I have escaped the trenches...
Yes, I have escaped the trenches for a nearby hotel. I'm here for part of the weekend. Because the deadline for i so don't do famous is looming LARGE. And my house is filled with noisy, happy children and their noisy, happy friends. Which is all fun, but not conducive to writing. Also, my kids have a second President's Day off tomorrow.
Oh, and a thank you to Mr. Summy who supervised at home last night. Child #2 invited over eight 16 year olds. And Child #4 invited a friend too. You can see how writing there can be problematic!
So, do writers have rituals? I don't know if everyone does, but I have a few. I mean, a few too many!
I managed to snag my "lucky" room. This is not the fanciest, most comfortable hotel. By far. In fact, there is no microwave, which really bugs me. But...I always get lots written/revised here, so I keep coming back. Look, it doesn't even have a real door!
There are NINE society garlic plants right outside the little front patio. Guess what it smells like when you open the sliding glass door? ;)
I stocked the little frig with diet coke, bottles of water and, of course, milk for my tea.
This is my traveling electric kettle and my Arizona mug. Sorry, I forgot to turn the mug around, but I don't want to take the time to redo the photo. Anyway, the mug is from Arizona. Sherry is from Arizona. A good connection.
And here's the writing table, with all my stuff. From left to right: my laptop (which is basically my best friend), my favorite hair clip, a couple of brochures for research (one on Rodeo Drive, one on touring the stars' homes), my favorite pencils (the kind you don't sharpen, but pop the tiny piece of graphite in the top to push down the next piece), earbuds, a huge diet coke from Lake's Market (which has the best fountain diet coke in all of California. Probably.), a print-out of my outline with notes from Editor Wendy. Ack. I see I forgot my thumb drive. I'll get one of the kids to walk it over. I'm only a ten-minute walk from home.
So, do writers have rituals? I don't know if everyone does, but I have a few. I mean, a few too many!
I managed to snag my "lucky" room. This is not the fanciest, most comfortable hotel. By far. In fact, there is no microwave, which really bugs me. But...I always get lots written/revised here, so I keep coming back. Look, it doesn't even have a real door!
There are NINE society garlic plants right outside the little front patio. Guess what it smells like when you open the sliding glass door? ;)
I stocked the little frig with diet coke, bottles of water and, of course, milk for my tea.
This is my traveling electric kettle and my Arizona mug. Sorry, I forgot to turn the mug around, but I don't want to take the time to redo the photo. Anyway, the mug is from Arizona. Sherry is from Arizona. A good connection.
And here's the writing table, with all my stuff. From left to right: my laptop (which is basically my best friend), my favorite hair clip, a couple of brochures for research (one on Rodeo Drive, one on touring the stars' homes), my favorite pencils (the kind you don't sharpen, but pop the tiny piece of graphite in the top to push down the next piece), earbuds, a huge diet coke from Lake's Market (which has the best fountain diet coke in all of California. Probably.), a print-out of my outline with notes from Editor Wendy. Ack. I see I forgot my thumb drive. I'll get one of the kids to walk it over. I'm only a ten-minute walk from home.Okay. I'm off to work. Wish me luck. And, of course, Happy Valentine's Day to you all!
And on the Olympic front: Here's hoping Canada wins MANY golds!
Edited as per the ever-observant and amazing Author Gabriele Goldstone!
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Good luck writing, Barrie. It looks like you just left the trenches to hide out in the bunker. Happy Chinese New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Year of the Tiger to you, Teresa!
ReplyDeleteI'm writing today too, Barrie! I'm sitting in my car, pounding away on my netbook in front of the Mission Valley Public Library, because I thought today was Saturday and they don't open until 1PM. Ever been here? It's a great library to work in.
ReplyDeleteMitch, apparently a lot of writing is going on in San Diego today!! And, no, I haven't been to the Mission Valley Public Library. Yet, anyway;)
ReplyDeleteHow's the writing coming along? Is this a draft you're working on or the finished product?
ReplyDeleteOf course, one must have milk with one’s tea. Sugar, too? (2 spoonfuls here, please.)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your great escape, Steve...
And best of luck!
Beth, no sugar for me. Just milk. And a decent tea bag. Love the Steve comment. ;)
ReplyDeleteMitch: revising ms before sending in
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Tell your kid to bring you chocolate with the thumb drive.
ReplyDeleteMilk is awesome in tea. It's the only way I'll drink it. And I need a specific brand/type. I'm fussy.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the writing.
Happy Valentines! Hope you and Mr. Summy get a chance to celebrate at some point.
Good luck on your writing!
ReplyDeleteI love this visual insight into your writing world. Good luck with the rewrites!
ReplyDeleteWow. Time all to yourself for writing. What must that be like? *dreams*
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the home stretch, Barrie!
ReplyDeletegood to see another mac-er, barrie!
ReplyDeletei use an imac, but will likely get a macbook pro at some point, just cuz 5 macs seem not to be enough! ;) lol
g'luck with all you do :)
Sending good writing vibes... :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you managed to get a lot of work done on your book. What a nice place to go and write. I love the photos of your rituals, very comforting and soothing.
ReplyDeleteHope you managed to get a lot of work done and the deadline doesn't seem as bad.
XXXX
I'm SO jealous of you, Barrie. Your writing life sounds so perfect. So fun. So whatever-us-readers-guess-your-life-is-like.
ReplyDeleteYou sound just like Sherrie in your blog posts. Which is very funny and not suprising at all. (Ok, a little surprising.)
Good luck with your writing!
Also, good luck to Canada!
Gah. My deadline is April. May the freak out begin. Hope your writing goes like a dream
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you! I'm so happy to see that you do this! I was tempted to a couple of times in the editing process. I think it's an indulgence I will partake in for the next book.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I love the look of your blog:)
ReplyDeleteHappy revising - but A gold - as in ONE gold - ...?
ReplyDeleteFascinating, Barrie! It's always nice to get a peek into the rituals of a genius. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm about to hunker down myself - well, as much as I can with my youngest at home. Next year she'll be in school, and boy will that be a change!
Oh! I'm wondering about TV - does your hotel room have one, and do you find it a distraction?
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that you are within walking distance of your kids!
Gabe! Ack! What was I thinking? Changing it to MANY golds. ;)
ReplyDeleteSuzette, Yes, there is a TV. But TV isn't much of a temptation for me. Not saying I don't have lots of bad habits, TV just doesn't happen to be one of them. ;)
ReplyDeleteBarrie--I came to you via Suzette's blog. Wonderful post! I too have rituals. I discovered (over time) that decaf doesn't work when you write. I had a most special pen, but it broke and it was irreplaceable. My daughter won it at her old school in a drawing. It had a little pull tab on the side of it and when you pulled it a scroll of a dollar came out. She won the pen and a real dollar for something. I loved how it felt and that it was a winning pen. I have my map (of NE England) coaster to put my coffee on and if needed I have my critique group buddies blanket to wrap up in. She made us each one for Christmas two years ago. I love your idea of going to a hotel (alone) to write.
ReplyDelete