...For Writers
 |
| ~ Above the Mesa ~ by @3CatPhoto Canyonlands Nat'l Park |
The word vacation evokes two rxns:
1. "Hooray, I don't have to work! I can eat delicious, fascinating food and go see amazing stuff."
2. "Darn it. Writing's gonna tank. Goodbye muse -- being in close proximity to other people for any length of time freaks her out. Goodbye all writing goals (#wipmadness). Goodbye sanity."
Damage Control Steps
1. Get a journal. Attractive is good. Too attractive is bad. You're gonna nasty it up.
2. Take notes in it. From the mundane to the magical. Go ahead and wax poetic over presidential balls and electric cables.
3. Stick crap in it. Hiking in Arches Nat'l Park, I was equipped with my journal, a pencil, two rolls of Scotch tape, and my camera phone (which doubled as a flashlight later on when we got lost on the ridge 7K feet up and sun slipped away).
4. Record your takeaway. Not just the experience. Later, you might remember only one or the other unless you write it down. For instance, here're a few things I took away from that hike:
a. I'm a rookie hiker at best.
b. Trails are hard to navigate. Period.
c. At dusk, one loses depth perception.
The air seems to waver, changing consistency.
d. Moons are bright! Amazing when they rise.
They rise fast. Corollary: the sun sets fast.
e. The Outdoors is scarier at night.
Especially when your hiking partner goes off
with the only light and leaves you
at the top of the ridge. Cold. Alone. In full dark.
1. "Hooray, I don't have to work! I can eat delicious, fascinating food and go see amazing stuff."
2. "Darn it. Writing's gonna tank. Goodbye muse -- being in close proximity to other people for any length of time freaks her out. Goodbye all writing goals (#wipmadness). Goodbye sanity."
Damage Control Steps
1. Get a journal. Attractive is good. Too attractive is bad. You're gonna nasty it up.2. Take notes in it. From the mundane to the magical. Go ahead and wax poetic over presidential balls and electric cables.
3. Stick crap in it. Hiking in Arches Nat'l Park, I was equipped with my journal, a pencil, two rolls of Scotch tape, and my camera phone (which doubled as a flashlight later on when we got lost on the ridge 7K feet up and sun slipped away).
4. Record your takeaway. Not just the experience. Later, you might remember only one or the other unless you write it down. For instance, here're a few things I took away from that hike:a. I'm a rookie hiker at best.
b. Trails are hard to navigate. Period.
c. At dusk, one loses depth perception.
The air seems to waver, changing consistency.
d. Moons are bright! Amazing when they rise.
They rise fast. Corollary: the sun sets fast.
e. The Outdoors is scarier at night.
Especially when your hiking partner goes off
with the only light and leaves you
at the top of the ridge. Cold. Alone. In full dark.
Umm, you need to teach me to draw like that.
ReplyDeleteUmm, you need to teach me to draw like that.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is making the pics small. So you can't see what they really look like. ;P
ReplyDeleteI do love taking a journal with me when I leave for vacation. Though I'm often so full from overeating (because calories SO don't count on vacation) that I can't even lift hand to paper. :P
ReplyDeleteI truly hope he returned and you are alright :))). I always enjoy your posts. I also admire your minutious care to detail, I always highly regard people with good organization skills, considering I am not one of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat pointers, Lora. And I love the "stuff" you stuck in you're not too pretty journal. ha! So true though. If I get away from writing for more than three days, it's like starting all over. Groan!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you Lora on the vacation talk. It is like I have multiple personalities or something. Good advice for how to get it together:)
ReplyDeleteI have now spent an hour and a half reading your blogs and it makes me want travel. Is that an odd reaction to your blogs? ...from your Bobcat follower... A.P
ReplyDelete