Retreat

On a crane watching sojourn in Eustis, NE with a small group of performance collaborators. We found a little cabin/family home that was a cheap weekend staycation. It is still a bit chilly to spend to much time outside hunting for cranes, so we've spent most of the weekend hunkered down in this extremely comfortable b & b.

This feels so much like a writing retreat it has brought up the inevitable revaluation of the solo writing project. After stealing away hours of precious free time (and I don't even have kids!) in order the finish a project, the self promoting campaign begins and it requires weekly, if not daily upkeep. With my focus so sharply on getting this novel out there I haven't even begun to think about what my next project is going to be.

It seems like if I already had another bun in the oven, it would be easier to mitigate the stress of the promotional upkeep. Truth told, I have no idea how to be a writer. I know how to be a spread thin, workaholic non-specialist with 3-5 side projects in different states of simmer to boil at all times.

What a supreme luxury, time. And what a perfect word, retreat. With neither time nor retreat regularly at ones disposal, I think I have to fall back on structure. It is time to structure time for the next project. Back to the empty canvas, the blank manuscript. Having spent so long on my last project, I've no idea how to begin. I do trust the creative process implicitly though. It doesn't happen by itself though... Time to strike the iron. Or at least stoke the coals.

Economize promotional upkeep and focus the lion's share of your precious free time on the next endeavor.

(Next blog: get those user reviews, cross your fingers and pray to your god!)