How wonderful that you arranged your own successful writing retreat! Brava! You've inspired me to bring out my own pile of notes & ideas on scrap paper.
I love the notes and files - there's a creative output there and I can just see it reshuffling itself into the story that you really want to write.
A writer's retreat would be a disaster for me - so much to explore, orientate, ooh, i must visit that landmark again etc etc. I'd get nothing done. Whereas at home, I'd have my routine (including the garden) after which I could disappear into my choice of quiet space within the home and just write or daydream. Daydreams are vital for me - I essentially push the narrative forward in my head while staring into space. It works for me every time.
I've done a lot of it over the last month as I recuperate. Too tired to actually write, but not too tired to daydream...
Do what's right for you - looking forward to seeing what eventuates.
I appreciated this so much! How wonderful that you received the gift of daydreaming about your novel while dealing with major surgery and a long recovery. I too am the kind of person who can only write at home. I’ve tried to write in other places where I’ve had free time and quiet, but nope! My mind is just a blank.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing more of your ballerina novel once you’re back to writing 😊 (Although I was quite interested in your other novel with monk character…even if the pic of him was AI, he was a hunk!) Sending lots of healing your way, that you regain your energy and strength very soon!
Brother Bruno will return. It's just that when there's a compulsion, a writer has to follow, don't you think? Anyway, TBH, time will tell as my editor might say that the first few thousand words of Act Three indicate no story at all, so that it'll be back to Brother Bruno which does indeed have a story!
Writing is a strange beast and like many other things, I don't believe there are hard and fast rules to mastering the craft. IT masters the writer... that's the fun of it.
I so appreciate your insights here, and completely agree on all fronts! One really has to follow the writerly energy, wherever it may lead. As for “hard and fast rules”…I don’t think they exist. Every creator needs to find their own way in. And yes, that *is* the fun of it!
What an incredible tale about telling a tale! You have undergone a metamorphosis. And you didn't have to leave the house. A well managed feat. I have been inhaling your words to better direct my own scattered writing patterns. Thank you for sharing this story. Of course, now I absolutely MUST read the finished product. Carry on!
How lovely! I’m so very glad my experience is inspiring you. Surely the hardest part about writing around a busy life is trying to corral the brainspace, isn’t it? I found that during that week, I also cut my online time way down. It definitely helps to quiet the mind!
Thank you so much for the encouragement too! Even if I “carry on” writing through the gardening season, I don’t think I’ll make truly significant progress until the fall. I will keep your words in mind!!
For me, finding the brainspace is finding the time without so many distractions/interruptions from my caregiving duties. Once upon a time I could work late into the night after I had the job finished and the family settled down. But caring for an elder is a different story; it's a 24/7 task. Now I literally squeeze a story out and then edit over days. As I move into co-editing this new book along with my sister writers from our Writing Group, I work when my lovely husband has an attendant who takes him out for the afternoon. That works brilliantly; work accomplished. Finding an open space feels like a miracle. If his darling support buddies fail to show up for whatever reason, I am out of luck. Alas. Wish me even better luck in finding a part-time caregiver who will fill in some of those hours for me. It's the plight of millions of families. We must each find our own workable solutions.
It’s inspiring that you can keep writing through all your challenges! And adjust on the fly to all the constantly changing situations. Sending hugs and good energy for all your creating!
Thank you, Sue, for your acknowledgement of my absolutely off-the-charts writing modality. I am beginning to think that this has been my mode all along, although after I retired, for at least the years Patti worked with me as assistant, I could concentrate for long hours at a time. I wrote, she edited. It was heavenly. Those long years in Portland, writing was a tough-and-go thing. A heavy teaching load and commuting didn't leave a lot of open time. Yet I managed to produce eight books and a myriad of articles, papers, etc. I used to shake my head at my lazy colleagues, who had wives who waited on them, and they could barely get out a conference paper. But then, who was my model: James W. Davis, Political Science Professor! He never slowed down. I often wonder now if we were in a kind of mild competition. It does strike me that he had time to edit my work along with his prodigious collection of highly scholarly written tomes.
We must all find our creative ways. I used to feel so guilty because I didn't measure up to how the ideal writer goes about his/her business. I often reflected on why I should do things a different way. Follow some classy writer who sits down at the same time each day and pushes out the words. Alas, they were almost all men with vastly different lives.
Sending hugs back to you for your continuing creativity through your commuting care and massive gardening projects.
You're so welcome. Thank you for your input today on house matters. I think Tim needed to hear that. Even if I do decide to stay here, which is my preference, I need to feel that I can change my mind. Every woman's prerogative.
Thank you so much for reading! So far this spring, the garden hasn’t been invaded by our friend the bear. But he’s close…today I saw him on our lane *again*!
How wonderful that you arranged your own successful writing retreat! Brava! You've inspired me to bring out my own pile of notes & ideas on scrap paper.
