The Three Rs
aka: Reading, Research and Relaxation.
Hello, poor neglected blog. October snuck by me with just two posts, and I can’t believe November is here so fast. Yet, haven’t I been wishing it here for weeks? Terrible, I know, to wish your life away, but I’ve a blissful and much needed month planned and I’m geared up.
Or should I say wound down? Despite me thinking this time last year what fun and how productive would be participating in NaNoWriMo (the write 50,000-words in a month) and that I might give it a go this year, I find myself feeling and needing the opposite. It’s been a hugely busy year for me. Between uni and finishing my novel I’ve been writing almost seven days a week since the start of the year. Now it’s time for some rest and relaxation. AND SOME FUN!
My new novel grows daily in my head and in lots of notes. Just like the little cress seeds I planted last week, ideas are popping their heads up and stretching out towards the writing. The story is another historical work and so needs lots of research, and, excitingly, a research trip, though I’m not planning on going anywhere until next year. My aim for November is to spend lots of time reading, but not only for research or time period or specific purpose. Reading for enjoyment and to catch up on the huge number of temptations filling my bookshelves that have been beckoning to me like the delicious wafts emanating from a chocolaterie to someone on a restricted diet. Now I’m free to give in to temptation. (And this doesn’t include the pile on my bedside table or in the box under my bed!)
There’ll be lots of reading for research too, and internet travel. You know, the fun kind. Getting lost for hours in another space and time, and travelling to places at a finger click – all thanks to Google. The type of research where you can blissfully lose hours criss-crossing shores and time periods, meeting heroes and heroines and learning histories – all guiltless because it’s actually work. With no real writing planned, other than that insisting on being written, (and those new characters are becoming a little persistent) my time, for now, is my own. What bliss. No doubt a few blog entries will be made up for too.
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Categories: My writing journey The Writing Life
Corinne Fenton
All sounds wonderful Chris and the right time of year to think about putting your feet up, so hope you can do it.
(I feel like my feet haven’t hit the ground yet since Perth).
christinemareebell
Not sure there’ll be much putting up of feet, Corinne, but, then again, now I think about it, I can see myself lying on the couch with a book and a bowl of Bon Bons. Seriously, it will be bliss to have no uni assignments or work req’s and I’m thrilled to know the novel is done. (Apart from readying for submission.)
Meanwhile, some fun before it all starts again. And the three Rs, of course. 🙂
Chris
Kerri/Kaz
Ahhh – a month of reading…. Yes, that’s bliss, no argument here…
Chris congrats on finishing uni – and I hope you wallow contentedly through your ‘blissful’ month. It sounds divine – I’m so envious. Though, that said, I know you deserve this break – so throw caution to the wind and enjoy!
I’ll look forward to your posts!
christinemareebell
Thank you, Kerri. I totally will be enjoying the break, though I’m already getting itchy fingers to write. It’s amazing how when the brain starts slowing down and opening up to creativity how many ideas flood in. For now I’m enjoying the waves. 🙂
Chris