I’m on a forced break from writing, trying to gain some distance on my story so I can do a complete read-through from start to finish to check for consistency and smoothness. We’re going away for a couple of weeks anyway, so it’s not a good time to start a new project. Normally, this break would give my fingers and shoulders a chance to recover from the strain of typing, but with Facebook and blogs and such, there is no real break. Being away from home is the only solution.

You’d think I’d be glad for the chance to lie around and read magazines, catch up on favorite tv shows, and meet friends for lunch. And yet, a restlessness is building inside me. Vague ideas for my next mystery swirl in my head. The urge to write is simmering, collecting momentum, tingling my fingertips. A change of scenery is the only cure for this affliction. Busy playing tourist, I can file away my experiences in a mental cabinet. Nonetheless, I’ll utilize the writer’s eye to observe setting details that may add to my next story. I’ll catch plot threads out of the air as we’re driving on the highway. Or I’ll note character quirks that I might use later. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t turn off that writer gene.

Writing a blog helps to relieve some of the creative pressure. I imagine this happens to all writers. We can’t wait to finish the story we are slaving over. Once done, we sigh with relief. And then the tension starts again, building to a crescendo, until we have to sit down and let our fingers fly on the keyboard while words pour forth from the recesses of our brain. That’s why we can’t quit. We HAVE to write. It’s in our nature.

Nancy, I know the feeling of itching to start a new project. But I recently took a 10 day vacation with no laptop, no Internet, no e-mail, no cell phone, and it was heavenly. Didn't get to stroll beaches as I was in MI and it was cold, but the break from technology was wonderful I highly recommend it. ;);)

Well, yeah, the technology I can live without, but my brain is already steering in the direction of my next story. I'm sure that once we are out sightseeing, I'll forget about everything else.

Yes, it's always good to get away from the technology. I'm sure my plotting brain will take a vacation, too, once we start sightseeing.