Fall is my favorite time of the year, even more so since moving to the Bay area. It is cooler, especially at night, but the sun still comes out. There is rain, but only once a week. And the vibes are here to stay.

When I am not celebrating Spooky Season, I am planning a way to reach my writing goal, which at the moment is completing a new novel (or at least 50,000 words) before December. To get into the seasonal mindset and keep myself motivated, there are a few treats and traditions I keep returning to.

#1. Halloween Movies.

Every year, we watch a few gothic or horror movies to get into the spirit of the season. Without fail, we always find time for the animated miniseries Over the Garden Wall. Despite its childish appearance, it is short, entertaining, and captures the aesthetic of Halloween superbly.

This year we also rewatched some classic but admittedly not fantastic horror films, including Van Helsing and the original Mummy.

It has been 10 years since I saw either of the films, and they are both much less impressive than I remember. It does not help that due to having a baby, we have had to watch the movies in 30 minute increments over several days to get through them.

#2. Drinky Drinks

I love warm drinks, especially when its cold, and I have 3 in particular that make the season come to life. They make excellent rewards and motivators for me to sit down and write.

Espresso Martini. My go-to writing companion:

• Coffee,
• Milk or Creamer,
• Whipped Cream Vodka,
• Liquor 46 or Kahlua,
• Irish Cream.

Hot Toddy. My evening beverage of choice.

• Hot Water or Tea,
• Lemon Juice and Slice,
• Cinamon Stick,
• Whole Cloves,
• Honey or Maple Syrup.

Peppermint Mocha. More of a November drink, and a bring-to-work favorite.

• Coffee,
• Milk or Creamer,
• Ghirardelli’s Ground Chocolate/Cocoa Powder,
• Peppermint Syrup,
• Dash of Salt.

#3. Colorful Digital Certificates of Completion

New this year, I have made some colorful digital designs through Canva to reward myself for my writing efforts. These include consistency and word count achievements as well as smaller landmarks that I stick to my excel sheet wall where I keep track of my daily word counts and goals.