tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post4561092224376039456..comments2023-05-14T08:36:03.832-04:00Comments on The Elephant's Bookshelf: When Writing Takes a VacationMatt Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-74124621128133427502010-09-01T10:35:30.158-04:002010-09-01T10:35:30.158-04:00It seems to me that vacations are well loved. I ou...It seems to me that vacations are well loved. I ought to take more of them.Matt Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-59239966366628242942010-08-31T21:01:46.980-04:002010-08-31T21:01:46.980-04:00I tend to take breaks from writing when I feel lik...I tend to take breaks from writing when I feel like I need them. It helps to have some incubation time, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-604824435729952082010-08-31T16:24:49.058-04:002010-08-31T16:24:49.058-04:00Stepping away for that long sounds very difficult....Stepping away for that long sounds very difficult. I don't know if I could do it. It's kinda scary, actually. Maybe I should write a story about a character who's afraid to stop writing.... oh wait, that would defeat the purpose of the vacation I'm fantasizing about....<br /><br />AAAARRRRGHHHHHHMatt Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-66188539747961791922010-08-30T18:52:24.054-04:002010-08-30T18:52:24.054-04:00Yes, I just took a massive writing vacation and I ...Yes, I just took a massive writing vacation and I can't begin to explain how eager I am to get back at it. I have my goals all laid out in a week-by-week plan. No distractions! Being away from it for awhile helped me realize how important it is to me. It also helped me gain focus. I know exactly which manuscript I should work on next. (I have a couple 'on the go.')<br /><br />It sounds like you need to sit back and ignore writing for two weeks. It might just clarify everything for you. (It's hard to step away though--I had to take on three jobs to keep me away!!)Jeanhttp://www.jeanoram.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-14361093951028733582010-08-27T15:29:27.920-04:002010-08-27T15:29:27.920-04:00I think you're right, Terry. I'm going to ...I think you're right, Terry. I'm going to not write today, tomorrow, or Sunday. That's about as much vacation as I can get these days. Hopefully, it'll refresh my muddled mind.Matt Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-73641336333048431272010-08-27T14:43:43.777-04:002010-08-27T14:43:43.777-04:00I find vacations help. Your mind needs a rest some...I find vacations help. Your mind needs a rest sometimes and you can go back refreshed. I doubt if a little break will hurt.Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-84742596056932684982010-08-25T14:55:34.825-04:002010-08-25T14:55:34.825-04:00Good for you, Jemi! Laptopless tennis sounds like ...Good for you, Jemi! Laptopless tennis sounds like a great way to relax.Matt Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-91854251093323472922010-08-25T14:14:24.422-04:002010-08-25T14:14:24.422-04:00I think we do need brain breaks from our writing. ...I think we do need brain breaks from our writing. Everything is better with a break :)<br /><br />We don't go away often - but we did go to a tennis tournament last week. I thoroughly enjoyed it - and didn't bring a laptop at all. It was great!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-25938385955222779872010-08-25T12:38:46.330-04:002010-08-25T12:38:46.330-04:00Caroline, you're absolutely right. I kinda for...Caroline, you're absolutely right. I kinda forgot about those moments of unexpected brilliance. Well, perhaps it just means I haven't been brilliant lately (neither expected brilliance nor unexpected brilliance).Matt Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-29040417817184737802010-08-25T12:37:22.182-04:002010-08-25T12:37:22.182-04:00Thanks Brian, I like the idea of unwinding voices....Thanks Brian, I like the idea of unwinding voices. I think you're right about that, and now I'm really pleased I decided to delay the incomplete novel instead of working on it simultaneously with the one I intend to send to agents soon. Depending on when I do that, I may even take a brief break from fiction. Brief.Matt Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171715051853671712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-76558697364415078972010-08-25T12:26:35.064-04:002010-08-25T12:26:35.064-04:00Breaks are crucial. The question is how long do yo...Breaks are crucial. The question is how long do you take them for? Too short and you're not mentally rested and creatively ready, too long and you can get out of the rhythm. In terms of my day-to-day writing (blog posts and articles that I have to write), I allow myself little breaks of fun throughout the day. In terms of the whole shebang, I try to take one vacation a year for about a week where I don't have to write. The funny thing is that I usually end up writing a little--but something totally different comes out because spontaneous, I-don't-have-to-write-this writing comes from a different place inside. It can be quite stunning to see what comes out when nothing HAS to.Caroline Hagoodhttp://culturesandwich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30211588.post-56808096969826606462010-08-25T10:05:10.542-04:002010-08-25T10:05:10.542-04:00I find vacations recharge the idea bank. I always ...I find vacations recharge the idea bank. I always take some time off from writing after I've completed a project. Have to unwind one voice to allow another to crank itself up.Brian Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08547208018232793140noreply@blogger.com