Perhaps I’m guilty of stretching the concept of hygge too far, but I personally think that writing can be a perfect cozy winter activity. If writing warms your heart or penning a book has always been on your bucket list, here are my three suggestions as to how to incorporate more of it into your life in 2017.
- Write your memoir. Long, cold winter days and nights are a great
time to reminisce. Get those memories down on the page. Even if you never publish it, future generations will enjoy reading about your experiences. If you need a little guidance, check out Your Life is a Book: how to craft and publish your memoir by Brenda Peterson and Sarah Jane Freymann.
- Write some cozy fiction or even a thriller or horror novel.
Personally I’d stick with cozy fiction (something along the lines of Jan Karon), but in fact, Danish happiness expert, Meik Wiking, has stated that a little terror can create hygge, as long as its fictional scariness. If you think that writing a novel will take too much time, take heart in knowing that thousands of people successfully complete National Novel Writing Month every year. For practical tips on how to churn out your book length work in practically no time, check out No Plot, No Problem: A Low-Stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Chris Baty, First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner or Book in a Month: the fool-proof system for writing a novel in 30 days by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.
Once you’ve finished your memoir or novel, you’ll want to get your lovely book into the hands of readers, so you’ll need a plan to publish your work. You can go the traditional route and try to get your work picked up by a mainstream publisher. For tips on this option, check out the classic Writers’ Market. More and more authors, however, are going a new route and self-publishing their books. For guidance on the DIY path to publication, the West Branch has you covered. Tomorrow night (Thursday, January 5th) at 7pm, we’ll have self-published author Diane Mulligan here to tell you everything you need to know about the self-publishing process, from preparing your manuscript to marketing your book. There’s still space in the workshop, so make sure you sign up and join us!
Finally, for those of you who don’t daydream about being an author, I have on final suggestion:
- Write letters. Hygge includes a strong emphasis on togetherness.
But let’s face it, writing (like reading) can often be a solitary past time. Not so with letter writing. Sometimes we just can’t be with the ones we love. Sure, there is e-mail, texting, Facebook and Skyping for virtual togetherness, but to me that lacks a certain coziness. And really, what brightens up a day more than opening your mailbox to discover a letter from a loved one, instead of just bills or requests for donations? For an extra-special sense of community, try starting your own version of an Amish circle letter. And take the time to make your letter a real work of art by creating your own stationary, decorating your envelope and adding other handmade touches before giving it to your mail carrier. I highly recommend Snail Mail by Michelle Mackintosh for endless inspiration in this department.
So grab that pen, dust off your typewriter or cozy up to your keyboard and get to work. And may hygge follow!
