My creative side is shrinking. I blame it on my diet. It’s robbing me of my joyful self. Now, I ask you, how can I write lady lit without chocolate? Exactly. I’m thinking if I don’t get off this diet, it could ruin my career. So help me out here. How can I rejuvenate my creativity (aside from chocolate)? I’ve heard of giving yourself a writer’s retreat, whether it’s for an hour, an afternoon, a day, or a weekend. Two things I know I want to take along are the book I’m reading (Fresh-Brewed Life) and my journal.
But where do I go? What else should I do?
Here’s where you come in. I thought maybe you might be able to come up with some ideas for me for an afternoon retreat. Now some of you with young children might suggest the bathroom. I can’t tell you how many times I hid out there when my children were young. Still, without a hefty helping of junk food, I just can’t get that excited about it anymore. Besides, the walls need washed, and it would stress me out to stare at them. Not to mention the fact that the seat isn’t necessarily conducive to hours of sitting.
So the bathroom’s out. My house doesn’t get me all that excited, either. And I already go to a coffee shop to work.
See? My creative juices are dry. I can’t think beyond the house and coffee shop. How about you, do you have any ideas?
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Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind--usually a dog--always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.
Denise Hunter writes women's fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.
Diann Hunt writes romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction. She has been happily married forever, loves her family, chocolate, her friends, chocolate, her dog, and well, chocolate.
Cheryl Hodde writes romantic medical suspense under the pen name of Hannah Alexander, using all the input she can get from her husband, Mel, for the medical expertise. For fun she hikes and reads. Out of guilt, she rescues discarded cats. She and Mel are presently taking orders from four pampered strays.
13 Comments:
Okay, Denise, that's just harsh.
A curise would be nice Denise but on the practical side, I'd suggest a trip to the library. Ours has a small coffee shop, where you can sit and read. OR you could go to Borders bookstore, if one is near by... some of those have coffee shops and seats to read in... nice :)
The weather here (Kansas) is supposed to be lovely today so I would go to a park and hope the wind won't blow me away. If your weather is crummy, maybe you should get out the ole space heater, crank it up to high, get out an oscellating fan, crank it on to medium, aim both at you. Put on some Caribbean music (steel drums is what I'm talking about) and some sunglasses. Aim a halogen lamp at yourself, sit in a lawn chair, read your book and pretend. Oh, and if you have one of those sound machines, turn it on to "waves."
Ahh, this is the life.
(Can you tell I live in a fantacy world here in land-locked Kansas?)
I vote for Jamie's idea. Just because it made me laugh :-)
Do you have a Sonic drive in? I used to hide out there, sipping a slurpee and reading! No KIDS!!
Jamie, that's hilarious! That's also what I call creative! LOL! But something tells me there's too much work involved there.
Eileen, no sonic drive-in here, but that sounds fun. :-)
I like all the suggestions! Keep 'em coming!
Okay, I'm going to be harsh too, how about hopping a plane to visit me? ;) You'd get out of cold weather but it would be rainy so, next idea.
Umm...I used to love to get massages at my gym and then sit in the jacuzzi but massages are out of the budget now. Do you have access to a jacuzzi anywhere? Maybe a friend has one? I'd take my book, sit in there and bubble my troubles away. When I got out I was totally relaxed and my subconscious would start kicking things into my consciousness. That's when Starbucks across the parking lot came in handy. ;)
Or maybe you have a friend with a house that has a fantastic view that's inspiring? I have several friends and relatives who live in areas with views of Diamond Head. I went up to one friend's house a few weeks ago and surprise, surprise my character wanted to move in, write her project and me to write her in the book. She informed me that's her apartment. Too bad I can't get my friend to go on vacation so I can stay there. I bet I'd get a lot done. :)
Those are my $.02 for the day.
hmmm. I use to go to the park and walk along the trails... very relaxing.... unless you take the wrong turn and 3 hrs later you are past the point of trying to backtrack and instead just listening for cars,people,etc.
Never mind that one....
Go to Barnes and Noble?? plop down in a overstuffed couch and read your little heart away?
Di, how about a good jog? ;)
Seriously, when I'm stuck, I walk or ride my bike, pray and talk to myself.
I KNOW you'll get those juices going!
Rachel
Thanks for all the great ideas! I have to say Malia wins the prize--or she would if there was one! LOL! Anyway, Hawaii gets my vote. ;-) Too bad I can't go there right now. Sigh. Still, maybe I'll combine Malia's suggestion with Jamie's, um, fan, music, space heater, sunglasses thing. . . . ;-)
Ooo, a prize? Chocolate? Oh wait, I forgot we're both dieting. :( I've been junk food free, minus caffeine, (hating every minute) since last Monday.
I give up caffeine come spring break. Can't I have one decent vice left? Some day I'll find one again...
JUST GIVE IN!!! CHOCOLATE ISN'T SO BAD!!! Not as bad as french fries, which are my downfall.
And somebody needs to smack Denise for her cruise comment.
Because you just KNOW she's got a chocolate fountain there somewhere.
{At the thought, Camy has wild eyes and flyaway Einstein hair...or at least a good Bill the Cat impression.}
I'm serious. My chocolate life changed when I started sucking on dark chocolate instead of chewing it.
Camy
I know I'm late, but here is what I would do. Go to the mall, try on nice makeup from the department store. Get a manicure. Buy a new candle. Go to Bath and Body works and take deep breaths; they have chocolate flavored lotions! Have a smoothie, look at magazines, listen to CD's. Oh, to live at the mall!
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