We writers live
inside our own heads a good portion of the time. That’s how we create the
stories we write and the characters who live those stories. To a non-writer, we
may appear to be “present” but often we’re off in another world.
I’m a morning
writer. That’s when my mind is fresh, free from all the thoughts and tasks the
day will undoubtedly bring. When I’m in the midst of working on a book,
especially when I’m close to finishing one as I am now, all I want to do every
morning is focus on that.
Throughout the
morning, I take an occasional break. In good weather, I enjoy sitting on my
front porch with a cup of coffee, leaning back and letting the creative side of
my brain do its thing. I’m basically living inside my head and I’m pretty much
oblivious to what’s going on around me. I know cars are driving by and life is
going on but I don’t really “see” any of it. I always take a legal pad and pen
outside with me because I find that I come up with some of my best ideas at
those times.
Unless
someone interrupts me and brings me crashing back into the real world.
I’m fortunate to
have some really nice neighbors and they all know I’m a writer. I enjoy talking
with them from time to time but, sometimes (not every day), one of them stops by when I’m taking one of my morning “breaks.”
When that happens,
I smile but what I’m thinking is please
go away! I don’t want to be rude or to hurt their feelings so I listen to
what they have to say, nod my head and make a brief comment or two. But I end
the conversation as quickly as possible, explaining that I have to get back to my writing. It’s frustrating because
it takes me awhile to get back into the world of my characters.
Those are the
times I daydream of having a writer’s retreat, a place I could go to get away
from everyone and everything until I
finish my book.
The other day, I
was thinking along those lines and two of my favorite movies came to mind. Most
of you have probably seen Seems Like Old
Times and Misery. Although one is
a comedy and the other is far from it, the main character in both movies is a
writer. A writer who takes refuge in a secluded mountain cabin/lodge to finish his
novel.
Ah! That sounds
like Heaven to me. I imagine myself at my computer all day long with only the sounds of the
birds chirping outside my window. No responsibilities! No interruptions! No people!
And
then I remember what happened to the writers in those movies.
Well, maybe I’ll
think twice the next time I feel the urge to escape to a writer’s retreat. Or I’ll
start drinking my morning coffee at the kitchen table.
Until next week, happy reading and writing!