I’m looking forward to hearing about what your notes and scrappy-doodles lead to!
I love the notes and files - there's a creative output there and I can just see it reshuffling itself into the story that you really want to write.
A writer's retreat would be a disaster for me - so much to explore, orientate, ooh, i must visit that landmark again etc etc. I'd get nothing done. Whereas at home, I'd have my routine (including the garden) after which I could disappear into my choice of quiet space within the home and just write or daydream. Daydreams are vital for me - I essentially push the narrative forward in my head while staring into space. It works for me every time.
I've done a lot of it over the last month as I recuperate. Too tired to actually write, but not too tired to daydream...
Do what's right for you - looking forward to seeing what eventuates.
I appreciated this so much! How wonderful that you received the gift of daydreaming about your novel while dealing with major surgery and a long recovery. I too am the kind of person who can only write at home. I’ve tried to write in other places where I’ve had free time and quiet, but nope! My mind is just a blank.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing more of your ballerina novel once you’re back to writing 😊 (Although I was quite interested in your other novel with monk character…even if the pic of him was AI, he was a hunk!) Sending lots of healing your way, that you regain your energy and strength very soon!
Hi Susan.
Brother Bruno will return. It's just that when there's a compulsion, a writer has to follow, don't you think? Anyway, TBH, time will tell as my editor might say that the first few thousand words of Act Three indicate no story at all, so that it'll be back to Brother Bruno which does indeed have a story!
Writing is a strange beast and like many other things, I don't believe there are hard and fast rules to mastering the craft. IT masters the writer... that's the fun of it.
I so appreciate your insights here, and completely agree on all fronts! One really has to follow the writerly energy, wherever it may lead. As for “hard and fast rules”…I don’t think they exist. Every creator needs to find their own way in. And yes, that *is* the fun of it!
What an incredible tale about telling a tale! You have undergone a metamorphosis. And you didn't have to leave the house. A well managed feat. I have been inhaling your words to better direct my own scattered writing patterns. Thank you for sharing this story. Of course, now I absolutely MUST read the finished product. Carry on!
How lovely! I’m so very glad my experience is inspiring you. Surely the hardest part about writing around a busy life is trying to corral the brainspace, isn’t it? I found that during that week, I also cut my online time way down. It definitely helps to quiet the mind!
Thank you so much for the encouragement too! Even if I “carry on” writing through the gardening season, I don’t think I’ll make truly significant progress until the fall. I will keep your words in mind!!
For me, finding the brainspace is finding the time without so many distractions/interruptions from my caregiving duties. Once upon a time I could work late into the night after I had the job finished and the family settled down. But caring for an elder is a different story; it's a 24/7 task. Now I literally squeeze a story out and then edit over days. As I move into co-editing this new book along with my sister writers from our Writing Group, I work when my lovely husband has an attendant who takes him out for the afternoon. That works brilliantly; work accomplished. Finding an open space feels like a miracle. If his darling support buddies fail to show up for whatever reason, I am out of luck. Alas. Wish me even better luck in finding a part-time caregiver who will fill in some of those hours for me. It's the plight of millions of families. We must each find our own workable solutions.
It’s inspiring that you can keep writing through all your challenges! And adjust on the fly to all the constantly changing situations. Sending hugs and good energy for all your creating!
Thank you, Sue, for your acknowledgement of my absolutely off-the-charts writing modality. I am beginning to think that this has been my mode all along, although after I retired, for at least the years Patti worked with me as assistant, I could concentrate for long hours at a time. I wrote, she edited. It was heavenly. Those long years in Portland, writing was a tough-and-go thing. A heavy teaching load and commuting didn't leave a lot of open time. Yet I managed to produce eight books and a myriad of articles, papers, etc. I used to shake my head at my lazy colleagues, who had wives who waited on them, and they could barely get out a conference paper. But then, who was my model: James W. Davis, Political Science Professor! He never slowed down. I often wonder now if we were in a kind of mild competition. It does strike me that he had time to edit my work along with his prodigious collection of highly scholarly written tomes.
We must all find our creative ways. I used to feel so guilty because I didn't measure up to how the ideal writer goes about his/her business. I often reflected on why I should do things a different way. Follow some classy writer who sits down at the same time each day and pushes out the words. Alas, they were almost all men with vastly different lives.
Sending hugs back to you for your continuing creativity through your commuting care and massive gardening projects.
Yes, vastly different! The trick might be to hang on to your creative energy, come what may. Thank you so much for sharing.
You're so welcome. Thank you for your input today on house matters. I think Tim needed to hear that. Even if I do decide to stay here, which is my preference, I need to feel that I can change my mind. Every woman's prerogative.
Another wonderful post. The gardening info attracts me the most but I’m impressed by the artist’s need to create!
Thank you so much for reading! So far this spring, the garden hasn’t been invaded by our friend the bear. But he’s close…today I saw him on our lane *again*!