Posted Aug 9 2010, 2:53 am
At the risk of incurring yet more of my twitta sistas’ wrath, YES, I WAS ON VACATION last week. Go ahead. Curse me. Shake your fist. You know you want to. I’ll wait while you get it out of your system.
Feel better?
Fantastic. For what it’s worth, this was the first full week off I’ve had since sometime in 2009. I can’t actually remember when it was because we typically don’t go anywhere. So, this past week was special because we spent it in a beach house on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Eighteen of us split the rental fee. I only had to cook one night. Not a bad deal.
The house was wonderful. Three floors of fun. My husband’s whole family was there. A nephew attending college in Thailand came home with his Vietnamese bride. A niece announced she’s pregnant with baby number two. (Number One has his first birthday next month!) Another niece kept us entertained with her diabolical schemes to win Chris’ heart after The Bachelorette dumped him. We played games, ate, drank, barbecued on the beach (ourselves, not the food) and relaxed in a hot tub.
But that wasn’t the best part. I usually write in the evenings, after work, so being able to write in the mornings and afternoons was a special treat. I was inspired. I don’t know if it was the change in scenery, the change in habit, or the encouragement received from one of my Twiplets, Kelly, but I wished I could bottle it and save it for later. I read Jeff Somers’ latest release, finished Evan Mandery’s First Contact, critiqued a story for fellow tech writer and twitter pal Julio Vazquez, wrote guest blogs for Matt Delman and Jessie Mac and (squeal!) chatted for thirty minutes with an honest-to-God agent, Michelle Wolfson.
But even THIS wasn’t the best part.
No. The best part of this week was finally regaining the passion I used to have for SEND, my current WIP. For a while, something was missing. The writing was work, drudgery, no longer fun. I couldn’t figure out why or even when I lost the spark, but I suspect it had a lot to do with my mother’s diagnosis. The tick of the clock grew too loud. I had this subconscious race happening. I had to finish the story, get it out there before…
Not going there. Not now.
I let the manuscript sit for a few weeks. I didn’t write a word. Not until vacation. I returned to my outline (sorry, Pantsters… I just don’t feel the ‘wing it’ thing) and moved significant scenes, playing What If games with the new opportunities presented by resequencing. And you know what? I’m PUMPED. I wrote two new scenes, revised a bunch of others and can’t wait to get home tomorrow night, so I can tackle more.
Guess Huey Lewis had it right. All I really needed was a couple of days off.
Here are some pics from the week. Please feel free to tell my son his Mohawk looks ridiculous. He thinks it’s just me.
Here's the house, Surf N Sea
Me and my guys at the Hatteras Light House. My son's girlfriend tagged along.
Feeding the masses... I cooked chicken francaise for 18 people. There was none left.
The pool was the scene of much revelry, beer pong, and a drunken volley ball game.
I claimed this nook as my writing space. What a view!
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Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with me. Makes me want to get away for a week too. Soon, hopefully.
Congrats on the announcement on your niece with baby #2 and congrats to your nephew and his new bride :-)
Yes, I have to agree with you Patty, the mohawk is a no no :-)
-Norica
I am with you the mohawk, I say don’t harp on him for the summer. Besides soon enough he will probably get tired of it.
Tell me this, what is it with all of the 80s references lately? Mohawks are so 1987.
Glad you are back. It has been too quiet. Can’t wait to read the revisions. So glad I could help you find that passion again.
Love the pictures.
That house is gorgeous! Looks like tons of fun.
So glad you are feeling the passion for SEND again. That is awesome. I’ve had a couple lulls with my WIP and it always feels great to wake back up and find the love again.
Glad you enjoyed vacation!
I have to give props to the mohawk. I like it! lol
Looks like you had tons of fun–and double-YAY for regaining you passion!
Re your son’s mohawk: my attitude toward my own kiddos’ hair is, do what you like with it. Hair grows back. If you give me a laugh in the meantime, so much the better. ;)
Norica, thanks and thanks!
Kelly, I’m so glad you missed me and even more glad you were willing to help. You did. More than you know!
Michelle, Linda – you’re not helping! hahaha
Patty, the place looks great. I do like the look of that swimming pool and I’m guessing that’s the lighthouse at the back. Very nice.
The mowhawk? As long as it doesn’t get him beaten up, I wouldn’t worry about it. If it keeps people from bullying him, a bonus I say. But then I’m not a mother so just ignore me. I do have 3 younger brothers and a nephew.
Chat to you later,
Jessie
Jessie Mac
http://www.jessiemac.com
He’s always been on his own path. I try to support him. I really do. But this? Ick.
Oh, got a bit click happy there.
Wanted to say – really glad you’re pumped up and ready to roll again.
It feels so good when we’re on that sort of high making us want to run and jump.
Jessie
Jessie Mac
http://www.jessiemac.com
Me, too! I can’t wait to make some pages.
I know I’m late to comment, Patty, but this place looks incredible! I’m so glad you got some time off. Yay you!
It was wonderful. I wish I’d been able to finish some more scenes, but it was so great just being able to blog and write and tweet as I wanted without worrying about day job.