With the beautiful fall weather fast approaching and the holidays after that, you may be taking time off of your writing business. Try the following tips to make the shift easier to manage.

1. Plan Ahead of Time

Calendar in the days you will be gone and then work backward. What has to be done when to make your vacation work?

I’m always working at least a month ahead on all my projects in preparation for my next travel period. By scheduling extra time to manage the extra work, you lighten the burden of squeezing in deadlines right before you leave or right after you return.

2. Think About Your Cash Flow

If you rely on your writing business for even part of your income, you understand that when you’re not working, you’re not making money. That means you need to check the financials and plan accordingly.

I’ll admit to getting through a few vacations early in my career with a credit card and a prayer. In my opinion, as long as you’re careful with your money most of the time, it’s better to get away however you can than not to get away at all. Vacations are beneficial, including easing stress and boosting the immune system. Research also shows that the anticipation of time off can be just as beneficial health-wise than the actual time away.

Of course, you feel better knowing you can handle your time away without going into debt. Attempt to maintain a “vacation” fund into which you regularly contribute.

3. Find Ways to Make Your Trip a Business Trip

I’m a believer in avoiding work while on vacation, but the beauty of being a writer is that you can often find something to write about on your trip, which allows you to write off at least part of it on your taxes.

Maybe there’s a special location you can feature in a travel magazine, a personal interest piece that fits an online magazine, or something you can do while you’re away that qualifies as research for your novel. For instance, C. Hope Clark spends a full week at Edisto Beach, South Carolina, outlining and researching her Edisto Island mysteries, providing a signing or two at the local bookstore as well.

As long as you keep careful records (brochures, pictures, receipts, notes from the experience), it’s legit, and it can help you rest a little easier about the expense.

4. Let Your Clients Know You’ll Be Gone

Many writers worry about being “unavailable” to their editors, publishers, or clients, so they don’t tell them about their travel plans. The most important benefit of alerting the right people to your plans is to keep you from getting caught up in “emergency” projects while you’re away. Every writer has received a “can you please…” request while on vacation.

Resist. Let your people know you’ll be gone, then stick to your guns. I’ve never lost a client or project by doing this.

5. Disconnect and Discover Something New

Too many entrepreneurs stay attached to their work even while they’re away. This is a horrible idea, as it robs you of all the benefits a vacation has to give.

Let the social media slide (no one will notice), and skip the email madness for a while.

Even more importantly, expose yourself to all things new. Creative people need novelty to stimulate their imaginations. Go see a different type of show, explore a new park or museum, try a fresh activity, or meet up with people you haven’t seen in years. Travel to a new arena, or find the overlooked around your own home turf.

Give yourself the gift of time off this year. Your business, clients, readers—and your inner writer—will thank you for it!

BIO: Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her latest novel, The Beached Ones, released from CamCat Books on July 26, 2022. Her previous novel, Loreena’s Gift, was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed: Your Writing Matters, Writer Get Noticed and Overwhelmed Writer Rescue. You can find free chapters of these books at her author website (colleenmstory.com) or connect with her on Twitter (@colleen_m_story).