How to Write a Book During the Holidays
The holidays are coming fast. Thanksgiving is next week, Christmas is around the corner, and you’ve probably already seen the Christmas movies rolling out since October. This time of year always catches people off guard. One minute we’re saying “Happy New Year,” and the next we’re looking at the calendar trying to figure out how the entire year flew by.
And if you're anything like most of the authors I talk to, this question is probably sitting in the back of your mind:
“Should I even be writing right now? Is it even worth trying during the holidays?”
Maybe you’re hosting family.
Maybe you’re traveling.
Maybe life already feels full.
Maybe you're looking at everything you have going on and thinking, “Yeah… I’ll just wait. I’ll start fresh in January.”
And on the surface, that sounds reasonable.
But let’s be honest for a moment:
If you don’t shift your writing NOW, what makes you think January is going to magically be any different?
I say that with love, because I understand how tempting it is to wait. We convince ourselves that pausing is “being wise.” That it’s better to reset in the new year. That we’ll be more focused, more ready, more consistent.
But if you really look back at your year, how many times has “I’ll start when things settle down” turned into another few weeks… then another month… then the whole year?
Exactly.
So let’s talk about it. Because writing during the holidays is not about grinding, or sacrificing your joy, or hiding in your home office while your family eats Thanksgiving dinner without you. That’s not what I’m saying.
This is about being honest about what’s actually getting in your way — and it’s not your calendar.
Let’s walk through this, just like I did in the live episode.
1. The Calendar Isn’t the Problem — Your Current Habit Is
Most writers blame the calendar: “I’ve got this going on, and this, and this, so there’s no way I can write.”
But that’s not actually what’s happening.
I’m not talking to the writer who doesn’t care about finishing their book. I’m talking to the writer who IS writing. The writer who joins every writing summit. The writer who watches all the YouTube videos and writing podcasts. The writer who swears they’ll watch the summit replays they paid for… but still hasn’t.
The author who jumps into sprints.
The author who is trying.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not “unmotivated.”
You’re MOVING. But something still feels off.
And here’s why:
The writing habit that used to work for you no longer fits the season you’re in now.
Life changed.
Your responsibilities changed.
Your energy changed.
Your schedule changed.
But your habit didn’t change with you.
What worked when you were in college may not work now.
What worked before kids may not work with toddlers or teenagers.
What worked before your new job or side business may not work with the hours you have now.
You’ve grown — but the habit you’re trying to use hasn’t.
And the holidays put a spotlight on that gap.
2. Time Off Isn’t Time Wasted — Unless You Let It Be
During the holidays, a lot of writers tell themselves they’re “resting.”
Sometimes that’s true.
Sometimes rest is needed.
But for many writers, “rest” becomes scrolling.
Comparing.
Watching other authors announce new books.
Feeling guilty because you're still on the same chapter you started months ago.
That's not rest. That’s stress in disguise.
I’m not saying write every day. I’m not saying sit at your laptop for four hours while your family watches Christmas movies.
I’m saying this:
There are pockets of time you could use to shift your momentum… if you’d stop waiting for life to calm down.
Two protected writing sessions during the holidays — just two — could be the very thing that prevents your writing timeline from collapsing six months from now.
Maybe you used to write five days a week.
Maybe you can only write one or two times a week right now.
That doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means your reality changed and your habit needs to adjust with it.
3. Every Week You Wait Is a Week You Could Have Finished
This is not about guilt. This is about honesty.
There are writers who will pause their entire writing life from mid-November to early January… and then struggle to restart.
But imagine if you didn’t pause.
Imagine if you wrote — even lightly — through the holidays: Could you add 8,000–10,000 words?
Absolutely.
Could you finish a chapter?
Yes.
Could you finally get out of the same stuck section you’ve been circling?
Very likely.
And how would it feel to walk into January ahead, instead of starting from scratch again?
Think about the gym analogy:
People say, “I’ll start working out in January.”
Most quit by mid-January.
Some last until Valentine’s Day.
By March, the gym is empty.
The same thing happens with writing.
Waiting doesn’t protect your energy.
Waiting often delays your progress.
You could be further along by January simply by showing up now — on your terms, not on a perfect routine.
4. January Momentum Starts With November and December Decisions
If you want real momentum going into the new year, it doesn’t start in January. January is simply the continuation of the choices you make now.
I can say this because I’m not in the same place I was this time last year — and it wasn’t because I had more time. My life was busy. I moved states. I had deadlines, family things, and work.
But I kept writing.
Not perfectly.
Not every day.
But consistently enough.
And because of the decisions I made months before January, I’m ahead now — with new books, drafts finished, new ideas flowing, and projects moving.
So I ask you gently —
Are you in the same place you were this time last year?
Not to shame you.
To help you see what waiting is really costing you:
The same half-finished draft
The same old writing habit
The same patterns
The same “I’ll get to it later” loop
You know writing is your dream.
You know you’re not going to stop.
So why does it keep getting pushed to the bottom of the list?
Not because you don’t care.
But because your current system can’t hold the weight of your real life anymore.
And the holidays are showing you that.
5. You Can Have a Writing Habit That Works in Any Season
I want you to picture something:
A writing habit that works…
During the school year
During holidays
During work changes
During busy seasons
During family obligations
During travel
During low-energy weeks
During new life chapters
A writing habit that doesn’t fall apart every time something unexpected happens.
A writing habit that doesn’t require marathon hours.
A writing habit that doesn’t make you disappear from your family or your responsibilities.
A writing habit you trust — not one you hope will work.
That’s possible for you.
Even during the holidays.
Especially during the holidays.
And that brings me to this:
You don’t need more motivation.
You don’t need a fresh start.
You don’t need more time.
You need a simpler, more efficient way to write — one that honors the season of life you’re in right now.
Your Next Step (If You’re Ready to Finish Your Book Without Waiting for January)
If you’re the kind of author who is already writing — not perfectly, but writing — and you KNOW something has to shift…
If you’re tired of circling the same draft…
If you’re tired of waiting for the “perfect time”…
If you’re tired of depending on adrenaline, late nights, and stolen minutes…
If you’re tired of saying “I’ll start in January” for the fifth year in a row…
Then I want to personally invite you to a Ready Writer Call.
This is not a pep talk.
It’s not pressure.
It’s not hype.
This call is a real conversation about:
where your writing habit is breaking
what’s getting in the way
what part of your schedule needs adjusting
what season of life you’re actually in
and what would help you finish your book without waiting for another “perfect moment”
And yes — we’ll talk about whether No Time Writer is the right fit for you.
Not because I’m trying to twist your arm.
But because if you’re done waiting…
and you’re ready for now, not someday…
you deserve support that actually works with your life.
I only have a few spots left before the year ends.
Reserve your Ready Writer Call
Let’s talk through what’s really going on — so you don’t walk into January in the exact same place.
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