I had a post planned for tonight but I wrote it in a notebook and that notebook is currently in a different room. I started a new workout series last night, and while I was sore this morning, I wasn’t as sore as I thought I’d be… until I spent the morning setting something up at work. Now I don’t have plans to leave the couch until it’s time for bed. That’s when I realized that it’s Wednesday and YA Highway is hosting their weekly Road Trip Wednesday. I’ve been planning to start participating in this for awhile now and I am officially starting tonight.
If time and money were no object, where would you shut yourself away to write the great American novel? And what friends, crit partners, or inspiring authors (living or dead!) would you bring along?
The answer came to me immediately: Norway. Preferably a coastal town and at a time of year when the Northern Lights are bright in the sky.
For at least a year now I’ve had a strong desire to visit Norway and it’s high on my “to visit next” list. I’d like to take a trip to Norway one day soon and stop in Iceland along the way. My desire to visit Norway only increased when I saw picture of the Northern Lights. In photographs it was jaw-dropping and as much as I love photography and the beauty of photographs, I do believe that they can only capture so much.
Who would I bring? My dog, of course, if I had one at that time (hopefully I would) because there’s nothing better than a dog curled up next to me asleep or playing with toys to inspire me. Even though bringing a dog would require breaks from writing, it would also force me to take frequent time outs from staring at a computer screen–something that my eye doctor is so fond of recommending that it might be decent advice to take.
If we’re talking about real people… well, I think the idea of going on a writing retreat by myself sounds absolutely perfect! People can provide distractions. However, I’ve also talked about the idea of going on a writing and art retreat with my friend Heather and we’ve also talked about traveling to Norway one day, so of course I’d bring her along. The great thing about Heather is that she also understands that while talking is fun, there’s a time to talk and there’s a time to create. She’s all for locking yourself in a room to write or make art so I’d definitely be able to get work done. Other people that I would like to have at my writer’s retreat are my friends Iloye, Amber and Ari, who read what I write.
Welcome to RTW! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm also in Minnesota – in the outer ring of the NW suburbs.
I just watched a travel special on Norway – it looked really lovely (if a little gray) and intriguing. Hope you make it there someday!
Thanks for the welcome! I was wondering if you were near Minneapolis as I saw that you're a member of The Loft Literary Center on your website. I recently spent a bunch of time there at their Children's and YA Lit and Poetry conferences. They're my first experiences with the Loft, but definitely not my last. I loved it there!
Norway does sound like a wonderful retreat! I think my ideal retreat would be Bora Bora 🙂
Bora Bora would be wonderful!!!
I love this idea! May have to steal this prompt for my blog 🙂
Norway and the Northern Lights sound incredible.
You should!
I knew you would understand! 🙂 A few friends have mentioned that they think I'm crazy because I want to go to Norway during cold months but that's when the Northern Lights are at their most brilliant (according to what I've read online). But I was thinking, "If anyone understands my desire to go to Norway to see the Northern Lights, it would be Tara."
By the way, I totally owe you an email. Keep an eye out. 🙂