Writing on Holiday: The Struggle is Real
2018 is here and more importantly, school is back in session! Please forgive me my happy dance…
People ask me if write during the school holidays or when on holiday with family.
The answer is yes to both, but it’s not easy.
Being Present vs. Presently Being
With an ever-increasing cultural movement of Being Present, I wonder if I’m doing my family a dis-service when writing on holiday. Some people think that living in the moment is over-rated. For others, it’s the Zen of the elusive Happy Life.
I make the conscious choice to hybridize.
For example, we flew to Texas recently. When I’m on the plane and my son is happy reading or watching an in-flight film, I don’t need to be present with him. In fact, for my kiddo with ASD who talks incessantly during films because he just HAS TO ASK his question RIGHT NOW, it’s the perfect way for him to practice social norms.
Instead of being present with him to enjoy his laughter and coach those queries, I pop out my tablet or notebook and focus on my work in progress. I’m available to him at my own distraction and without judgement against him for interrupting me. At home, this works when he reads beside me or builds Lego in the living room (when I sit on the couch).
Now, I also don’t do this to him every day. We have times in our routine where, quite frankly, I have no hope of doing anything productive. Our regular 5K walks is one of these times. I am his captive audience and he loves it.
Pre-Planned Work Equals More Relaxation
Luckily, my husband loves planning our travel schedule. Sounds like I just have to show up and enjoy the trip, right? That’s what I used to think too. We fought on trips because I wanted to write and he wanted me to spend time with him.
Whooops!
Optimizing travel together, I ensure he budgets writing time as part of the itinerary.
I let him know ahead of time how much time I think I need without interruptions. I also tell him what I hope to accomplish while I’m away.
This usually means that I get up before them and work in the hotel lobby (so I don’t wake anyone up) or in my in-laws’ freezing cold living room before they light the fireplace. During the day, I keep the author biz aside and enjoy my family (for the most part).
And, I’ve learned not to launch books before I go on holiday to foreign countries (whoooooops #2). Being online frequently or for a significant length of time takes me away from my family, which is be a sore point for them. I wrap up all the active projects and marketing, and pre-schedule posts (there are several programs which help authors do this).
Presently, I don’t have a lot of late nights when we travel, so I squeeze in an hour or so after my wee man goes to bed – that is, if I don’t turn on the T.V. and “chill” … which leads me to:
Remove Distractions
We are Disney people. It happened quite by accident, and now that Disney cranks out Marvel and Star Wars, I have even fewer reasons to leave the #DisneySide.
When we stay on Disney properties or take a Disney Cruise, I might get caught up in the nostalgia re-watching old Disney films instead of cracking open my notebook and cranking out content. I could tell myself, “It’s O.K. because I’m on holiday.”
Truth is, the enjoyment of that movie steals time away from the enjoyment of creating my own art. There’s no cure for dealing with my tendency to linger in fantasy land with a firm hand and keep the T.V. off.
Social media, namely sharing my holiday photos while I’m on holiday and then spending several minutes waiting to see who has seen then and responding to their input is another big distraction. These platforms, while valuable, are a time suck for many creatives. One advantage to being on the cruise was that the cost of the data plan was so prohibitive, I spend a week away for social media and used that time to create my own art.
Pick and Choose Projects for Success
My friends and I have stitch and bitch sessions with a rule that we can’t crack open the alcohol until at least one project is complete. Someone always brings a project that is almost done so we don’t miss out on our drinky-poos.
Feeling success breeds more success.
Why take a huge project that requires 100% of my time and effort when I’m supposed to be traveling with my family, or re-connecting with friends and family who I haven’t seen for a long time? I won’t accomplish both. Then I’ll feel like a failure for not getting my work done, or like a heel for ignoring people.
Plus, hiding in a room writing all day makes me a crappy house guest.
Smaller stories or projects with deadlines in the distant future afford more flexibility the time I do have for productivity on holiday. I also take something with me that will be completed when I’m away. Pop open that bottle – the balance was successful! When I communicate this progress to my husband, it rewards him for integrating my publishing needs into our schedule.
Travel for World Building
I’m lucky enough to be able to go to some of the places that I write about. The kickoff of Viper’s journey in The Queen’s Viper happens in Chelsea, which is now a suburb of London along the River Thames. Sadly, the palace that belonged to Baron Seymour and the Dowager Queen Catherine no longer exists. There is a plaque commemorating the area’s history, which makes note of the trees Queen Elizabeth I planted. Inspired, I incorporated details about this garden into my story.
Choose your holiday location somewhere that inspires your world building or characters. Whether local or exotic, it’s a great excuse to bundle the family up and travel together. Before you go, negotiate some alone time to absorb all the artistic goodness your muse needs.
I’d love to hear about how you incorporate travel into your working life, and how you manage your balancing act!