Holidays don’t count, do they? I mean, if I pledge to write every day, I’m still entitled to take holidays off, aren’t I?
Today is Victoria Day in Canada… it’s always the last Monday before May 25, a federal holiday when we commemorate Queen Victoria‘s birthday and also honour the official birthday of the current reigning sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. I’m not sure how many people could relate the reason behind the holiday, but it’s a long weekend, considered by many to be a precursor of summer, and that’s reason enough to celebrate.
It’s time to dig through the closet for our sandals, clean up the barbecue and set out lawn furniture. This is a NO WORK weekend, right? Then again, if I want to eat, I’m going to have to do a little food prep first… probably take a trip to the market. Oh, and I’ll need to stop for gas. The more I think about it, the more people I realize will still be working this weekend, if only to accommodate those of us who won’t be.
Before I retired I worked as a professional dog show secretary, and dog shows were often held on holiday weekends. The exhibitors loved it because they were off work and could attend. I, on the other hand, had to put a great deal of effort into getting out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to make sure everything was ready for the start of each day’s event. Anyone who knows me well will remember my infamous fridge magnet: “I would like mornings better if they started at some other time of the day.” I am definitely not a morning person. But I made the effort because people were counting on me.
If it weren’t that I love playing with words and concocting fiction I could think of all kinds of excuses for not writing… not just this weekend, but anytime. I’ll bet you could, too. Procrastination is a ravenous monster; give in to it just a little and it will devour all our good intentions.
So yes, I’ll be writing today. Maybe not a significant chunk of my current w.i.p., but enough to keep the creative juices flowing. First I’ll make notes in my journal, toy with a few phrases in preparation for Wednesday’s blog post, and read over an article that I drafted last week. I may have to stretch myself a bit to find the motivation, but eventually I’ll get into the ‘groove’ and words will begin to spill out. The reward will be well worth the little extra holiday effort!
Do you take days off from your writing? How do you regain your momentum?
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MUSINGS 
I want that magnet! I have always been a night owl and that’s when I do my best work, but always pay for it in the mornings 🙂
Christi Corbett
I prefer writing in the quietness of the night, too, but can’t stay up as late as I used to.
I’m with Christi: I want a copy of that magnet, too. In fact three for me and two of my three daughters. I’ve been “on holiday” so long from my novel that it’s going to be a “start from scratch” kind of thing that takes me a weekend to get back into it. Next week…. maybe…. Oh-oh, there’s that old procrastination monster rearing its ugly head again.
I haven’t seen any more of those magnets in recent years, but the saying still pops up as a poster occasionally. I’m a terribly slow starter in the mornings. I need to prowl around clutching my glass of orange juice for a while before my brain begins to kick into gear for the day!
Have to say, Judith took the words right off my thoughts; I’m doing a lot of “how to” reading to get back on course…and a BIG backlog of e-mails to read through…I believe it’s called procrastination :/. J J is still job hunting (all over the NW map) so no telling where we mite end up
Reading good books on the craft can be very motivating. Once I get engrossed in a book, however, I forget about returning to my writing, so it can be self-defeating for me.
I hope JJ finds what she’s looking for soon, and not too far away!
I admit I do take days off but am plotting in my head until I sit back down to write it.
That sounds like the best of both worlds, Terri. I think sometimes we all need a little dedicated *percolating* time to mull over ideas.
I take days off as well, but I’m often doing something writing related like research or marketing. The main thing is I get the job done. I think each of us have to find what works best for personal writing style and family obligations.
There’s a lot of truth in that, Susan. In my writers’ group there is so much diversity in writing methods, ages and lifestyles that no one thing works for everyone.