Monday, February 23, 2009

Productive Recluse

(Picture from the Jane Austen Center in Bath)


I admit it. I was a complete recluse over the weekend. I didn't step foot outside on Saturday (didn't even go get the mail!) and then on Sunday, the only time I went outside was to take a nice, long walk beside the duck pond. Other than that, I was a worker bee.

My laptop is sadly under the weather right now (I think the diagnosis is a bad screen inverter) so I've had to be chained to my desk if I wanted to get anything done. This brought the added distraction of the Internet, but I think I handled it ok. Since I am in 'edit mode' all those little notes I made to myself during the first draft (check on this, research this, etc.) now need to be fixed. So it's actually worked out well to just pop open the Internet and find the fact I need instead of putting the laptop down, going into the office, and booting up the other computer. It's not like either one is a chore...but it's just easier, is all.

By Sunday afternoon, though, I was feeling a bit like a recluse. But isn't that the writer's life sometimes? Solitary? I had two whole days of solitude. And that is definitely enough! I was actually glad to go to work and be around my co-workers.

How do you deal with the solitude of writing? Do you enjoy it?

12 comments:

  1. I do enjoy the solitude of writing, but the thing is, it doesn't feel like solitude. Immersed in something I love, I feel surrounded by goodness, thoughts, ideas, words, creativity, time. Almost so that when I emerge back into real life, it can feel like I've left someone behind!

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  2. I LOVE the solitude of a writers life! Glad you are feeling better! I think I am getting what my husband had all week and am trying to make it to my writers group today. Enjoy work!

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  3. For the most part I LOVE the solitude. But once in a while I need to get out around people but only for a short time, then I'm back to peace & quiet.

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  4. What a great weekend you had! I'm sore jealous. :)

    I love the solitude, too. I love being alone with my thoughts, and not having to interact with anyone (that's the shy, introverted part of me). But I'm so glad I have family and friends to turn to when I DO need people. Those relationships are so crucial to my mental well-being.

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  5. Two whole days of solitude, what bliss.

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  6. For the most part, I love the solitude. Sometimes, though, I just have to get out with people. Time spent with friends or family always recharges my creative batteries.

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  7. Today has been that way for me but it has been super productive. Besides making appointments for my eyes, my dog and the Trailblazer, I've also written a press release, washed three loads of clothes and am about finished transcribing an interview I did on Red9.

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  8. Yep, I deal with it pretty well :) Though my younger kitty makes total solitude pretty impossible as she DEMANDS attention in no uncertain terms every few hours *g*.

    Glad you had such a productive weekend :)

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  9. There is a lot of solitude in writing, and it is great that you are getting so much done. I spent the weekend being reminded that writers still need to connect with each other. Writers' Conferences are wonderful.

    I think finding a delicate balance between the solitude and the socializing is what can make us the best writers we can be.

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  10. Oh yes, it's all part of the process. And when I come out of a solitary session I feel so much better at having got so much done.

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  11. I crave it, don't get enough of it, so always enjoy it. Congrats on forward movement!

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  12. I enjoy solitude. Maybe that comes from being and only child.

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