Some people go on vacation to vegetate — to chill the hell out. I go on vacation to write, but it usually happens that other things get in the way like VACATION and children and “knock, knock — housekeeping.”
This time was different. I went to Hawaii for a week with my dad — no kids, no husband — just me, dad, my computer and a couple of spiral notebooks.
It was hard at first to get my bearings. Until a week ago it had been something like 41,200 minutes since my last writing moment, one of those heaven-sent minutes in which I happen to be sitting at my computer, or I have a pen and something to scribble on — my skin for instance, because I haven’t carried a notepad around since I stopped reporting the news (insert frowny face here), and even then I rarely had a notepad when I needed one — I took notes on napkins and empty cigarette boxes.
ENOUGH rambling — I havent’t written much since I got promoted to leader of I think I signed a contract that prohibits me from telling you exactly. But I got promoted, and I make more money, and while that’s mass rad, super awesome, WOW, fabulous — it consumes ALL the time.
I do important things now between shooting my coworkers — and being shot by my coworkers — with rubber bands, Nerf darts and little balls of paper and tin foil. I spent all of last month, breaking computers. It wasn’t Premeditated — just a series of freak slayings, which is probably what every serial killer who’s been arrested told the cops in interrogation, “I didn’t mean to kidnap and strangle them; it was an accident.”
I attend lots of meetings about things that ONE, make no sense to me, and TWO, have nothing to do with me. I spill at least one cup of coffee a day. I get yelled at and praised and yelled at again in the same sentence. And all I write lately are meeting notes and bitchy emails to my coworkers about job performance and so forth. It’s dark when I board the bus in the morning. It’s dark when I board the bus at night — I get home, hug my kids, eat whatever is handy (even Drano if we had some), and before I sit down it’s time for bed.
I was READY for a week-long writing fest — it could have been in Burien, WA., so long as there was someplace to sit undisturbed for hours at a time. Lucky for me that place was a beach on the Island of Kauai.
I spent most of the first and second days fretting about things at work, checking emails, chatting online with coworkers until they begged me to leave them alone and start my vacation.
I eventually wrote myself over the starting hump and went through two spiral notebooks in one day.
My first milestone — I made it past the 150 mark on my book. I could be as far 200, but I haven’t typed them up yet, which brings us to my second milestone. I discovered I’m much more productive with a pen a paper than I am with a keyboard and a backspace button, so the next time one of you non-writer folks suggests a computer instead of my reliable spiral notebook — watch out for my foot in your ass.
My third and favorite milestone: I nearly completed a sex scene. It’s sad really — and funny — my character almost got laid, but due to my discomfort with intimacy he got blue balls instead. (I’ll find myself a therapist for that one.)
So yeah, it was a good writing week, and now that I’ve discovered how much easier it is to write with a pen. I may have a couple more good writing weeks on the mainland.
Mahalo!
* The Insecure Writer’s Support Group: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Don't bother me I'm writing 
Welcome to IWSG. Wow – what a deal. No wonder your nervous and upset. I can say, with all you've got going on, mark 'the house is dirty' off your list. If you saw mine, you'd feel better. It would make yours look like something out of Better Homes. ;)IWSG #178 (…until Alex culls the list again. :P)
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Too funny.
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What do you have against the gun club. When the black helicopters come to suppress your writing the folks at the gun club are the only ones with the desire and means to defend you. 2nd Amendment defends all the other ones.
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I've got nothing against their guns — I only wish they'd be quiet after 7 p.m. SILENCERS — they're not just for mobsters!
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Lol…writing as an addiction? Sounds like a loophole to me. I'd love to go to a writer's rehab, only they'd make me stop writing when when I really need an escape from my daily life so that I can do more writing. And I know what you mean about feeling like a writing fraud; everyone in the blogosphere seems to have one or two novels complete, plus another one in the works. I write twice a week if I'm lucky, and I get nowhere. Gah!Also, I have to LOL at the comment above. AlTheDentist saw the word GUN in your post and stopped reading. Pay no attention to the tone or context, just keep shoving that 2nd amendment down our throats. Gun nuts. Gotta love 'em.
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This reminds me of Winona Ryder in Girl Interrupted. I wonder what the treatment would be. Good drugs? A new laptop? Hmmm, I think I need an intervention!
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congratulations on getting to your milestones! You must have a great feeling of achievement. I love your pics too!However you write – pen or Pc – it's still great to make progress… I will follow with interest!
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If I came in and my desk looked like that, I'd just go home!Thanks for participating in the IWSG.
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Congratulations! 🙂
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Arthur Miller locked himself away for somewhere between 3-6 weeks when he wrote Death of a Salesman…think there might've been a twinge of an addiction going on there ;)PS–new follower from the IWSG!
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LOVE Kauai. Was that Hannalei beach by any chance? Nice to meet you and I am pea green! (except for my toes and fingers which have lost all color due to frostbite.)~Just Jill
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Congratulations on your milestones! This vacation sounds like heaven. So glad to meet you through the IWSG. 🙂
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Sex scenes are hard to write. Wow, you look and sound rad busy. Your vacation sounds fantastic.
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I love your sense of humor!! \”It wasn't Premeditated — just a series of freak slayings, which is probably what every serial killer who's been arrested told the cops in interrogation.\”YaY for mile stones!
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