Hi Reader,
Tomorrow is Canada Day in my neck of the woods, and Independence Day is just around the corner for all my friends in the U.S.
And no matter which one you celebrate, this time of year can feel like a chance to step away from the usual rush for a minute, spend time with family and friends, enjoy the summer, and hopefully take a much-needed break. But it’s also something else.
With these holidays landing at the halfway point of the year, it’s a good reminder that we’ve reached a kind of creative checkpoint too. And I think that matters for writers and artists.
We spend so much time looking ahead at: the next script, the next draft, the next deadline, the next project, or the next goal... that we don’t always stop and look back at what we’ve actually done.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
Take stock of the ground you’ve already covered
If you’re anything like most other creative people, your brain is probably much better at noticing what’s unfinished than what’s been accomplished.
You might see a screenplay that still needs rewriting, a novel chapter you haven’t finished, a short film idea still sitting in your notes, a pitch deck you haven’t built yet, a video you haven’t recorded, or a career milestone you haven’t hit.
Guess what? That’s normal. But it can also be discouraging if that’s the only lens you use.
So this week, I’d like to encourage you to stop for a moment and take stock of what you have done so far this year.
Maybe you:
- finished a draft
- started a chapter
- outlined a new story
- got better at structure
- got clearer on character
- submitted your work somewhere
- got feedback
- made changes you were afraid to make
- shot something
- posted something
- or simply kept going when it would’ve been easier not to.
Big or small, it all counts more than you might think.
Progress is not always loud
One of the biggest traps for writers is assuming progress only matters when it looks big from the outside. A contest win or a sale. A viral post or a big announcement.
Now don't get me wrong - those things are great. But a lot of the most important progress happens quietly - for example, when you:
- finally understand why a scene wasn’t working
- learn how to write a stronger character intro
- get better at dialogue
- realize what your story is really about
- cut the scene that never belonged there
- stop writing around the truth and write into it instead
That’s real, steady growth. And it adds up in a big way!
Looking back helps you move forward
This is one of the reasons I think a mid-year reset is so valuable. Looking back is not the opposite of moving forward. Done right, it’s part of it.
When you can see what you’ve already built, learned, survived, improved, or completed, it gives you creative fuel - and it reminds you that you're not standing still.
And that matters when life gets in the way of your creative pursuits. Too much work, not enough time, too many obligations, not enough "me time". It can feel intimidating.
Sometimes motivation comes from realizing: "I’ve already done more than I’ve been giving myself credit for."
A few writing tips for this mid-year moment
I encourage you to use this week as a creative reset, and to help, here are a few simple ways to do it:
1. Make a list of what you’ve finished, started, or improved this year.
Not what’s left. What’s done. Celebrate your victories.
2. Revisit an unfinished project with fresh eyes.
You may be closer than you think. Sometimes distance is exactly what lets you see the next move clearly.
3. Ask what actually gave you energy this year.
Which project pulled you in? Which one felt most alive? That’s useful information for what you should focus on next.
4. Be honest about what isn’t working.
Not every idea needs to be forced. Some need reshaping. Some need shelving. Some need a completely different angle - or even a new start.
5. Choose one clear creative priority for the next few months.
Not ten. One. A draft to finish. A rewrite to tackle. A short to shoot. A pitch to prepare.
Rest is part of the work too
And one more thing: If this holiday week gives you a chance to rest, take it.
I mean it. Not every productive day has to produce new pages.
Sometimes the most useful thing you can do is step back, refill the tank, watch a great movie, sit outside, have a good conversation, laugh with family, and let your mind breathe a little. That’s all part of the creative process too!
So wherever you are this week - celebrating Canada Day, looking ahead to the Fourth, or just enjoying a bit of summer - I hope you give yourself a little credit for how far you’ve come this year.
Chances are, the second half of the year gets a lot stronger when you remember what you’ve already proven to yourself in the first half!
And for some added inspiration, check out my latest video on what I learned in making my short film, Boneyard Racers.
🎥 Watch the full video here: Big Writing Lessons from Short Films
And if you want help with your screenplay - character work, dialogue, pacing, structure, or figuring out why your script isn’t landing the way it should - I can help with that too.:
👉 My coaching calls - great for brainstorming, outlining, character work, and solving story problems early: Book Your Session today!
👉 My coverage packages - a great next step if you need meaningful developmental feedback before diving back into the draft: Click here!
👉 Rewrite to Greenlight - my ongoing developmental editing program for taking a script from almost there to funding or production-ready: Click here!
So look ahead, yes, but also look back. There’s probably more there than you think.
Until next time - keep writing, and stay creative!
Neil
P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!
Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel
And see my latest feature, Contamination, now on Amazon, Fandango, and Hoopla!
Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking: www.neilchasefilm.com.
Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.
Check out my Gothic horror-western novel, Iron Dogs, available in eBook, print, and audiobook.
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