Today’s question is: Some writers create a bubble around themselves until they’re finished with their project – how true is that in your case?
For me, once I am writing/crafting a story the outside world disappears. I am within that world of my own creation and all external forces are forgotten. As I write the scenes play like a movie in my head, I experience the characters and their struggles.
How about you? Do you need to lock yourself away, go somewhere in particular or can immerse yourself in your story no matter where?
Last week’s question. What books do you keep for sentimental reasons?
I shared mine in the post and Pamela shared her love of Pinocchio.
The Adventures of Pinocchio. From the first time my mother read it to me, I was hooked on the little guy. His devotion to his father touched my heart like no other character in any book. I have a collection of at least 10 Pinocchio books in both English and Italian, and each is a bit different due to the various translators. And to add to my Pinocchio fixation, I have quite a collection of Pinocchio puppets, dolls, and figurines scattered around the house. They never fail to make me smile.
I’m changing it up a bit today to reflect on my week long writing road trip. We traveled 2400 kms in 7 days and enjoyed wildlife, magnificent scenery as well as writing and reading time.
My plan was to cover these projects while on this retreat.
Continue with my steampunk novel, The Commodore’s Gift.
Add to a short story for an anthology submission.
A social media review.
Finish one book and start another.
Edit fellow authors last chapters of novel writing group.
The result?
I did add to the steampunk novel
Managed more for the anthology submission
Social media review was reviewed when I got back home
Didn’t manage to finish the book but very close to finishing now
Finished editing the fellow author’s manuscript
So I did quite well considering.
Do you plan how you will complete projects?
Do you list them in priority or tackle them when the mood takes you?
As you can see I have been bust enjoying our road trip and did not schedule this post, so apologies for being late today. As writers we gain inspiration in numerous ways, so the question today is. What has been the most inspirational or fact finding trip you have taken?
The photo is of money from around the world found in a small hamlet pub on our trip this week.
Last week’s question: Where would you go for the perfect writing retreat?
Pamela Allegretto The island of Capri at the top of Anacapri.
Bren Leyland Oxford. Or a room that overlooks a green space or garden.
Mandy Eve-Barnett It will come as no surprise that I would choose Rome or beside an ocean.
Road trips have become a regular occurrence since I came to live in Canada. I have been given the gift of an awesome friend, Linda, who enjoys the open road and finding new places and experiences. We leave the main highways and travel the back roads discovering hamlets, small towns and wildlife. Most of our trips are long weekends but this week we incorporated a book fair event into our plans and are making a week long trip to explore new places.
Having new experiences, meeting new people and discovering places and scenery we would not otherwise know about, fuels the writing muse. Due to the length of our trip this time I made a list of writing projects I would like to complete. Possibly wishful thinking but with a plan in place it gives me a goal. So this is the schedule, although in which order they are accomplished is open to how I am feeling at the time.
Edit a fellow author’s manuscript.
Revise WIP – Rython Legacy with fellow author’s editing suggestions.
Complete an animal rescue story for submission to an anthology.
Continue writing my steampunk story, The Commodore’s gift.
Revise social media format/posts/branding.
Our trip so far (we left early on Sunday morning) has seen new places and the sighting of five bears! We also met a wonderful author by chance when we decided on an impromptu lunch in a small hamlet. We will visit local libraries and book stores on our travels as well because life is so much better with books.
When you open up yourself to new experiences you find abundance and food for the Muse.
Do you create a writing retreat/vacation writing schedule?
The event we will be attending is below, if you happen to be traveling that way. Find me & Linda on the Dream Write Publishing table.
Summer Oldstice Saturday 15th June
Host: Uptowne Olds
Description: Summer Oldstice Street Festival. Artists, Musicians, Performers, Bakers, Growers, Food Service vendors, handicrafters and more!
On the cusp of my week long writing road trip, today’s question is: Where would you go for the perfect writing retreat?
My answer is probably predictable for those who know me – I would go to Rome.
Last week’s question When crafting a new story – what works best for you, laptop, fountain pen, dictation, or longhand? certainly hit a note with many of you, although the answers went to my Facebook author page. However, here they are:
Notebook, legal pad, post-it notes. I suck at typing, so if I try to get thoughts down quickly, “spell check” works overtime and muddles my train of thought.
Mary Cooney-Glazer For a story,in progress, my laptop. For random ideas, I jot things in a little notebook or scrap that gets tucked into it.
Liz Knowles Liz Knowles I use a notebook and pen. This is ideal for me, in case of electricity going out, battery running low, I have an accessible record of what I have been writing and it as makes a good record for later, in case I need to reference something or prove something. Typed words, do not always constitute proof its yours or that you wrote it. And these types of records are important to have to secure your work.
Linzi Carlisle Nokes I write on my laptop but keep a notebook alongside, in which I am constantly scribbling ongoing story notes.
Montgomery Frogg I usually write and illustrate my books on my lap-top, but if the sun is shining outside, I’ll often sit on my patio, writing a story with pen and paper, or sketching out illustrations with the old faithful pencil and rubber.
Karen Probert Longhand for sure – my mind works differently when I can write longhand. The laptop for sure for editing as it is faster and more efficient.
The Adventures of Pinocchio. From the first time my mother read it to me, I was hooked on the little guy. His devotion to his father touched my heart like no other character in any book. I have a collection of at least 10 Pinocchio books in both English and Italian, and each is a bit different due to the various translators. And to add to my Pinocchio fixation, I have quite a collection of Pinocchio puppets, dolls, and figurines scattered around the house. They never fail to make me smile.