{WRITERS AND AUTUMN} 7 reasons why we're the perfect match

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  HAPPY AUTUMN *throws leaves in the air* I’m sorry, my summer-loving friends, but the season of falling leaves, nippy winds, and delicious scents has finally arrived!

It has come to my attention during my near-year of blogging that a lot of writers say autumn is their favorite season, myself including. So today, in honor of the first day of fall, I’m revealing the seven reasons why writers and autumn are often the perfect match. (if you’re a writer who does not like autumn, don’t worry—this post is for amusement ;)

Also, because the school year recently started, I’m going to be using several mathematical expressions, so bear with me! I’m just using addition and comparison symbols though, so it should be easy to understand ;)

REASON # 1

WRITERS <3 CAFFEINE. CAFFEINE = WARM DRINKS. AUTUMN = WARM DRINKS = LOTS OF CAFFEINE

WHAT WRITER DOES NOT LIKE CAFFEINE?!? Okay, maybe me. But I DO enjoy a good hot chocolate and the occasional cup of tea. Having some sort of beverage when writing is a must, and warm drinks often inspire a cozy feeling that makes writing easier (?) rather than how cold drinks just make you shiver….

But really. Colder weather is just an accuse to have more caffeine, especially after a summer of ice tea or ice coffee or Star Bucks Refreshers or whatever you like.

REASON #2

BECAUSE SWEATERS

Let me give you two mental pictures here:

First, imagine writing on a swelteringly hot day with sweat dripping from your forehead, a fan blowing on your face and muting your music, and your cold drink soaked with precipitation so every time you set it down your fingers are wet, and thus you run the risk of getting your keyboard, or notebook, ruined.

Then imagine a chilly day, curled up in an over-sized knit sweater that goes down to your thumbs, perhaps with a nice little fire by your side, and a warm drink that might just be a Pumpkin Spice Latte. You might even have a blanket on your lap, or some of those cool little half-glove things so your fingers stay warm while you type.

AND (this is important) because sweaters are so versatile, you can wear them to bed, out to the store, or writing. THEY LITERALLY GO WITH EVERYTHING, K?  And we writers like to keep our style simple and cozy so if we’re caught writing in our pajamas, our pajamas consist of the sweater we wear during the day so we don’t have to change before we go out.

Sweaters are the official attire of writers.

REASON #3

 FALL = COLORFUL LEAVES FLYING + UNUSUAL SMELLS + WIND = WRITERLY SENSES STIMULATED. WRITERLY SENSES STIMULATED = LOTS OF PLOT BUNNIES.

Fall is so ALIVE. As a blogger I know would say, it makes our souls hum. There’s so much going on—leaves being set aflame by the cold, a paradox that gets our brain gears moving (kinda creepy imagery?). There are so many scents and sounds that aren’t there during other seasons that really get our imagination excited (I guess you could say that about other seasons too but sshhhh that’s not what the post is about) And an active imagination means LOTS of plot bunnies. And armies of plot bunnies always mean new WIPs or inspiration for editing.

And there’s something that bunnies like about fall too? I saw three in a row on my bike ride the other day. Silly little things almost got hit sitting in the middle of the path :P (though I would sooner crash than hit one, btw)

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REASON #4

SCHOOL = SCHEDULES. SCHEDULES = WRITING SCHEDULES

I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I did when making my school schedule was carve out a time for writing. It was tough to do that over the summer with all the summer-y stuff going on. But when life falls back into a reliable routine with school… 

Clearly the right time to make sure we have ridiculous amounts of time to write.

REASON #5

COLD WEATHER > WRITERS’ BRAVERY --> WRITERS GO INSIDE

Because we are sensitive to cold weather and cannot stand it. Thus, as the temperature plummets to a frigid 56 degrees, we must go inside or freeze to death. Even if we love the outdoors, we cannot survive in such conditions. THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, OKAY? 

But we, being adventurous creatures, cannot be satisfied with staying indoors. Thus we are attracted to hours of excessive reading or, most often, shutting ourselves away with survival tools (sweaters, hots drinks, etc.) and writing madly to satisfy our desire to explore.

(this might not really be true because I’m more apt to go outside in autumn. Oops xD)

REASON #6

SCHOOL > OUR LIVES --> WRITERS RESORT TO WRITING AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO STUDY

Because what better excuse do we have not to study than to go write our novel? (even though we know we’re just going to headdesk for hours on end when we see our mess of words). We need something to escape from math and science and all such terrible forms of torture :P

REASON #7

NANOWRIMO > EVERYTHING ELSE.

Enough said (this point mainly applies to US writers, but ignore that for a moment ;). This reason is truly why writers are so attracted to this season. We jump for joy at the notion of joining thousands of other writers for thirty days of warring against procrastination, writers’ block, and the need to sleep and exercise in order to torture newly created characters to force them to change. Surviving this treacherous adventure is the achievement every writer strives for.

I think it’s rather ironic that NaNo was chosen to be in the fall (at least in the US). Even if it’s because the ‘nov’ in November mirrors the first three letters of ‘novel,’ I believe that my above reasons are to blame as well ;)

<3

audrey caylin

What is your favorite season to write in and why? Can you think of any other crazy reasons why writers like autumn? Why do YOU think NaNoWriMo is in November?