(A big welcome to Morgan Hazelwood.  Thanks for being a guest and hope everyone enjoys the fun post.)

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It’s officially, thoroughly Autumn here in the Western Hemisphere. Despite some people getting snow, while others are having random 80+ degrees (f) days, the nights are officially longer than the days. And outside, in nature, things are wrapping up. Trees are losing their leaves, plants are dying off, animals are hoarding in anticipation of their long winter naps. (I think I’m not the only one who’s jealous of them…)

But in schools? Most schools are just getting into full swing right now. Ramping up for classes and a new school year. Honestly? Growing up, most of us were taught to associate fall with learning, growing, and fresh beginnings.

For those of us who are out of school, we now exist in a weird sort of limbo. It’s rough when nature is telling us to get ready for a long rest, but education has us primed to start something new–to level up this time of year. Those with children might follow the old patterns, but it’s hard. Now is the time we want to curl up with soup and a book or a show and wait until spring brings us forth. Spring is when we feel we should start going out and begin our new projects.

Yet, now is a GREAT time to write. Here are my:

1. The Season is Right
   • Spring is for outings, for those stir-crazy after winter – (however, it can rain quite a bit, so those days aren’t bad for writing!)
   • Summer is for vacations and wacky schedules – (yet, it can be too hot to go outside, so some relaxing and writing in front of your computer isn’t bad!)
   • Winter is full of holidays and family obligations – (although, outside of December, it’s probably the 2nd best season for writing!)
   • Fall doesn’t have any of those til near the end!
2. The End of the Year is just around the corner
   • Remember those New Years resolutions? Or at least vague plans you had earlier in the year? You’re running out of time!
3. Avoiding that Netflix’s Binge
   • Long nights have always been a call for good stories — from the Greeks to the Vikings. When people are inside, staring at the same four walls, our minds can wander. Instead of watching someone else’s story, why not write your own?
4. You’re Not Alone
   • In November, thousands of people try to write 50,000 words of a novel. There’s tons of support out there and write-ins and stuff. You don’t even have to be aiming for 50,000 words, they’ll let you hang out with them anyway. (Check out nanowrimo.org for more information on National Novel Writing Month.)
5. You’ve got a story in you
   • Whether it’s a full blown story, some characters in your head you just wonder about, or a stranger-than-fiction personal background, most of us have a story in us. Are you up to putting in the time and effort to get it down on paper, for the world to see?

Best of luck in your writing endeavors. [One of us! One of us!]

Morgan Hazelwood is a fantasy novelist who blogs about writing tips and writerly musings. She likes taking pictures of the sky, reading a good book, and ambiverting from her living room. She’s also a voice for the fairy-tale audio drama: Anansi Storytime and its sister podcast: Legendsmith. She’s been known to procrati-clean her whole house and alphabetize other people’s bookshelves.

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