I would add to this, financial comfort is necessary to produce writing at any kind of commercial level. Feeling desperate and starving for your next meal or worrying about your roof being taken off you, you're not going to write your best.
100% agree. There are so many things that can derail our writing from the simple (lack of sleep) to the complicated (competing commitments, including day jobs). Thanks for you thoughts, Rhiannon!
Thanks Tara. It was great to hear of your experiences looking for the perfect writing day at the perfect writer's retreat; and then finding that all the planning and anticipating fell flat. Its kind of like the ending of the Wizard of Oz after all of her searching and adventures, when Dorothy is told that all she needed to do was tap her heels together, chant her mantra, and voila her dream is realized. Your story made me realize that I do in fact have all the components to just get on with it. I look forward to watching the rest of your videos. I am particularly looking for learning on writing tips and structure. I dare say there is some 'science of structure' behind the creation of good literature. And I definitely agree with your other commentators who say just to keep writing. Even the bad stuff is productive. I remember reading the Outlander author Diana Gabaldon saying that when she started to write she did so on the basis that she was not going to share her writing. Sounds like a good place to start for me.
Very much enjoy the rambling videos! I don't have any urge to attend a writing retreat for exactly the reasons you mention - I would feel way too much pressure. I agree as well that being comfortable in our surroundings affects our creativity. I came home to my cottage after work this evening and was fully planning on doing a watercolour painting but it's -30c here and my cottage (with its crappy baseboard heat) was just too chilly and I did nothing but hide under my duvet lol.
Ha! I'm glad you enjoy my off-the-cuff thoughts :-D Interesting to hear I am not the only one who feels this way regarding pressure. So you have the opposite problem to me re: weather! -30C sound utterly insane! Please try and stay warm!
Yes, humans are good at getting out of things, ‘if only this and that’. With writing just write anywhere, anytime whenever you feel like it. No special conditions are required. Been writing all my life and never had a desire to go to a retreat, guaranteed NON writing holiday 😂
I would add to this, financial comfort is necessary to produce writing at any kind of commercial level. Feeling desperate and starving for your next meal or worrying about your roof being taken off you, you're not going to write your best.
100% agree. There are so many things that can derail our writing from the simple (lack of sleep) to the complicated (competing commitments, including day jobs). Thanks for you thoughts, Rhiannon!
Thanks Tara. It was great to hear of your experiences looking for the perfect writing day at the perfect writer's retreat; and then finding that all the planning and anticipating fell flat. Its kind of like the ending of the Wizard of Oz after all of her searching and adventures, when Dorothy is told that all she needed to do was tap her heels together, chant her mantra, and voila her dream is realized. Your story made me realize that I do in fact have all the components to just get on with it. I look forward to watching the rest of your videos. I am particularly looking for learning on writing tips and structure. I dare say there is some 'science of structure' behind the creation of good literature. And I definitely agree with your other commentators who say just to keep writing. Even the bad stuff is productive. I remember reading the Outlander author Diana Gabaldon saying that when she started to write she did so on the basis that she was not going to share her writing. Sounds like a good place to start for me.
Write like no one is going to read it - indeed, just write without thinking of the book being published or any other outcome
Writing takes energy. Well said, Tara. Insightful vid this week. I enjoyed and appreciated your comments. Cheers, Rob
Hi Rob, thanks for the comment and I'm glad you could relate to my reflections. :-)
Very much enjoy the rambling videos! I don't have any urge to attend a writing retreat for exactly the reasons you mention - I would feel way too much pressure. I agree as well that being comfortable in our surroundings affects our creativity. I came home to my cottage after work this evening and was fully planning on doing a watercolour painting but it's -30c here and my cottage (with its crappy baseboard heat) was just too chilly and I did nothing but hide under my duvet lol.
Ha! I'm glad you enjoy my off-the-cuff thoughts :-D Interesting to hear I am not the only one who feels this way regarding pressure. So you have the opposite problem to me re: weather! -30C sound utterly insane! Please try and stay warm!
Yes, humans are good at getting out of things, ‘if only this and that’. With writing just write anywhere, anytime whenever you feel like it. No special conditions are required. Been writing all my life and never had a desire to go to a retreat, guaranteed NON writing holiday 😂
Sorry