Writing Vacation

Lock me up; just leave me a word processor, all right?

We’re going on vacation soon, and I’m looking forward to it. I get to spend a chunk of vacation with family that I honestly do enjoy spending time with. I get to spend a chunk of time with friends I haven’t seen in years. None of it is going to be very restful, but it’s going to be good.

But it would be nice if I had a vacation where I got to lock myself away with the opportunity to just write.

A friend of mine just got back from her vacation. She was looking forward to time to spill out worlds on paper, but didn’t get much. Her son was with, and he doesn’t leave her alone a whole lot. Her mother was with, and like many families of writers, she doesn’t understand that when you’re just sitting staring into space, it doesn’t mean you want someone to come talk to you.

She still enjoyed her vacation. I got to see pictures and many smiles.

It just wasn’t a writer’s vacation.

And as she described all this to me, I saw my future. I’ll have my trusty laptop with, of course. I’ll try to set aside time to paint new worlds in digital ink, but I suspect I’ll fail most nights.

We’ll be off exploring the desert or watching a baseball game or enjoying a pool. And, again, all this will be fun. I’m not complaining about the fun in the least. I love exploration and taking in a baseball game is often enjoyable, especially if you like the people you’re sitting next to. (I hear there’s a sixteen-inch softball league not far from where we’ll be staying; I think it’d be a hoot to watch one of those games!) (Yes. A hoot.)

But…

But I wish I could also have a writing vacation. A chance to go someplace that isn’t busy. A chance to recharge in solitude. A chance to write without other good choices crowding out opportunities to write.

Geez. This is such a first world problem, isn’t it?

I have a vacation. I have the opportunity to step away from my daily duties as a minister. Not a lot of people can say that. So many people really are bound by their work; step away and they may not have enough to eat. I am blessed to be able to complain about this.

But first world problems are still problems. They are challenges.

So what am I going to do?

I’m going to attempt to write every day, as I do here. I’m going to attempt to find a place for me to get away from everyone else for a half-hour to an hour every day. Maybe that’ll be in the morning; that’ll be a big change as I usually write in the evening.

And if I fail, if I have too many other fun things going on… I will enjoy them.

As I enjoy them, I’ll let my mind record what’s going on. I have a writing app on my phone; I can always jot down new story ideas. Hopefully being away from home in new environs will trigger a bunch of them.

And when I get home… well, back to writing!

It may not be a writing vacation I’m going on, but it’s still a chance to recharge, a change to see family and friends, an opportunity to celebrate with others. It will be good.

Even if I also want a writing vacation!