Category: Self Care

2025 Months, November 2025, Self Care

The Writer’s Self-Care Toolkit for Winter

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

How to protect your creativity, energy, and imagination during the colder months

Winter asks writers to slow down, breathe deeper, and listen to the quiet spaces inside ourselves. The days grow shorter, the light shifts, and our energy naturally changes. For many creatives, winter can be a season of rich imagination — but also of fatigue, emotional heaviness, or creative dormancy.

The truth is simple: writers need self-care just as much as we need inspiration. And winter is the perfect time to build a toolkit that supports both your body and your creative mind.

Below is a gentle, effective winter self-care toolkit designed specifically for writers — especially those balancing busy schedules, chronic illness, emotional exhaustion, or creative overwhelm.

❄️ 

1. Create a Warm Writing Ritual

Winter writing thrives on ritual. You don’t have to write more — you have to write more intentionally.

Try:

  • A warm drink beside you (herbal tea, ginger tea, broth, or hot chocolate)
  • A soft blanket or fuzzy socks
  • A comforting candle or essential oil (vanilla, cedar, ginger, or cinnamon)
  • One grounding breath before you begin writing

The goal is to make your writing space a safe, warm cocoon where words feel easier.

🕯️ 

2. Use the Early Darkness to Your Advantage

Winter evenings can feel limiting, but for writers they are magic.

The early night:

  • Sharpens atmosphere-driven writing
  • Helps you connect with introspective or moody scenes
  • Makes worldbuilding feel deeper and more immersive
  • Encourages slower, richer storytelling

If mornings feel sluggish, give yourself permission to write after sunset when your creative brain naturally wakes up.

🌙 

3. Honor Your Energy Cycles

Winter energy isn’t linear — some days you’ll feel focused, other days like you’re pushing through fog.

Try following:

  • High-energy days: Draft new scenes, brainstorm, freewrite.
  • Medium-energy days: Edit, organize chapters, outline.
  • Low-energy days: Read, journal, listen to an audiobook, refill your creative well.

This cycle-based writing respects your body and prevents burnout.

🫖 

4. Nourish Your Body (Especially Your Brain)

Creative flow depends on physical comfort — and winter can trigger inflammation, low mood, and increased fatigue.

Simple winter-friendly nourishment:

  • Light broths and soups that keep the stomach calm
  • Warm, easy-to-digest meals (congee, lentil stews, veggie purees)
  • Hydration with warm liquids
  • Protein-rich snacks that don’t cause crashes
  • Stretching + gentle movement to release stiffness

Caring for your body is also caring for your stories.

📚 

5. Prioritize Emotional Rest

Winter encourages reflection — but it can also stir old emotions, loneliness, or self-criticism.

Some restorative winter practices:

  • A nightly or weekly journal for emotional release
  • Gratitude lists
  • Mood tracking tied to creative productivity
  • A “no guilt writing” rule — write what you can, when you can

Your emotional health is part of your writing craft.

🔥 

6. Keep a Small Creative Fire Burning

Your creativity doesn’t need to blaze in December or January — it only needs to stay warm.

Keep your creative fire alive with:

  • 5-minute writing bursts
  • Daily story seeds or single-line ideas
  • Describing one detail from your fantasy world
  • Posting a small writing update
  • Reading a chapter in your genre

Winter creativity is slow, steady, and simmering — not explosive.

🎧 

7. Curate a Winter Soundtrack

Music shapes mood, and winter writing thrives on sound.

Try playlists like:

  • Soft piano or lo-fi for calm drafting
  • Dark ambient for fantasy and atmosphere
  • Cozy cottagecore for journaling
  • Nature sounds (rain, fire, wind)
  • Emotional instrumental soundtracks for character work

Let sound melt you into your writing space.

✨ 

8. Build a “Winter Writer’s Survival Kit”

This can be a physical or digital kit. Include items that comfort, inspire, or motivate you.

Ideas:

  • A favorite pen + notebook
  • Blue-light glasses
  • Hand warmers
  • Herbal tea bags
  • Affirmation cards
  • Writing prompts for low-energy days
  • A small goal list for the winter months

Keep your kit near your desk or bed for easy access.

🌘 

9. Practice Seasonal Journaling

Winter is deeply tied to introspection and inner worlds — perfect for journaling.

