Thursday, March 19, 2015

screen break

Guys, it's spring break eve day, here in the ridiculously mild Pacific Northwest, and I'm enjoying an unprecedented pause in work. That's right. A pause.

I finished a bunch of editing jobs, am between LitReactor classes, am at the tail end of a business writing agreement, my latest novel (for adults!) is out on submission, and I'm awaiting feedback on a draft of the second Empress Chronicles book, and I just finished and submitted a longish short story. Plus, I just revamped my website, turned in taxes and spent several hours in an idiocracy-esque hall of mirrors with various corporate entities getting to the bottom of their slapdash billing systems.

Okay, okay, I haven't written a blog post in over a month and I've chilled big time on social media. So there's that.

I can't remember a time in the last thirteen years (even during trips abroad, where I was still working) when I allowed myself a wee break. When I wasn't writing or editing something, or working with clients on one project or another. It feels fragile, this interstices. As much as I'd love to just breathe and let go, I have to admit, I feel odd and vulnerable.

Tonight, I put my kid on a plane for a soccer tournament in SoCal, and tomorrow Kirk, Ruby and I are taking a weekend road trip. We'll be home Sunday night, and planning to staycation the rest of it. knee-deep in soil. Maybe take the skis for a run if it does, indeed, snow up on the hill.

I'm giving my eyes a rest. And my brain. They deserve it.

When's the last time you took a breather from the screen?

2 comments:

  1. The lead up to your break sounds exhausting but rewarding to mark all those things off your to do list.

    It's been too long since I had a real break from the screen. I work long hours in front of the computer. I read books on a Kindle. I watch TV in the evening with the TV addict.

    The good news is a that I've carved out a small space without electronic media. I've started attending a writers' group on Wednesday evenings. It is several hours of joyful and angsty time spent.

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    Replies
    1. Lisa! Great that you've joined a writers' group. That weekly enforcement of engagement, right? Where you are actually present with the pages. It's salvation, is what it is.

      And what's up with all the amazing TV these days? Total heroin.

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