NOTE: I’m going back through some older posts and I thought this one was especially of the moment. You can read the original here. I have changed this one up to more accurately reflect who I am now, eleven years later. Fun, huh?

Yay! It’s autumn, my favorite season.  There’s something about this time of year that I just love–the crisp days and fall color, the nummy seasonal food (apples and butternut squash, anyone?) and, of course, Halloween.

I always feel a sense of personal renewal at this time of year, stretching on through the dark days of December.  It’s because for so many years I returned to school come September, going back to a whole new slate of things to learn.  

And now, with the cooler temperatures here at last, there’s no better time for writers.  So, herewith are my suggestions for celebrating autumn.

1.  Sit by a roaring fire and write.  Okay, you don’t even have to do the fire part–just write.  Gone are the distractions of summer and it is likely raining or cold outside.  Sit your butt down and write.

2.  Curl up in bed and read a good book.   Pile on the comforters and duvets and pull out your Kindle or your book.  There’s no better time than a autumn day to get lost in a book.  And one of the best things about being a writer is that reading is a big part of the job description!

3.  Drink a pumpkin spice latte.  If that doesn’t get you going, nothing well.  (Truth be told, I got one first PSL of the season in Charles De Gaulle airport on the way home from teaching a writing workshop in France. It was sadly, tragically, disappointing.)

4.  Take a long walk and scuff through fallen leaves.  Julia Cameron says that walking is one of the best things for creativity and I agree–it clears your mind and allows new thoughts to enter. After revisiting and teaching The Artist’s Way last winter, I’m even more inclined to follow her advice.

5.  Conquer stress at last.  Stress is the cause of most, if not all of our ailments, including, I would venture to say, writer’s block.  What I highly, highly, highly recommend is Dan Bienenfeld’s Embody 365 App. It’s a great way to start your day and takes only five or six minutes. I downloaded while I was in France and try not to miss a morning. (Though it’s okay if you do.)

6.  Make leaf placemats.  There’s a myth afoot that taking time for creative projects other than writing will just take you away from your WIP.  But the opposite is true–creativity breeds creativity. So here’s a fun project (especially good if you have tiny humans around, but they aren’t strictly necessary): Collect a variety if colorful leaves and lay them on one sheet of wax paper, cut to the size you want your placemat.  Then place shavings and bits of crayons around the paper.  Cover it with another sheet of wax paper, and using a sheet or something to protect the iron, press together.  Voila! Leaf placemats.

7.  Commit to a new project.  Nanowrimo a painful death last year, but this year many are leaping into the fray to fill the vaccum that was left. Here’s a rundown on some of the contenders. I have it on good authority (from a writer who has done Nano for a dozen years) that Pro Writing Aid Novel November may be the best of the bunch.

8.  Finish a current project.  Hahahahahaha. It’s hilarious that I’m giving you, my beloved readers, this advice. Because I am the queen of not finishing things. My computer would like to introduce you to the three full novels sitting on it that I’ve done done anything with.

9.  Stream something.  Watching movies, TV shows, anything on the screen that has a storyline can help you understand structure and dialogue and scenes.  One of my clients (and now dear friend) loves binge watching a great show on a given afternoon. To me, there is something positively decadent about taking time to do that on a week-day afternoon.  So I give you permission to do it.

10.  Start a journal.  I’m a big fan of journaling, in all its permutations.  I am off and on with it, going stretches without setting pen to diary, but then suddenly I will feel like I absolutely must write in a journal again.  Regular journal entries help you create flow in your writing and are good for noting all the things you want to incorporate in your work. And of course, morning pages are amazing for unlocking all that good stuff deep inside you.

11. Take a nap.  Dreaming is good for writing–and the soul.

12.  Bake an apple pie.  Or an apple crisp.  Or a pear crisp. Or a crumble.  The apples and pears are so delicious right now and there’s nothing more satisfying then assembling a nummy dessert.  Then you can eat a piece while doing #1, #2, or #3.

Well, I could go on, but you’d likely get tired of me raving about all things autumn.  (I didn’t even get to Halloween, my second favorite holiday!)  So I will just turn the floor over to you–what are your favorite autumn activities?  Please comment!