Summer is here—longer days, warmer nights, and the irresistible lure of a good beach read. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, escaping to the coast, or enjoying the sunshine in your own backyard, summer practically begs us to slow down with a novel in hand.
But if you’re a writer, you may feel the tension: How do you balance reading for pleasure with meeting your own writing goals?
Let’s talk about how to make the most of this summer both as a reader and as a writer—without guilt, burnout, or FOMO.
Why You Need Beach Reads (Yes, Even as a Writer)
First of all, let’s banish the idea that reading “for fun” is wasted time.
Reading fuels your writing. Even the frothiest rom-com or thriller with sun-drenched settings can teach you about pacing, voice, or scene-setting. Summer reads often excel at hooking readers fast and immersing them in a vivid atmosphere—skills every writer can learn from.
Plus, reading is rest. Writers often forget that rest isn’t slacking—it’s recharging your creative brain.
Set Realistic Writing Goals for Summer
Summer is often busy: vacations, kids out of school, social events. Don’t sabotage yourself by setting impossible goals.
✅ Try smaller daily or weekly word count targets.
✅ Break projects into chunks you can do in shorter sittings.
✅ Use summer for brainstorming, outlining, or revising—low-pressure creative tasks that fit in around travel or downtime.
Instead of telling yourself, I have to finish a whole novel this summer, try I want to write four new scenes or outline my next short story.
Make Reading and Writing Work Together
Here’s the real trick: don’t see reading and writing as rivals for your time. See them as partners.
✨ Bring a notebook or app along with your beach read to jot down ideas it inspires.
✨ After finishing a book, take ten minutes to reflect on what you loved (or didn’t) about the story—and what you might borrow or avoid in your own work.
✨ Alternate days: One day is reading-only, the next is writing-focused.
Build Summer Rituals
Summer has its own rhythm. Why not design writing habits that match it?
🌅 Early morning writing before the heat sets in.
🌙 Evening journaling on the porch with a cold drink.
🏖️ Writing sprints in the shade at the beach.
Pair your summer reading rituals with writing rituals: Finish a chapter of your book, then freewrite for ten minutes. Reward a solid writing session with a reading break.
Embrace the Season
Summer won’t last forever. Let it be a time of creative play instead of creative guilt.
📌 Don’t beat yourself up if you read more than you write some weeks.
📌 Don’t quit your writing goals altogether just because your schedule is unpredictable.
📌 Don’t forget to enjoy the process.
Because whether you’re reading in a hammock or scribbling in a journal at the campsite, you’re feeding the same creative spirit.
Final Thoughts
Balancing beach reads and writing goals isn’t about rigid schedules or either/or choices. It’s about weaving both into a summer you’ll remember—where the stories you read spark the stories you write.
So pack your notebook with your novel. Claim your beach chair and your creativity. This summer can be your most inspiring yet.
What about you?
How do you balance reading and writing in summer? Share your favorite beach reads or your best writing tips for sunny days in the comments!
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 