Try these seasonal prompts:

  • How does winter change the way I write?
  • What does rest look like for me right now?
  • Which scenes in my story feel “winter-like”?
  • What emotional themes want my attention this season?

Aligning with the season makes writing feel natural rather than forced.

🔮 

10. Give Yourself Permission to Hibernate

One of the greatest gifts winter gives writers is permission:

permission to rest, to reset, to dream, to slow down.

You do not need to write at full speed to be a real writer.

You only need to stay connected to your creative self.

Let your winter be:

  • Softer
  • Slower
  • More intuitive
  • More comforting

Your stories will grow from that gentleness.

❄️ Final Thoughts

Winter isn’t a season of creative failure — it’s a season of creative incubation.

Words root in the quiet. Ideas grow under the snow. Rest becomes the foundation for spring’s creativity.

Your winter self-care toolkit is not indulgence — it’s part of your writing practice.

Take care of your body. Nurture your creativity. Hold space for yourself.

Your stories will meet you there.

Happy Writing ^_^

2025 Months, October 2025, Self Care

Writing as Therapy: When the Page Listens Better Than People

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

Sometimes the blank page feels safer than a conversation. It doesn’t interrupt, misunderstand, or rush to fix you. It simply listens.

For many of us—especially those who don’t openly share our feelings—writing becomes more than a hobby or a creative outlet. It becomes a quiet form of self-therapy.

The Silent Power of Expression

When you write, you give voice to thoughts and emotions that might otherwise stay buried. You’re not filtering yourself for someone else’s comfort or approval—you’re simply being honest. Writing allows the truth to spill out in your own language, at your own pace.

In moments of confusion or pain, journaling or free-writing can act like a mirror. The words you put down reflect patterns, fears, and desires you didn’t realize you had. Through the act of writing, you often find not only release but also understanding.

When Talking Feels Too Hard

For people who struggle to open up, writing can feel like the first safe step toward healing. Speaking about emotions can make you feel exposed or vulnerable, but writing provides distance. You’re still expressing yourself—but privately, safely, and without judgment.

Over time, those pages begin to feel like a trusted friend—one who always listens, remembers, and keeps your secrets.

Discovering Yourself on the Page

The act of writing is deeply introspective. Sometimes you don’t truly know how you feel until you see it written down. What begins as a simple journal entry or a fictional scene can uncover hidden beliefs, unresolved grief, or long-suppressed dreams.

That’s the beauty of writing as therapy: you don’t have to know where it’s going. You just have to start.

Healing Through Different Forms of Writing

Therapeutic writing doesn’t have to be confined to a journal. Sometimes, creating stories, poems, or letters helps you explore emotions that feel too heavy to name directly.

When you write fiction, for example, your characters might carry pieces of your pain, resilience, or hope. Through their journeys, you can safely process your own experiences. Poetry can distill emotion into raw truth, while storytelling lets you reimagine pain as transformation.

Whether you write about a dragon guarding its heart, a lost soul finding light again, or a quiet moment of peace under the moon—each story becomes a reflection of you learning to heal in your own language.

Try This: A 3-Day Emotional Clarity Writing Exercise

This simple practice helps you reconnect with your emotions and find quiet understanding through your words.

Day 1 – The Unspoken Feelings

Write for ten minutes without stopping. Begin with:

“What I wish I could say but never do…”

Let whatever surfaces come through—anger, sadness, hope, confusion. Don’t edit or judge your words. Just let them exist.

Day 2 – The Inner Conversation

Today, write a letter to yourself as if you were comforting a friend.

“Dear Me, I know you’ve been carrying…”

Offer yourself compassion, validation, and understanding. You might be surprised by how much kindness you have within.

Day 3 – Transform It Through Story

Take a theme or feeling from the previous days and turn it into a short story, poem, or scene.

If your words were a story, who would your character be? What are they trying to heal, release, or discover?

You might find that giving your feelings a new form helps you see them more clearly—and even rewrite the ending.

The Page as a Gentle Healer

Writing doesn’t replace therapy or human connection—but it can bridge the gap between silence and speech. It gives you a place to begin healing, even when words feel heavy.

So, when the world feels too loud or you can’t quite speak what’s in your heart, pick up your pen. The page will always be there—listening, patient, and ready to help you understand yourself a little better.

