Creative confessions from a beachaholic

I don't know what it is about turquoise water, a hot climate, a white sand beach, and the sound of the ocean that makes my creativity kick into high gear.  I do my best work, writing in this case, when I'm on vacation.  Specifically, one that is filled with hot weather, sun, beaches, and impeccably clear water.  My two books, Freshman Year, 91-92, and Sophomore Year, 92-93 were mainly written (and finished) while I vacationed in Hawaii.  My third book, Junior Year 93-94, was started in Hawaii, but I did the bulk of it in Bora Bora ... 200 some pages, I believe and yes, I worked on vacation.

Trouble with getting creativity from a tropical place is I can't get there as often as I'd like to inspire myself since leaving my day job at Expedia, where I could afford to travel to sunny destinations more often.  Sadly, I've suffered from lack of creativity in the last year, especially since I did not get away to my preferred destination (other than Vegas--let's be honest, you can't really write in Vegas when there are other things vying for your time such as slot machines).  Lately, it's been hard to write at least one article a month for Examiner (when I'm accustomed to doing at least two), I put off sending my third manuscript into my Editor until last weekend, and I even took my sweet time in going over my second manuscript with a fine-tooth comb after it came back from my Editor, which resulted in it being published later than I would have wanted (May vs. February or March). 

But, there is a ray of sun poking out from those grey clouds (literally, have you seen the morning weather this past week in Washington?).  After a year of figuring out finances on one income and finally getting the hang of it by January of this year, I budgeted and booked my family on a beach getaway to Cabo (I've never been to Mexico.  Call me unworldly).  Just thinking about the weather, the blue water, and the soft beaches has kicked my creative mind into high gear.  This past week, I've really started to feel more productive.  In fact, I have yet another book idea that I plan to write (along with another one in the works) while I'm there. 

It feels good to have these bursts of creative energy.  So thank you, beach vacation to Cabo, for helping me start to get back on track with my writing and inspiring me to do more.  I'm sure I'll be thanking you two-fold when I come back with two completed drafts of two books!

Second-guessing and circular thoughts: the pitfalls of a Type A Personality

When my first book came out, I had spent so much time looking at it during the editing phases, I honestly wanted nothing to do with it after I’d sent it in to the publisher.  However; when Nyah (the kidlet) read it, she pointed out a few errors, which had me spun up for weeks.  You see, I’m a classic Type A Personality with a side of perfectionist.  I honestly didn’t want to know or hear that I’d put something out there with a few errors and I tried to ignore it for the better part of a year.

Now, a year later, I am currently in the midst of sending my second book into the publisher.  I have also decided to go back through my first book and fix those errors as well as make a few changes to the writing in general.  Nothing drastic, mind you.  I have just learned so much, having gone through the editing process twice now that I want to put that learning to use by fixing a few things in my first book.

So ... here I am, working on two books to send to the publisher and feeling like a big ball of stress.  I spend nights trying to sleep, only to get caught up with second-guessing myself or getting up to go back through something in my book that I thought I probably should change or go over to make sure it makes sense.  At some point, you have to just let it be, right?  Right?

As my mind is racing and I’m continually going round and round with the story and making sure there are no holes, my daughter, Nyah, politely pointed out to me that this is what I chose to do.  To which I replied, “Yes, and I enjoy it very much, but it’s stressing me out!”

I get that whatever job we choose, even if we absolutely love it through-and-through, it’s still going to carry some amount of stress.  What I have trouble with is how my Type A Personality interprets and reacts to the whole stress process.

I’ll always have trouble with this, I know.  So, I just have to tell myself after a million rather large deep breaths that I guess I just have to plug in my earbuds, turn on my writing music, and continue to “March” through.