All right, everyone, it's the day after Labor Day--the first official day of fall according to my internal calendar. And what does fall mean, besides putting your white shoes away until next year? Back to school, of course! The fact that many schools now start in August hasn't altered my clock one bit. School never started before September when I was a student. When my daughter was in school we lived in Minnesota, where by law the school year started the day after Labor Day. It's a shame that's no longer the case.
I'll admit, I'm an autumn kind of girl. As a child, I loved school and was excited to see my friends and dive back into classes after a long, hot Kansas summer spent largely in the company of my mother and siblings. (Not that they weren't fun, but...well, you know.) I loved the shorter days and dropping temperatures. The fact that my birthday is in early October only added to the appeal.
Even though it's been more than a decade since I participated in back-to-school activities--either as a student or a parent--the seasonal rhythm has never left me. Since I first developed a concept of time as a young child, I've always visualized the year as a circle--a circle that begins in September, not January. Autumn invigorates me, physically and mentally. There's so much to accomplish before the next big break around the holidays.
So what does this mean for me as a writer? This year, I hope it means an influx of energy and enthusiasm to make real progress on my WIP. I'm about 40% done with the first draft and would love to finish it before I forget why I thought this story was a good idea in the first place. I'll also make time to squeeze in my ROP Christmas story. They always put me in a good mood!
What does fall mean to you? Do you feel energized like me, or sad to see summer end?
Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