Happy Writing ^_^

2025 Months, journaling, Self Care, September 2025

September Self-Care for Writers: Journaling, Rituals, and Story Seeds

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

Balancing productivity with wellness

September often feels like a bridge—the lingering warmth of summer gives way to crisp mornings, falling leaves, and the quiet rhythm of autumn settling in. For writers, this month can be both inspiring and demanding: deadlines approach, routines shift with the season, and creative projects ask for attention. That’s why September is the perfect time to weave self-care into your writing life.

Below are some gentle yet powerful ways to balance productivity with wellness through journaling, rituals, and story seeds.

Journaling: Writing for Yourself, Not Just Your Stories

As writers, it’s easy to pour all our energy into characters, plots, and worlds—leaving little room for our own voices. Journaling offers a safe, nourishing space where you can:

Release mental clutter: Freewrite your worries, frustrations, or lingering doubts before diving into creative work. Track creative rhythms: Notice how the changing seasons affect your energy and focus. Plant small reflections: A single sentence a day—about a moment, image, or feeling—can build a tapestry of inspiration for future stories.

Prompt to try: “What shifts in the world around me mirror the changes I feel within myself this September?”

Rituals: Anchoring Creativity in Care

Rituals don’t have to be grand ceremonies—they can be as simple as lighting a candle before you write or stretching your hands after a long drafting session. The purpose is to connect your creative work with acts of care.

Ideas for September rituals:

Morning grounding: Begin your writing session with deep breaths while imagining autumn air filling your lungs. Seasonal altar or desk touchstone: Place an object (a leaf, a stone, or a meaningful trinket) near your writing space to remind you of balance. Closing ritual: End your writing day with a short gratitude note to yourself—celebrating progress, no matter how small.

These gentle rituals remind you that your well-being is as important as your word count.

Story Seeds: Growing Inspiration from Life and Nature

September brims with imagery—misty mornings, harvest moons, school supplies, and storms rolling in. Treat these as story seeds that can spark new ideas:

A character who journals each autumn, leaving behind truths they never speak aloud. A harvest ritual that awakens something unexpected in a small town. A story that begins on the cusp of change—the last warm day before the first frost.

Try keeping a small notebook of “story seeds,” where real-life details mingle with sparks of imagination. Even if you don’t use them right away, they become a treasure chest for future writing.

Balancing Productivity with Wellness

Productivity thrives when it’s supported by wellness. By weaving journaling, rituals, and story seeds into your routine, you’re not just feeding your creativity—you’re caring for the writer behind the words. This September, let your self-care be the soil where your stories grow.

✨ What self-care rituals help you stay grounded during your writing practice? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re balancing your creativity with care this season.

Happy Writing ^_^

2025 Months, About Myself, August 2025, Self Care

A New Journal: Writing, Survival, and Healing

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

I’ve been reflecting on how to share my writing journey more openly—the messy, beautiful, complicated path of being a writer while also surviving the weight of family abuse trauma and navigating life with chronic illness. Writing has always been my way of making sense of chaos, but now I’m taking a step further.

I’ve created a new journal on Ko-fi: A New Journal: Writing, Survival, and Healing
.

This journal will be a dedicated space for:

✍️ Behind-the-scenes of my writing life—the victories and the struggles.

🌑 Reflections on how living with trauma shapes my creativity and my sense of self.

🌿 The realities of managing chronic illness while still chasing dreams.

Stories are powerful—they hold space for pain, growth, and transformation. My journal is not only about survival, but about showing up anyway, finding light in dark places, and honoring the creative spark that refuses to go out.

The first post is open for everyone to read. After that, the journal will be a subscriber-only feature, so it can remain a safe, supportive space for those who truly want to walk with me on this journey. By subscribing, you’re not only supporting my writing, you’re stepping into a more intimate, honest space with me.

If you’ve ever felt torn between pursuing creativity and wrestling with the weight of your past or your health, I hope this journal resonates with you. Together, we can create space for vulnerability, resilience, and creativity without apology.

💜 Thank you for reading, for supporting, and for being here.

👉 Click here to read the first post

July 2025, Self Care, writing-tips

Reflecting on My Writer Identity This Season

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

Every season brings a shift—not just in weather, but in energy, routine, and perspective. As summer stretches into its hottest days, I’ve found myself slowing down and turning inward. This quiet, almost reluctant pause has led me to reflect on something I don’t always make time for:

Who am I right now as a writer?

