Writing During the Hectic Holidays #Round Robin

Topic: During the sometimes hectic holidays do you find it hard to find writing time? If not, how do you handle it with the expectations of others to visit and share time together? Or do you appreciate taking a vacation from fiction to enjoy time with family and friends?

Thank you, Rhobin for this month’s topic. 

Since my day job is in education, I have sixteen days of vacation (if you count weekends) during our winter break.  Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Sixteen days at the keyboard, a cup of coffee nearby, music streaming via my iPhone—I’ll whip that novel on in no time.

Oh, wait.  I have one problem.  Winter break lands smack dab in the center of the holidays, doesn’t it? 

Ah, gingersnap! 

Today, I snagged gift cards from the rack at Smart & Final while filling my cart with grocery items for a Christmas Eve Party and a Christmas potluck at my son’s house.  Later, after writing this blog post, I yanked dinner out of the oven, before leaving to view Christmas hula recital.  I was able to enjoy an array of Christmas lights blur by as whipped along in 5 p.m. traffic.  Yes, it’s holiday time!

An energy during the holidays (aka semi-organized chaos) seems to increase my creativity. 

How can that be?  Since I am an introvert, this is usually not the case.  I think it’s because good creative writing as always about people.  During the holidays, we spend time with people.  Since these people are talking about themselves, past events, feelings, and ‘festive’, it is more of an observation experience for a writer.  Paying attention to people during this time could inspire dozens of new stories, or at the very least, an interesting character or two.

Holidays transform people.  Christmas and Hanukkah are periods of liminality.  Liminal space is called the space between betwixt and between, which means that is a special time, a period when all transformation occurs.

Fiction is about the growth of a character.  We love reading about people who change.  I think we pay more attention to the details during the holidays.  Be it because we are reminiscing about our childhood, the moment before us we notice details and we recall details from the past.  We also recall scents and emotions.

To get back on topic-- do I find it hard to write during the holidays?

I think it is easy to write but in unconventional ways.  Obviously, while in the middle of a gathering I can’t whip out my laptop and begin typing.  I can, however, take a reporter’s notebook from my handbag and jot down notes.  Or, create a note or two via Siri on my iPhone.  Nevertheless, during the holidays I focus on enjoying my time with family and friends; on spiritual growth and on giving. 

Somehow, everything seems to fall into place.  I may not complete my novel, but my interrupted writing time always materializes and my muse visits me in my dreams.

Merry Christmas,

Connie

Please visit the participating writers for this month’s round robin. 

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Anne Stenhouse  http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/
A.J. Maguire  http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Bob Rich       http://wp.me/p3Xihq-A9
Hollie Glover  http://www.hollieglover.co.uk
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/

Overcoming Writer's Block

So, here I am, mind utterly blank, staring at a completely blank computer screen, and hoping some ethereal entity will sprinkle pixie dust in my hair or smack me with the business-end of a magic wand to get me writing.

Ummm. Still no Muse?

What was that Philip Pullman quote?

“All writing is difficult. The most you can hope for is a day when it goes reasonably easily. Plumbers don’t get plumber’s block, and doctors don’t get doctor’s block; why should writers be the only profession that gives a special name to the difficulty of working, and then expects sympathy for it?”

Why indeed?

In my case there’s an awful temptation to just keep on researching. Another trip to the library, a new techie toy, writing program, or workshop? A long drive down Route 66 to make sure my sensory details are accurate. Soon it's information overload.

However, today it's time to step back, reach for a strong cup of coffee, and toss my plotting notebook, with my almost-legible scribbles filling its pages, onto my desk. I don't want sympathy. I want a killer opening hook!

Experience has taught me that even when I haven't got an idea, I must start the story anyway. I can always press the delete button later. Perhaps by the third page I will have a workable idea.

If not, I'll save it to a file labeled backstory, and begin again. I'll rework my plot twists and my dialogue until I not only have a killer opening hook, but a darn good story!

No one said my job was easy, but it is sooo worth it!