I’ve always worked in an academic environment. Schools are not in session during this week between. Nobody demands anything of me; I demand nothing of myself. The only downside is that in being free to stop working, I often shut down too much and come down with a doozy of a cold during this week. But even that can have its advantages. Sometimes it takes getting sick–as long as it’s not Covid or something serious–to really slow down and rest.

I have pleasant memories of this week in Europe, even though I usually had a bad cold. I would spend every day snuggled up in a warm afghan on my sofa, looking out at the snow-covered world with a good book in my hand, my cat purring on my lap, and a cup of something hot to drink next to me.

This year, after being stuck at home, either alone or mostly alone, for months on end, we might not have quite the intense need for this week between. But I’m still glad we have it.

I am a planner by nature. I love to have things to look forward to, goals to aim toward, events in my calendar. This is my week to look back on the year that was and put things in motion for the year to be. As a writer, I have to stay self-motivated; I must keep moving forward. As a writer juggling four books in various stages of completion, I have to stay at least two steps ahead. Always.

When you finish one project, you should have the next one ready to go. You can’t lose momentum. I used to marvel at actors I’d see on talk shows to promote their film. It might be a film in which an actor had to gain 20 pounds, grow her hair long, and dye it red—but for the film she’s currently shooting, she lost 30 pounds and shaved her head. I’d watch in awe as she steps back and talks about the earlier film as though that is the only thing going on in her life. How does she keep it straight in her mind? How does she stay in character when her role calls for full immersion? Now I’m beginning to see.

Writers need to keep writing. I can’t stop and rest on the fact that I just had a novel published. One Degree of Freedom is the first in a series of three. Unless I want the next two novels to come out ten years later, I have to keep going with getting the second novel published and finishing writing the third one. All of this while I market the first novel and try to land the prisoner’s memoir I wrote last year (and still maintain my part-time job).

Phew! I feel tired all over again just thinking about all I have to do.

On New Year’s Eve, I’ll write down some of those plans that have already been formulated in my head. I don’t make resolutions but I do write out goals.

But not yet. Now is my time to rest. And to get lost in a good story.