Not who I was when I first started writing fanfiction in a spiral-bound notebook. Not who I’ll be when I finally finish that long-awaited draft. But who I am today—in the middle of messy drafts, evolving routines, and shifting creative goals.

And maybe you’re asking yourself the same thing.

I’m Not the Same Writer I Was a Year Ago

This season, I’ve noticed how much my writing has changed—not just in style, but in intention. I’ve become more focused on emotional arcs and less worried about perfection. I’ve stopped trying to “write like someone else” and leaned into my own voice, even when it trembles.

Where I used to chase big word counts, now I chase meaningful moments. A single line of dialogue that clicks into place. A spark of worldbuilding that feels alive. A character choice that surprises me in the best way.

What’s Shaping Me Now

Right now, my writer identity is being shaped by:

  • Stillness – Embracing slower creative days and letting silence be part of the process.
  • Feedback – Learning to hear critique without shrinking.
  • Curiosity – Asking “What if?” more often and following the strange, sparkly paths that question opens.
  • Community – Surrounding myself with other writers who get it—the highs, the doubts, the unshakable love for storytelling.

Questions I’m Asking Myself This Season

If you’re also in a reflective mood, here are a few questions I’ve been journaling through:

  • What stories feel most urgent for me to tell right now?
  • How has my voice changed since last season—or last year?
  • What patterns keep showing up in my writing (and in my resistance)?
  • What do I need more of—and less of—to write in a way that feels aligned?

A Gentle Reminder

It’s okay if your writer identity isn’t neat or clear-cut. We’re always in flux. Always becoming. And sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is pause and say:

This is who I am right now. And that’s enough.

Wherever you are in your journey—drafting, resting, dreaming—I hope you take a moment to reflect, honor your growth, and give yourself permission to keep evolving.

You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Happy Writing ^_^

health, July 2025, Self Care

Writer’s Self-Care for Hot Days and Summer Colds

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

Summer is supposed to be the season of sun, freedom, and creativity. But let’s be real: those sweltering afternoons can zap your energy, and nothing ruins your writing streak like catching a summer cold. Whether you’re struggling to stay cool at your desk or sniffling your way through edits, it helps to plan for a little extra self-care.

Here are some simple, writer-friendly tips to help you take care of yourself and your words when the heat is on or you’re under the weather.

☀️ Staying Cool and Productive on Hot Days

  • Adjust Your Schedule: Embrace early mornings or late evenings when it’s cooler. Write during the hours you feel most alert.
  • Hydrate Like It’s Your Job: Keep a big glass or water bottle by your side. Infuse water with cucumber or mint for a refreshing boost.
  • Cool Writing Nooks: Set up by a fan, in the shade, or even in an air-conditioned café or library.
  • Dress for Comfort: Loose, breathable clothes help you focus on words instead of sweat.
  • Short Sprints, Long Breaks: If the heat saps your focus, try 15–20 minute writing sprints with cool-down breaks.
  • Creative Alternatives: Can’t handle the computer heat? Try longhand journaling in the shade or recording voice memos.

🤧 Managing Summer Colds Without Losing Momentum

  • Honor Your Limits: Sometimes the best writing day is a rest day. Don’t feel guilty for taking time to recover.
  • Gentle Prompts: If you’re too foggy for big scenes, try small, low-pressure prompts. Jot down ideas, free-write, or outline.
  • Set Up a Cozy Writing Nest: Soft blankets, tissues, tea. Make yourself comfortable if you’re determined to write.
  • Stay Hydrated (Again!): Herbal teas with honey can soothe a sore throat while keeping you hydrated.
  • Reduce Screen Time: When sick, your eyes and brain may tire faster. Try pen and paper or use a text-to-speech app.
  • Creative Daydreaming: Even if you’re too tired to write, you can plot, world-build, or imagine dialogue while resting.

🌿 General Summer Self-Care for Writers

  • Protect Your Energy: Say no to overcommitting, even to creative projects.
  • Get Outside (Safely): A short walk at dusk or dawn can reset your mind without overheating.
  • Mind Your Posture: Heat can make you slump. Support your back and neck, even on the patio.
  • Rest Guilt-Free: Remember, resting is part of the creative process.

