
That way, when you return, you know exactly where to jump in. Restarting becomes fast and painless.
Turn Holiday Moments Into Creative Fuel
This season is full of sensory details and emotional experiences, perfect material for fiction.
- Overheard conversations = great dialogue
- Family traditions = richer worldbuilding
- Holiday stress or joy = authentic emotional beats for characters
- Snow, lights, gatherings, chaos = atmospheric description
Plan Now for a Smooth January Re-Entry
Whether you have to slow down or even pause your writing, you can set yourself up to jump back into it in January. Before the season ends:
- Note what you accomplished
- Identify what worked for you
- Set 2–3 priorities for January
- Decide what project you’re diving into first
This prevents the January slump where weeks pass before you write again.
Holiday seasons are busy, but they’re also full of tiny pockets of time where creativity can thrive. You don’t need perfect conditions or housre of uninterrupted time to make progress in your writing. You just need small, consistent steps.
Your story will still be there after the holidays. The key is to stay connected to it until life settles again.
