1. Sweatpants, tea, and Netflix — they’re a trio!
2. Snacks. All the snacks.
3. Your favorite movie.
4. A book you’ve never read.
5. A book you’ve read a hundred times — one more can’t hurt!
6. A hobby or activity that requires creative energy but doesn’t involve writing.
7. Plenty of naps.
8. Time away from your screens. Give your brain some room to breathe.
9. Permission to let your mind wander — even if it wanders straight into a new story.
10. Permission not to write if you don’t want to.
11. The freedom to write — just a little bit — without pressure or expectations.
12. A pen and notebook to store any ideas that may tug at your sleeve. Just in case.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Meg Dowell Writes 