Writing in Seasons: How to Adapt When Life Gets Busy
There you are, staring longingly at your neglected notebook or that dusty Scrivener file saved under “WIP—Brilliant Idea Draft 37.” You miss writing, but life is currently a chaotic rollercoaster of corporate deadlines, grocery runs, kids' soccer practices, and just trying to stay awake long enough to consider cooking something that isn’t instant noodles. The inspiration is still there—you feel it—but the time? Nowhere to be found.
You’re not alone. Life doesn’t pause just because you’ve got a story to tell. Some seasons are ripe for creative sprints, and others… well, they feel more like seeing creativity flash past the window of a speeding train as you barely hold it all together.
But here’s the truth that took me far too many years (and many existential meltdowns) to learn—writing isn’t a one-size-fits-all, all-or-nothing endeavor. It has seasons, just like everything else in life. And when you learn to adapt your process to those seasons, you can keep your creative flame alive without burning yourself out.
Understanding Your Creative Seasons
First, a reality check. You will not always be in a season of output—and that’s okay. Some periods of life are downright overwhelming. Maybe you’re caregiving for a loved one, managing a big move, or simply feeling drained because adulthood, in all its glory, has decided to test your patience.
These times aren’t failures; they’re part of living. Creative energy ebbs and flows, much like physical energy. Just like you wouldn’t sign up for a marathon after sleeping three hours and eating only pizza for a week (I mean… you could, but good luck), you can’t expect to churn out 2,000 words a day during a life storm.
Instead, think of your writing life in seasons:
Spring: Ideas bloom, energy flows, and writing feels effortless.
Summer: You’re in the zone, consistently producing without breaking too much of a sweat.
Fall: The pace slows. The energy dips, but you’re still chipping away bit by bit.
Winter: Life outside writing takes priority. The page looks blank, but the ideas are percolating under the surface.
Recognizing which season you’re in—and knowing you won’t stay there forever—takes the pressure off. Creativity isn’t linear. It’s about managing the ride, not trying to flatten it into a straight, predictable line.
Adjusting Your Writing to Busy Phases
Here’s the core struggle of writing during chaos. You’re juggling life at full tilt—job, family, existential dread about climate change—and then you think, I should be writing more! Cue guilt, frustration, and—ironically—not writing at all.
What if, instead of trying to sprint through this phase, you slowed down and recalibrated? Adaptation is the secret to writing longevity, and it starts with honest expectations.
Tip 1 - Redefine Productivity
During life’s busier seasons, adjust your definition of what writing “progress” looks like. Maybe it isn’t hitting 1,000 daily words but jotting down one new idea while waiting in line at the DMV. Maybe it means reading in your genre instead of writing, or brainstorming character backstories while doing dishes.
Small wins are still wins. Remember, a single sentence today is worlds better than no sentences because you set an unattainable goal and abandoned it in defeat. Your 300-word journal entry scribbled at midnight? That’s still writing, my friend.
A win here is to keep a space for writing open in your life. That’s it.
Tip 2 - Write in Smaller Doses
When time is scarce, abandon the idea of long stretches of uninterrupted creativity. Few of us, unless living the monastic writer dream, have the luxury to spend hours perfecting dialogue or nailing down plot twists. (And if you do, can you share that secret life with the rest of us?)
Instead, lean into micro-writing sessions. Got five minutes? Draft two sentences. On your coffee break? Outline a scene on the back of a receipt. Got 30 seconds in the shower? Imagine your character’s next big revelation.
Research into "time-blocking" and creative habits shows that small, consistent actions build momentum faster than sporadic big bursts. You’re sowing seeds—writing doesn’t have to happen all at once.
Tip 3 - Create Flexible Routines
Busy phases require routines that can bend without breaking. Instead of saying, “I’ll write every morning at 6 a.m.,” try, “I’ll write as soon as I find 10 quiet minutes today.” Morning chaos? Write at lunch. On-the-go life? Record voice memos when inspiration strikes.
Productivity expert James Clear suggests in his book, Atomic Habits, that stacking new habits onto existing ones works wonders. For example, tie your writing to something reliable—"After I brew my coffee, I’ll spend five minutes journaling about that weird subplot” or “Right after I close my work laptop, I’ll outline tomorrow’s dialogue.” Your brain starts associating those anchor routines with creativity.
Tip 4 - Don’t Ditch Non-Writing Creative Work
If actual writing feels impossible, don’t underestimate other creative efforts. Research world-building. Curate a playlist for your novel’s mood. Sketch out your protagonist’s wardrobe (stick figures count). These side-tasks feed your imagination even when “serious” writing isn’t in the cards. Not everything has to be words-on-paper.
Practical Exercises to Stay Engaged
If you want to keep connected to your craft even when life’s a whirlwind, try these ideas on for size:
"One Word at a Time" Exercise
Start with your absolute minimum, even just one word, and see where it takes you. The low-pressure threshold makes it easier to start—sometimes one word snowballs into a sentence, scene, or more.Time Sprinting
Set a timer for absurdly small increments like five minutes. Write whatever you can within that time. No edits, no overthinking, no pressure. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in short bursts.Finish Something Tiny
Instead of working on sprawling projects that feel overwhelming, try something bite-sized, like a haiku, flash fiction, or even a character monologue. Completing small projects provides a psychological boost when big ones sit half-finished.
The Science of Rest—Why It’s Okay to Hibernate
A quick note to my fellow over-achievers. If you’re in a “winter” season of life, the kind with more chaos than calm, sometimes the best thing you can do for your creative brain is rest. Yes, rest.
Incubation periods, or intentional breaks from intensive work, lead to greater idea generation and problem-solving. Step away for a while, binge-watch comforting sitcoms, pace around parks, and trust that when the storm clears, ideas will multiply.
Returning to the Page
Here’s the beautiful part about writing in seasons—it’s cyclical. Just like the quiet of winter eventually gives way to the blooms of spring, your writing energy will return. The key is to stay flexible; adjust your pace without losing touch.
One day, when life settles (even slightly), you’ll find yourself with a bit more energy, typing faster and spilling words out onto the page like old times.
And when that day comes, you’ll know this—through every busy period, you adapted. You kept going, just in smaller, gentler ways. You honored your season.
Give your life what it needs now. Give your writing what it needs when you can.
