BAY AREA BOOK FESTIVAL
I'll be speaking this Sunday at 1pm on banishing your inner editor with Chris Baty and Grant Faulkner at the East Bay Media Center in Berkeley. Info here. (Free! You should come!)
CATCHING UP
There's so much to say and catch you up on, and I've hit that overwhelmed point at which I don't know HOW to catch you up on anything at all, and so, very happily, I'm letting that go. I'll give you a few highlights.
I went to Edinburgh to write.
Who gets to say that? I DO. *boggles and blinks*
Sometimes (more often than I ever would have thought) I get to say amazing wonderful sentences like that, and it feels–literally–magical. When I was a little girl, I'd dream about traveling the world, writing as I went. I didn't really think it would happen, though. Who thinks that?
But now? I've written all over the world. While traveling, I like best to write in hotel breakfast rooms (after breakfast is done) because there's nothing interesting to look at and no one bothers you. The thing I've found, though, is usually I do much less writing that I hope to when I travel. I was on deadline during this last trip, and I did do quite a bit of writing. In Edinburgh, I was with four other writers, and we were there to write (we also wandered and ate and found castles, but mostly we were there to work). So we wrote.
Lisa, Gigi, Em and I writing at the Elephant House, where Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book
But I had this one day slated as an all-day writing binge. It was on my schedule. It was my only full day in London, and I was by myself, and I had this romantic vision of myself moving slowly from cafe to cafe all day, working on my book as I went.
Well. I woke up in London and thought to myself, SELF, YOU ARE IN LONDON. GO LOND. So I did. One never regrets wandering Camden Market, or people-watching, or finding a boat and just getting on it without knowing (or caring) where it was going after it cruised the canals (I hadn't even known London had canals! Or that the boat would let me off in Paddington! I was practically the bear!).
I could have worked on my book that day. But I didn't.
Usually, when you're traveling, your environs are new and sparkly. They're fascinating. You want to watch, to participate, to wander. What you do not want to do is put your head down and go back into the world that you made up. You know that world intimately. You can visit that anytime. Go be where you are. Take that home with you.
I've found the magic is in coming home. It's not something you have to really think about. You don't have to write up your findings and assimilate your new knowledge about Bloomsbury walkways into your everyday life. You don't have to suddenly write a book about a ruined castle or the fighting couple who ran the pub or the gorgeous French barista who sang along with the classical music in the cafe. You don't have to use any of those things at all. That stuff is just in you, and you'll use it when you need it. It'll be there.
*Y'all, my packing was a thing of beauty. One half-sized carryon, one purse.I kept coming up with things (need a charger? Here's an extra! Clothesline, here you go!) and Lisa kept saying, "WHERE? WHERE DID YOU PACK THAT?" and there is nothing more satisfying for an obsessed underpacker to hear, ever.
east bay jodi says
I love all of this. and you.
Linda Mc says
Great update! I am glad you saw some of London. Was there last year for the first time and I Loved it. Need to add Edinburgh to my places that I want to see.
MaryB in Richmond says
Ok, now you know you can’t get away with that “packing” reference without elaborating! You’ve talked to us about packing before but maybe we could use the refresher!
Daisy-Winifred says
Fancy you not knowing about Little Venice as the basin area is called. I was fortunate for a few years to live there, recognised the view in the background of the picture you put on facebook. Glad the return home was gentle and now productive :0) We really don’t suffer droughts here, we had 2 inches of rain yesterday and much the same the previous few days. However I got rid of my bath and replaced it with a shower, put house brick in each of the toilet water cisterns as that space of water is saved each time I flush and it’s still more than enough. You’ll have to visit Birmingham (UK) next as if canals you need it’s the place to be, industrial revolution was powered by steam but driven by canal:0) Gas Street Basin may sound industrial but is now a place to eat and drink, hang out with ducks and ride on a narrow boat. Then you could go off to the Jewellery Quarter and even take in the Coffin Factory!
Catherine says
I don’t know if you’ve convinced Rachel about Birmingham, but you’ve convinced me!
Pat L says
I’m really glad you had a nice visit to Edinburgh. It is a fantastic city especially the “old” side and the “new” side. It must have felt inspiring to write in the same coffee shop as JK Rowling ๐ Glad you had a chance to see London. Hope all is well.
Mysti Berry says
She’s not even exaggerating. Her bag was the size of a bowling ball case. And she had a different outfit every day. How’d she do it?
Marlene says
Love, love, love your posts! Thank you for your Venice suggestions. We went and had a fabulous time. . .talk about canals! This is The Spot for canals!
Marlene says
“I’ve found the magic is in coming home.” Yes. . the best part about our May travels was coming home!
katie metzroth says
You had me at “I went to Edinburgh to write.” BUT….when you started talking about your packing…I nearly swooned. You MUST tell us more about your packing strategy! : )