A Writers Retreat From Home
I spoke to my husband about the cost of Nanowrimo yesterday and we came to the conclusion that basically I am running my own writing retreat from home. This is very important for me November and writing is like my holiday time. It is the only time in the year when I get to say what I am doing with my time. This is being even more important this year as I am basically being house bound (crutches, pregnancy, chronic pain etc.).
It is my holiday – I still have a five year old to get ready for school etc… but housework is mainly out the window and I am not cooking meals – the holiday aspect is important or I end up feeling that this is because I can’t do the things – which is true also but I am not thinking of it like that!
This month is for me – I get to be selfish and write my dam arse off basically. I love writing and drawing and the like and this is the one time I can focus on it!
So how am I making it a writers retreat from home? I am writing (within my physio pacing) for most the time my little girl is at school. I have breakfast whilst reading through the previous days writing and then write in 20 minute bursts, ten minutes of stretching and moving around inbetween. A few days I have been too tired and I had an iffy day of hands not working but mainly this is working really well. I am getting at least 2 K written a day. I have my sea weed crackers at the laptop with me and a Muse Candle a lite to help inspire me.
The idea of burning a candle whilst writing started when I was a teenager – and works well though I do tend to use any candles that are laying around 😉 My favourite are large pillar candles – the sort you tend to find in churches.
I am tending to each lunch late – as in when my little girl comes home from school – she has her dinner at about 5 and often we watch a film/documentary together – my husband is normally working still at this point. He then baths her and puts her to bed whilst I do more writing (though I have to say this tends to be when I am working on my Picture Book Ideas!). He isn’t here a couple of the days so this isn’t everyday!
I then read to her whilst he makes dinner. We eat dinner together and I do more writing until bed time or have a bath if the pain is getting too much for me – baths are good research time I am finding.
He is very supportive and has been taking our little girl out and about for walks and things at the weekend so that I can get on and do more writing, research and planning!
This is great but it is not sustainable for life in general which is why I am reserving November as my month of writing. Part of me wonders how I will find it next year with a small baby at home with me!
Nano is my holiday 😉
Posted: Sunday, November 14th, 2010 @ 2:30 pm
Categories: Uncategorized.
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