I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not a big fan of large blocks of solid writing — I’m a firm believer in fitting writing into your lifestyle, not tackling it in big chunks only to go months without writing. Not that you can’t do both, but I think a regular practice is more helpful. That’s my general philosophy in life, whether it’s exercise or reading or whatever. Doing less more often is better, I think, than a few big chunks. Running a marathon then sitting on your butt for a week is less beneficial, in my opinion, than running or doing some kind of exercise nearly every day.

That being said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with shaking things up once in a while. In this case, I am mixing a vacation with work, I guess. My parents have a cabin up north, that used to belong to way more people, but either through death or inability, my parents are pretty much the only owners. Now that they’re retired, it sits empty most weekends.It’s in the woods, on a lake, and most importantly, it’s quiet.

I’ve been a fool not to take advantage of it.

So I’m fixing that. Starting Thursday night I will be up there for three and a half days of relative silence, peace, nature and all that good stuff. Good for the soul, I’m thinking.

The thought did occur to me, what would I do with all that time? While I do know that eventually the idea that you HAVE to be doing something can evaporate as you learn to sit and relax, and not be constantly stimulated, I thought what an opportunity to get some writing done. It would be a shame not to take advantage of that.

It’s needed. Right now I’ve been writing less. My computer with all my fiction on it sits in a room that my roommate, with whom I share a house, sleeps in. When he’s not sleeping, he’s listening to a TV loudly in another room, so I have to wait to pounce on those few moments of seclusion. The only recourse is to leave the house or shut myself in my room, or go outside. So I’m not getting a lot done. (One of the many reasons I’m patiently saving for my own house!)

For now, that’s my reality

So, my computer will come with me to the great northwoods. There will be no internet, and I plan to spend a lot of time staring at a fire or the lake, not a screen. But I’m hoping to get a lot done in my self-created retreat. So look for some of those overdue books to come soon.