✨ Journal Prompt:

How does summer change your writing routine? What self-care rituals help you stay balanced?

Whether you’re sweating it out or sniffling under blankets, these tips can help you stay connected to your writing while taking good care of yourself. Your stories will thank you for it.

What are your favorite summer self-care practices? Share them in the comments!

Happy Writing ^_^

health, June 2025, Self Care, writing-tips

How I Slow Down at Month’s End to Avoid Burnout

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

(Especially for Neurodivergent or Chronic Illness Writers)

The end of the month can feel like a deadline in itself: wrapping up goals, meeting commitments, planning ahead. For neurodivergent or chronically ill writers, that pressure can hit even harder. If you’re like me, you might find yourself pushing too hard, then crashing right as you’re supposed to start fresh.

Over time, I’ve learned that I don’t have to sprint to the finish line every month. Instead, I’ve created a gentle, sustainable way to slow down at month’s end to avoid burnout—and to start the new month with more clarity, creativity, and energy.

Here’s what that looks like for me:

1. I Embrace a “Soft Landing” Week

Instead of trying to do all the things in the final days, I give myself permission to wind down.

In fact, I often take the last few weeks of every month off from writing. Right now, I work in the health industry, and the last five days are always the busiest at work. On top of that, I’ve been finishing my second-to-last term in college, which has taken a lot of focus and energy.

This combination means I need a real break. I don’t expect myself to keep writing or pushing creatively during that time. I block off my planner to rest, do minimal tasks, and remind myself that stepping back is healthy and necessary.

2. I Check in With My Body (Not Just My Goals)

As a chronically ill writer, I’ve learned that ignoring my body’s signals only backfires. So instead of focusing on unfinished goals, I ask:

  • How’s my pain, fatigue, or brain fog right now?
  • What do I realistically have the energy for today?
  • What would help me feel safe and calm?

Sometimes that means moving a deadline. Other times it’s taking a nap, reading something soothing, or just giving myself permission to stop.

3. I Reflect Gently, Not Critically

I used to audit my goals harshly at month’s end (“Why didn’t I finish everything?!”). But now, I aim for kind, gentle reflection.

  • What went well this month?
  • What was especially hard or surprising?
  • How did my health, work, or school demands affect my energy?
  • What needs more support next month?

This approach helps me see the real picture without self-blame. It acknowledges that needing rest—especially with chronic health issues—is human.

4. I Prioritize Rituals That Help Me Transition

Even though I take time off writing, I like having small, meaningful ways to close one month and start another:

  • Clearing my desk or work space.
  • Lighting a candle or making a cup of herbal tea.
  • Journaling about what I want to leave behind.
  • Reviewing my planner and gently sketching next month’s focus.

These simple rituals help me shift gears and honor the need for pause.

5. I Schedule Rest Before the Next Push

I know the first few days of the next month are often when I’m recovering from work’s end-of-month rush. So I intentionally block “recovery days” at the start of the new month:

  • No big deadlines or writing goals.
  • Lower word-count targets if I’m drafting.
  • Creative play or reading instead of forced productivity.

This planned rest makes the transition sustainable, so I’m not burning out right away.

6. I Give Myself Permission to Do Less

This is the hardest but most important part. For neurodivergent and chronically ill writers, energy isn’t infinite. Doing less isn’t failure—it’s wisdom.

If my body or brain says “stop,” I try to listen. I remind myself:

“Rest is part of writing. Recovery is productive.”

7. Looking Ahead

I’m excited to share that I’ll be completing my degree at the end of August! I’ll be graduating with a Bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing with a concentration in Fiction from SNHU. It’s something I’ve been working so hard toward, and I’m really looking forward to the freedom it will give me to focus more on my blog and business ideas for all the writers and readers who follow me here.

Needing a break—especially when you’re balancing health issues, work, and school—is not only normal but necessary. I want this space to be a gentle reminder that you don’t have to do everything at once.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a writer managing chronic illness, neurodivergence, or both, I hope this resonates. You don’t have to follow a hustle-culture model of productivity. You can honor your own cycles and limits.

Slowing down at month’s end isn’t laziness. It’s self-care. It’s what keeps us writing for the long haul.

How do you slow down at the end of the month? What helps you avoid burnout?

I’d love to hear in the comments!

