Your Fall 2026 Writing Plan
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
I don’t care when fall “officially” begins, September 1 always feels like the turning of the wheel into fall for me. Certainly, after Labor Day weekend here in the U.S., there is a very “back to school” vibe. Fall is my favorite season, to boot.
So I’m always excited about the Fall Writing Plan. Often it’s interrupted by travel and other events, but this year I don’t have anything big coming up, so I can really dig into all the projects I’m working on, that have been on the back burner after an unusually busy summer.
In fact, I’m realizing I do need a plan if I’m going to get everything done. Which is Step One: Recognize Your Priorities.
Recognizing your priorities means knowing what you’ll prioritize in your writing, and also what other things might be coming up in your life that will affect your ability to be present for your writing. Obviously, we can’t always predict what will happen, but you probably have a pretty good idea of the general picture.
My priorities this fall:
Submit a haiku for the Syracuse Poster Project. This has a September 11 deadline, so that has to be priority #1. I have a few drafts in a little notebook. I need to draft a few more, then edit, and pick a few!
Finish the edits on the book coming out with Gemma next year - needs to be done by November, but should take less time. However, I know “should” and “will” are not the same, so I want to get started on this first, in case it takes longer than I anticipate.
Finish a draft of the Affirmations for Writers book.
Either start the next book for Gemma, or go back to the middle grade novel I put aside last year and see if I want to work on it.
Write a weekly blog/Substack post
That’s enough to start with! I don’t want to overwhelm myself with too many projects. I recommend the same for anyone. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. Stretch goals are fine, but too much on your plate can lead to confusion about what your actual priorities are, and thus procrastination.
Step Two: Create a Schedule
This one is pretty easy for me, since I run the Zoom writing group every weekday from 8:00-9:00. I just have to be conscientious about actually using that time to write. I may also write on the weekends, or at other times, but having a non-negotiable time to write at least five days a week makes a huge difference.
It will for you too. When you have a definite time set aside to write, it reduces mental friction. There is no decision-making. This is when you write, this is where you write. If you have your priorities set, then you know what to write as well. The less mental friction you have, the easier it is to actually do it. Any time you have to think about it, you give your mind the opportunity to make excuses and not do it.
Again, make sure you are setting yourself up for success by not over-committing. If you don’t have an hour per day every weekday, do you have a half hour? 15 minutes? Can you spend a little more time on the weekends? It’s crucial for the timing to work for you, not some idealistic goal you’ll struggle to achieve (i.e., ignore Steven King’s rule to write 2,000 words per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year).
Finally, make sure your writing space is appealing. If it’s full of clutter, or uncomfortable to sit at, you may end up avoiding it. You may even want to create a little ritual when you sit down to write. Light a candle, put on a particular type of music, take a few deep breaths to center yourself…
Step Three: Rally Support
Writing can be a lonely endeavor. Think about what support you might need throughout the coming projects. This may change depending on what you’re working on. If you’re drafting, an accountability buddy might be the best option: you share your writing schedule and goals, and check in each day.
Or, you might need to line up beta readers, or an editor, if you’ve finished a draft.
There are online writing groups, like mine (let me know if you’re interested in joining) or the London Writer’s Salon, that you can join for a sense of camaraderie while writing. There may be local writing groups as well (there’s one that meets at my local indie bookstore).
It’s not a weakness to need support. We all do. Be intentional about the kind of support you need - and what you can provide to others as well. This will deepen your sense of being part of a community.
Step Four: Rewards!
How will you reward yourself for meeting your goals? How will you recharge when your energy and enthusiasm are flagging? It’s important to think of this before you need it. Rewards can be small or big. A piece of good chocolate when you’ve finished your writing for the day. A new book when you’ve hit a milestone. A massage or day trip when you finish a whole draft… you get the idea.
Don’t forget about Artist Dates! Schedule them regularly to replenish and recharge. If weekly feels like too much, then how about once or twice a month? Have a list of possible Artist Dates ready so you don’t have to think about it too much. Again, reducing the mental friction makes it more likely you will actually do it.
I have a whole list of Artist Date ideas. Some I can do anytime, others are seasonal. This way, I push myself to do things I might otherwise put off forever. They range from local hikes, to exploring little towns, to small art projects, to attending various events, going to museums, etc.
Step Five: Contingency Plan
Even the best-laid plans go awry sometimes. There will be weeks that throw you off schedule. Illness, holidays, vacations, and random life happenings can and will happen. What will you do?
I don’t want such things to throw me off completely. When I have to, I will first try to dial it down. If I can’t fit in an hour a day of writing, I go for whatever I can - 15 minutes, even 10 minutes, just to keep some forward motion.
If I do get off schedule, I won’t beat myself up. I will instead get back to writing as soon as possible. Having scheduled time, and my list of priorities, will help. Knowing what I need to work on always makes it easier! So does allowing myself to ease back into it. I do the same with exercise, when I’ve been away from it. I do the minimum, which allows me to build back slowly without feeling too much resistance. Gradually I feel like doing more, and soon I’m off again, back to regularly scheduled programming, as it were.
Some people resist the idea of a Writing Plan, as being too constraining to their creativity. If you hate the whole idea, then fine - you do you!
But many of us, paradoxically, create better under some form of structure. The Muse gets used to the idea that “it’s 8:00 on Monday, time to write” and gets into the groove more quickly (brain science tells us that neural pathways form through repeated action). If you need a change of schedule or location to spur new ideas, then do that!
What is your Fall Writing Plan? Remember there is power in simply writing things down. Put it in your journal, or write it out and stick it somewhere you can see it. Or share your plan, or your thoughts, in the comments!
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