Winter
“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.”
—PAUL THEROUX
PERSONAL
1. Write about a memory that epitomizes cozy for you. What makes this memory feel so warm and snug? What concrete details can you add to make the scene feel lushly atmospheric on the page?
2. The dark and cold of winter can make it a hated season for many. If winter is something you tolerate instead of celebrate, what makes it pass easier for you? What helps spring come a little more quickly? If you were giving advice to someone enduring their first winter in your climate, what insights would you offer them?
3. What is your favorite winter activity? How would you describe it to someone who had never encountered it before? How could you describe the joy it brings you?
4. What did Valentine’s Day mean to you as a child, and what does it mean to you now? Write about a particularly memorable Valentine’s Day you experienced; alternatively, write about your relationship (or lack thereof) with the controversial holiday.
5. What metaphorical stores do you find running low this time of year? Do you notice a lack of inspiration, motivation, ambition, or cheer? Which tanks start to feel depleted as the dark days drag on? Making note of them now, in the dead of winter, will help you better prepare for next year when autumn rolls around.
PROFESSIONAL
1. Take some time in the first quarter of the year to sort out your goals for 2022. How would you like to organize the year’s intentions and deadlines: By month, by season, by first half and second? Then ask: What would you like to accomplish and when? What tools and resources would help you hit your targets? What steps can you take in winter that will set you up for success all year long?
The start of a new year is a good time to establish any new boundaries you need to enforce, whether they’re with clients, editors, or family members. Are you changing your professional policies or expected response times? Is now finally the time to establish how much you abhor phone calls instead of emails (or vice versa)? Do you need to claim more uninterrupted no-matter-what writing
