What Are Your Writing Rhythms?

Some poets write June to December and take the rest of the year off. Some write only in the summers. Some claim never to write and then publish enormous books. Some don’t write and never have books.

I’ve never tracked it, but my guess is that I write more in the summer. Since the days are longer, I am awake more and I have more time to write at night. In the winter, my sleep increases so I write less often.

How much I write also depends on whether I’m working on a prose project or not. I’ve not worked on many prose projects in the past. I am now and so I write fewer poems as a result.

Mary Biddinger, fellow poetry blogger, asked how the seasons rank for writers in terms of production.

Here’s how they rank for me:

WINTER: It’s cold as heck and I want to stay in bed until spring, but this is a time of year when I can usually escape to a residency in the mountains. That free time helps increase productivity.

SPRING: With all the rich smells in the air and the chirping of birds, this is my favorite time of year. I am especially looking forward to this spring, so I can see if the tulips I planted last September will come up and say hello.

SUMMER: I love heat. I can do a lot with the extra light at night. I am energetic during the summer and can craft poems in my head by the pool while making sure the girl doesn’t drown.

FALL: Crunchy leaves. Burnt trees. I love to write this time of year.

According to the 5 elements mentioned in Chinese philosophy, we naturally go inward in winter and are more expressive and able to generate action in the spring. It makes sense to hibernate!

What are your writing rhythms?