Happy Writing ^_^

June 2025, Self Care

10 Things That Are Fueling My Creativity Right Now

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

Lately, I’ve been leaning into the little things that spark my imagination and help me reconnect with my creative side. Whether it’s a quiet moment in nature or a soundtrack that stirs something deep inside, I’ve found that inspiration is often waiting in unexpected places. Today, I’m sharing ten things that are currently fueling my creativity—and maybe they’ll inspire you too.

1. Books That Stir My Imagination

Books have always been my first love. Right now, I’m diving into fantasy stories filled with emotional depth, slow-burn romance, and beautifully broken characters. I love getting lost in magical worlds and seeing how different authors handle themes of healing, power, and connection. These stories always spark new ideas for my own writing.

2. Emotional Anime Series

Anime inspires me in a way that feels so personal. The blend of visual beauty, layered characters, and emotional storytelling helps me think differently about pacing and character arcs. Lately, series like Violet Evergarden and Demon Slayer have reminded me how powerful a single scene can be when it’s built on heart and sacrifice.

3. Soundtracks That Set the Mood

When I sit down to write or create, music is my backdrop. I’ve been listening to instrumental playlists—especially ones from fantasy games or anime. A haunting violin or a soft piano melody can bring entire scenes to life in my mind before I’ve even written a word.

4. Meaningful Quotes

Sometimes one sentence is all it takes to bring me back to myself. I collect quotes that speak to where I am emotionally or creatively. One I’ve been holding onto lately:

“You are not behind. You are exactly where you need to be to become who you’re meant to become.”

It’s a gentle reminder to be patient with my journey—and my stories.

5. Nature and Moonlight Moments

I’ve been spending more time outside, especially in the evenings. Watching the moon rise, listening to the wind, or just sitting beneath a tree helps me slow down. Nature reminds me that creativity doesn’t have to be rushed—it flows in cycles, just like everything else.

6. Designing Something New

Creating printable journals, planners, and writing prompts has become a form of storytelling in itself. Designing something beautiful and functional feels like crafting a little piece of encouragement someone else can hold in their hands. It’s a quiet kind of joy I didn’t expect to love this much.

7. Crochet as Creative Therapy

There’s something meditative about working with yarn. The rhythm of stitching helps calm my mind when I feel scattered. Even simple crochet projects make me feel grounded, and sometimes, they unlock ideas I didn’t realize were stuck.

8. Aesthetic Photos and Moodboards

I’ve been saving more images lately—dreamy skies, magical forests, cozy writing nooks. Some photos inspire new stories, while others help me set the tone for a project. Creating moodboards has become part of my creative ritual, especially when I’m starting something new.

9. Movies with Heart

Rewatching films that make me feel deeply—whether it’s joy, sorrow, or hope—helps me reconnect to the emotional core of storytelling. Sometimes a single scene will inspire an entire plotline or help me understand a character I’ve been struggling to write.

10. The Spark of Something New

There’s a special kind of magic in starting a fresh story, journal, or product. That first spark—the “what if?” moment—is one of my favorite parts of the creative process. It reminds me why I started writing and dreaming in the first place.

What’s Fueling Your Creativity?

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of where your inspiration has gone, I encourage you to take a quiet moment and make your own list. Sometimes, the things that light us up are already around us—we just need to notice them again.

Happy Writing ^_^

About Myself, June 2025, Self Care

Why I Keep Showing Up to the Page, Even When It’s Hard

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

An Honest, Heart-Centered Encouragement for Fellow Writers

There are days when writing feels like breathing—natural, necessary, almost effortless. And then there are the other days. The ones where I stare at the screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard, unsure of what I’m even trying to say. Days when self-doubt creeps in, whispering, “What’s the point?” or “You’re not good enough.”

Still, I show up.

Not because I always feel inspired. Not because I’m bursting with creativity. But because writing is a part of who I am, even when it’s difficult. Especially when it’s difficult.

I live with chronic health issues, and honestly, that makes everything harder—physically, emotionally, even creatively. Some days my energy is low, my body aches, and brain fog makes it tough to focus. Add to that the fact that I don’t always have a lot of support, and it could be easy to stop trying. But I don’t. I keep showing up, purely for the love of writing and reading.

