Time Away

So, I've been thinking - yes, a scary thought, get over it - about time away . . . from writing. I realized that we all need that time away. We (well, at least me) can't spend 24/7 writing. I'd love to, but with life, it's just not possible.

Sometimes, we just need to step away from the computer, the pen and paper, or the whatever. We need to give our (well, at least mine) frazzled brains a rest. We need to LIVE! Yes, LIVE.

I don't have kids. I do have two cats (Tasmyn and Squeaky), two dogs (Jesse and James, aka the boyz) and a beloved partner (Frank) who worships the quicksand I walk upon. Yes, that's my story, and I'm gonna keep telling it until . . . Anyhow, I have a life beyond writing. There's laundry to do (oh, wait, Frank does the laundry, I guess I can scratch that off my list), dusting, vacuuming (oh, Frank again, scratch off list), litter boxes to scoop, weeding to do, dinner to cook, groceries to buy, bills to pay, blah, blah, and blah, blah, blah!

I can't write 24/7. I'm lucky to find an hour some days. Still, I love to write and wouldn't change this crazy adventure . . . not in a million years, or for a gazillion dollars. Writing is in my blood. It's what I do!

I've learned not to let life get me down when I can't write. Sometimes, I play Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook. Sometimes, I go to Farmtown (also on Facebook) and spend time plotting and planning my growing farm. I make checkerboard patterns out of my crops. I put up stone fences, hedges, trees and flowers. I move my farmhouse from place to place. Sometimes, I take time for myself to read, or maybe just sit outside with the boyz. I shouldn't feel guilty about doing these things.

I normally don't. Then again, I was raised Catholic, so guilt is an inherent part of my nature. Still, I know that, every now and then, I need time away from my writing. I need to sit back and relax, let the old (well, not really old - 40 is the new 30 after all) brain cells relax a bit before I jump back into the chaos of my hyperactive imagination. You see, there's this woman, and 32 years ago she walked out on her husband after finding him doing the big nasty with her sister. Well, you can glimpse just a bit of the depravity lurking in the vastness of my mind.

So, yes, I'll take time away every now and then, but I'll be back. My imagination wouldn't have it any other way.

So, my advice, dear fellow bloggers, is step away from the computer, the pen and paper, or whatever, and enjoy life for just a bit. Set your guilt aside that you're playing Bejeweled Blitz (this means you, Marybeth and Elana . . . oh, and me too) or harvesting virtual crops in Farmtown (me, me, me) or just vegging on the couch doing absolutely nothing. The words are still in your mind, the many characters as well, just waiting for the next moment to leap forth into brilliant life once you sit down to write. Take some time away for you, so your characters and the worlds you create, come out fresh!

S