I don't know about you guys, but in between books I like to take a little break. Usually this means I read a bunch of books and still think and obsess about either my last project or my project to come. The only difference is I don't touch the laptop. So, after that week "break" I come back to the laptop all wound up with no real sense of excitement or anticipation.
Not this time. Oh no. This time, my break happened to coincide with a trip to New York City with my husband. We went to a Broadway Show (Promises, Promises - I think in all honesty, Sean Hayes if the funniest physical actor of our time - please, someone try to come up with someone better - you can't.) We walked ourselves into exhaustion. We went to a Bruce Springsteen photo exhibit at The Morrison Hotel. We saw some really funny comedy (and in a total New York moment Judah Friedlander came into the club to do an impromptu set - my husband was over the moon). We drank some beer, ate some pizza. I had lunch with Shauna Summers and that included something called Porter Ice Cream which is no freaking joke. And then from that blissful break from not only my children, my life and my books I went to the New Jersey conference. And Maureen and Stephanie were there! And Kathleen O'Reilly! And Jessica Andersen! And Kwana! I sat next to Sherry Thomas and tried to subtly rub her magic onto my sweater to take home and study.
And then I took a few hours to sit down and work on a synopsis - my least favorite part of the whole business - and what do you know...it just fell down from the sky onto the screen. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't torturous. And I'll take that trade off any day of the week.
So, here's the lesson I learned. If we're going to take breaks, which we need, we need to really take a break. Get out of, not only our books, but our heads and our routines and our lives. I know we can't all get to New York - but there's got to be middle ground between amazing break and no break at all - and we've got to find that middle ground. Our writing needs it!
8 comments:
Your break sounds fantastic... and you do need one in between books, especially when you're on a tight schedule and you have to write a lot in a short amount of time, which has been the case for you, Molly.
I always take accidental breaks, or breaks without intent, which just leave me feeling guilty and anxious. I need to plan a break. :-)
But the conference was energizing.
Ditto on an energizing conf! It was awesome hanging out with you guys and I feel so pumped now to finish this damn book.
Amazing - and perfect timing as I finish up my November 1st book.
I want to take a break with my hubby. I shall start planning....
You are so right and it was wonderful to see you, and Stepanie and Maureen and Jess in NJ.
The weight of my jealousy is becoming too much. I may explode.
No freakin' way!
I took my first real break in... forever. The hubby and I took a cruise and I didn't write, at all.
I came back and, just like you wrote, it all fell into place.
Listen to Molly, folks.
She knows what she is talking about!
Planning a (deliberate) break is a wonderful practice! I usually "fall into them" and worry the whole time that I'm not being productive or not getting refreshed enough! (sigh) Yours sounds wonderful. Good for you.
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