Writing has seen me through grief, anxiety, pain, and loneliness. It’s been my quiet companion in the messiest moments of my life. When everything else felt like too much, writing gave me something to hold onto—a place where I could be fully myself, no filter, no expectations. Just words on a page, slowly helping me breathe again.

I don’t always produce something worth sharing. Sometimes I write a sentence and delete it five times. Sometimes I write pages of things I’ll never read again. But the act of showing up matters. Each word is a promise to myself that I won’t give up on my voice.

If you’re reading this and you’re struggling to write—whether it’s because of stress, illness, burnout, fear, or life just getting in the way—I want you to know this: it’s okay to have hard days. It’s okay to rest. But when you’re ready, come back to the page. Even if all you have is a whisper of an idea. Even if all you write is, “I don’t know what to write.” That still counts.

You are a writer, not because you write every day, but because you keep coming back.

And I’ll keep showing up too—messy, tired, unsure—because writing reminds me that I’m still here, still growing, still creating. I write because I love it. Because I love stories. Because books and words helped shape who I am. That’s reason enough to keep going.

So if today is a hard day, let that be okay. The words will return. The magic will find you again. In the meantime, showing up is enough. You are enough.

Keep writing,
Sara 💛
Founder of Sara’s Writing Sanctuary

Happy Writing ^_^

journaling, June 2025, Moon Journaling, Moon writing, Self Care

🌞 Summer Writing Goals & Reflection Prompts: Embrace the Season of Growth

Sara's Writing Sanctuary

As June begins and the warm days stretch longer, it feels like the perfect time to set new intentions for your writing life. Whether you’re planning to dive into a new story, finish a lingering project, or just reconnect with your creative voice, summer offers a beautiful window for growth, exploration, and gentle progress.

In this post, I want to invite you to pause, reflect, and set a few meaningful writing goals for the summer months. Not the kind that pressure you—but the kind that inspire you.

🌿 Why Summer Is a Great Season for Writers

Summer often brings a slower rhythm, a chance to breathe and reset. Maybe you’re traveling, reading more, or spending quiet evenings outside. These little moments can become fuel for your stories or journals. It’s a season of sensory inspiration—sun-warmed skin, iced drinks, the buzz of insects, and sunsets that linger like the last page of a book.

Let this be a reminder: you don’t need to write everything at once. You just need to show up for yourself and your creativity in a way that feels nourishing.

✍️ Set Your Summer Writing Goals

Here are a few questions to help guide your intention-setting:

  • What is one writing project I want to finish or make progress on this summer?
  • How do I want writing to feel during these months—light and playful? Deep and reflective?
  • What small habits can help me write consistently without burning out?
  • What stories or emotions have been waiting quietly inside me?

Try choosing one main focus (like a WIP or journaling practice) and two smaller side goals (like reading more fiction, trying poetry, or writing outside once a week).

📓 June & Summer Journal Prompts

Use these journal and reflection prompts to deepen your connection to your writing life and personal growth this season:

🌸 Reflection Prompts:

  1. What do I want to leave behind from spring—creatively or emotionally?
  2. What does a “good writing day” feel like for me?
  3. Where do I feel stuck right now, and what would help me move forward?
  4. How have I grown as a writer in the past few months?
  5. What role does writing play in my healing or self-expression?

☀️ Creative Writing Prompts for Summer:

  1. A character finds something unexpected in the sand—a message, an object, or a memory.
  2. Write a scene where the heat of summer makes your character do something impulsive.
  3. Describe a place that only exists in the summer: who goes there, and why?
  4. “It started with a summer storm…” Begin a short story or journal entry with this line.
  5. Your character meets someone who feels like sunshine—but has a secret tied to the dark.

🌕 Bonus Inspiration: The Strawberry Full Moon (June 11)

This month’s Full Moon is known as the Strawberry Moon—a time tied to sweetness, growth, and fruition. Let it remind you that your creative work doesn’t have to be rushed. Like fruit, it ripens in its own time. Journal under the moonlight, write a poem, or simply light a candle and reflect on how far you’ve come.

💬 Let’s Write Together

I’ll be sharing more writing prompts, mini challenges, and creative reflections all summer long. Whether you’re working on a novel or just showing up to the page with your thoughts, you are writing. And that’s something to celebrate.

✨ What’s one writing goal you’re setting for this summer? Share it in the comments or jot it down in your journal today.

Happ Writing ^_^