While some of us glory in the changing season and brisk hoodie days, others dread the coming cold and struggle mightily with the shorter days and waning light of -er months. In addition to regular or holiday blues, it is estimated that millions of Americans are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder aka (the aptly named) SAD. Add in gloomy skies, holiday stress and worry about the election, and we all could use reminders about how to find our joy.
Journaling
Research tells us that journaling can be a way to process our emotions and can be particularly helpful in boosting our mental health by reducing anxiety, breaking away from a nonstop cycle of obsessive thinking and brooding, encouraging and improving the awareness and perception of events, regulating emotions and boosting physical health, among others. (WebMD.com, 2021.)
Writing can be cathartic and help us work through unresolved emotions or issues we haven’t been able to process. Whether it’s a gratitude journal, writing down details of how I made it through a difficult time, or keeping up with other writing friends or groups like WWW, I know that when I am being aware and intentional about taking care of myself during winter’s challenges, I invariably feel better.
Nature
Being an active observer and participant in the natural world can help us connect with the bigger universe. Simply jotting down a few sensory details about my observations like I did above gave me a lift. While fall and winter aren’t the glory of summer outside, the leaves falling, the tableau of bare branches against a dark sky, even the sound of rain softly falling contain their own beauty – if we are looking for it. Observing the natural world always provides inspiration for me in my writing. For an amazing ten-minute journey into gratitude, appreciation for nature and human connection, watch this video.
Walking (and light!)
During this time of year, many of us wake and start our day in darkness, and by suppertime it is dark again, which can be tough when making time to walk and be in the sustenance of light. But make it a priority to be outside when you can, whether it is a quick walk in the park, sitting on a porch or deck for a few minutes listening to the sounds around you, or just a walk to the mailbox if that it is all you can get. Sign up for a 5K walk for your favorite charity. Walking at the mall, holiday boutique or craft festival counts, too!
Social interaction and activity
It is easy to hibernate during the winter and binge-watch TV and you might not want to share your less than stellar mood with friends or family. Do it anyway. Plan a way to get out of the house. Cook a pot of your famous soup or chili or a loaf of pumpkin bread and take it to friends or neighbors. Go see a funny movie (movie theaters do still exist!), suggest lunch or a walk around a mall with a buddy, call that long-distance friend you miss and reconnect. Do some writing or reading but do it at a coffee shop, a park, on your porch. Help with a food bank or a kid’s holiday party, take the kids or grandkids to the pumpkin patch. Seeing others’ faces light up makes it hard not to smile.
Meditation
Focused breathing and mindfulness can be transformative for stress relief and self-awareness. Taking time out to devote to yourself is vital to our well-being. Don’t know where to start? Passionist Earth and Spirit Center offers free introduction to meditation classes and other reflective offerings, or visit the Facebook page for our own Women Who Write member Charlotte Bowling Roth, Meditation with Charlotte.
Love and happy writing to all of you!
~Holly Hinson
Photo by Alex Geerts on Unsplash
WRITING PROMPTS
Pick one of the five senses and write a story or poem about Autumn.
Write about someone who moves to a place with no seasonal changes.
What are the “seasons of your life”?
Create a “recipe” for a great Thanksgiving
Write a letter of gratitude to someone who has really been there for you.
~ Holly Hinson
Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Our November 12th member meeting will be from 6:30 PM to 8:30 at the St. Matthews Eline Library at 3940 Grandview Avenue.
If you are interested in receiving a peer critique, let us know before [meeting date] at noon through email () and tell us what you are bringing. Please bring 8 printed copies of the manuscript you want us to read. No more than 1300 words (4 to 4.5 pages double-spaced) for prose (excerpts of longer pieces welcome), or two pages of poetry.
In lieu of a member meeting on December 10th, we will celebrate the season with a holiday party and book exchange. Stay tuned for details.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
WE WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR WRITING LIFE
Members, if you have a website or social media platform dedicated to your writing, share it with us so we can share it with our Women Who Write community. Send your details to and we will share in a future newsletter.
Members, write a poem, story, or essay for the Women Who Write website blog. No more than 2,000 words, please. Publishing on our blog will expand your writing platform. And you’ll help WWW show off the variety of talents within our writing community! Browse our web blog now! For more information, email and pitch your story or poem—the one you’ve written or the one you want to write! We may provide suggested edits, for flow and clarity.
OTHER PLACES TO SUBMIT & LOCAL(ISH) EVENTS
It’s November, which means it’s NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. There’s still time to join the energy fueling hundreds of thousands of writers around the world. More info here.
The Blue Pen Writers’ Conference takes place February 1-2 in Knoxville, TN. More info here.
Booth, a journal published by students, faculty, and alumni of Butler University MFA program, invites submissions through November 30, 2024. More info here.
Sarabande Books presents a ‘Zine Lunch most Fridays at noon—it’s a free online workshop on micro-writing and art.
Submit a story to Landslide Lit(erary) on Medium.com, a publication edited by two WWW members—Kimberly Crum and Bonnie Omer Johnson—who will provide editorial suggestions.
Duotrope is a fabulous resource for writers who want to publish in literary journals and anthologies and enter contests. You will receive a listing of submission opportunities in your inbox, specifically for your genre. Cost is $5 per month or $50 per year.
Submittable is another terrific resource for publication and other opportunities for writers. Many publications require submissions to be submitted through this service. Also, it’s free!
HerStry literary essay/memoir blog seeks to empower women through their writing. In addition to accepting personal essay submissions four times per year, HerStry accepts submissions on “monthly themes” that are intended as prompts for writers to tell their stories. June’s theme is Coming of Age
Poets and Writers has an extensive list of literary magazines to which you can submit.
Consider submitting to Dorothy Parker’s Ashes, an online magazine of personal essays with the tagline, “Brazen words by witty dames. Everything true. More or less.”
NewPages lists writing contests by the month and day that submissions close. Check out the “big list” here.
SUPPORT OUR WRITING COMMUNITY!
Become a member or renew your membership—As a community, WWW strives to nurture your writing life. We hope you choose to join or renew as a member and participate in our monthly meetings, author talks, retreats, and workshops. Our membership coordinator will notify anyone due to renew. Regular annual membership is $50. Student annual membership is $25. Scholarships are available. Membership entitles you to discounts on workshops and retreats.
Attend our monthly member meetings on the second Tuesday of each month for a brief program, peer critiques, and conversations about the writing life. Not currently a member? You can attend two meetings before deciding to join.
Photo by Holly Hinson 
Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash