[Fictionista]

I don't mean taking a vacation from writing, but, rather, a vacation where I go on a getaway (alone) and the only thing I do is write. I envision immersing myself in a chosen locale and sitting in quaint little cafes and tea houses with my laptop and writing and drinking fine coffee and gourmet teas. Maybe I'd go the odd sightseeing outing depending on where I was, but the idea would be to focus solely on my writing in a totally different environment.

Am I nuts? I'm sure to many this wouldn't qualify as a vacation, but for me it would be ideal.

Has anyone ever done this? If so, where did you go and what was your writing vacation experience like? Would you do it again?

 

[Lisa Scott]

I wish I could do this!  I imagine I'd get so much more written than when I'm at home, looking at all the things that need to be done. You're not nuts.  It sounds fun!

 

[Ell]

I was thinking about some sort of support group. CSWA... thats "Coffee Shop Writers Anonymous". I think they can be saved.

 

[SunHi Mistwalker]

I don't mean taking a vacation from writing, but, rather, a vacation where I go on a getaway (alone) and the only thing I do is write. I envision immersing myself in a chosen locale and sitting in quaint little cafes and tea houses with my laptop and writing and drinking fine coffee and gourmet teas. Maybe I'd go the odd sightseeing outing depending on where I was, but the idea would be to focus solely on my writing in a totally different environment.

Am I nuts? I'm sure to many this wouldn't qualify as a vacation, but fore me it would be ideal.

Has anyone ever done this? If so, where did you go and what was your writing vacation experience like? Would you do it again?

You're not nuts at all. I lived in France for a year writing and thinking. I continued with my freelance writing gigs to pay the bills. It made a huge difference in my writing and my world outlook. I say go for it!

 

[Fictionista]

Yes, that's what I'm thinking. Productivity-wise I think it would be a grand slam for me. It would be nice to write in an environment faraway from the reminders of all the daily stresses I'm used to; it would be a good way to get away from the constant demands of others and just focus on my stories. I think being in an unfamiliar environment would help spark new ideas for new stories as well.

EDIT:

Yes SunHi Mistwalker, Paris, France was one of the first places that came to mind. Oh, how I want to do this!

 

[Nathalie Hamidi]

Yes, that's what I'm thinking. Productivity-wise I think it would be a grand slam for me. It would be nice to write in an environment faraway from the reminders of all the daily stresses I'm used to; it would be a good way to get away from the constant demands of others and just focus on my stories. I think being in an unfamiliar environment would help spark new ideas for new stories as well.

TAKE ME WITH YOU!
I as quiet as a mouse and will be perfectly happy making coffee and typing silently in a corner!

 

[RoseInTheTardis]

You're not nuts, that's a great idea. I hope it's relaxing *and* productive.

Last year, I was scheduled to take time off for a trip that fell through, so I stayed home for a week and wrote. It was very cool and I got a lot done. It felt like writing full time which is the dream. So getting to get away too? Very awesome.

 

[SEAN H. ROBERTSON]

I don't mean taking a vacation from writing, but, rather, a vacation where I go on a getaway (alone) and the only thing I do is write. I envision immersing myself in a chosen locale and sitting in quaint little cafes and tea houses with my laptop and writing and drinking fine coffee and gourmet teas. Maybe I'd go the odd sightseeing outing depending on where I was, but the idea would be to focus solely on my writing in a totally different environment.

Am I nuts? I'm sure to many this wouldn't qualify as a vacation, but for me it would be ideal.

Has anyone ever done this? If so, where did you go and what was your writing vacation experience like? Would you do it again?

You're not nuts, lol. I'm about writing a fifth book in my erotica novella series, a portion of which takes place on Copacabana Beach in Rio, Brazil. I choose to win the powerball jackpot tonight and then finish the book while on location on a writing vacation. Sounds like a very HOT idea to me. Cheers to us all doing one this year.

 

[yomamma]

I have writing friends that do this all the time. Except they get together with a couple of other friends, rent a house/cabin somewhere (like on the beach, or Cancun) for a week, and all have a write-in.

Me, I am cheap. I take my vacation, sit down on the couch with my Macbook, and have my own mini write-in by myself.

 

[sarahdalton]

I actually have an opportunity to do this in a few weeks. My partner is training in another city (sunny Brighton - well, sunny for the UK) for a week and I'm going to go down with him. He'll be at work in the day so I can ponce around with my laptop and notebook until he finishes. I can't wait!

I just hope I don't get too self-conscious sitting in a cafe and don't end up hiding out at the hotel!

 

[swolf]

I don't mean taking a vacation from writing, but, rather, a vacation where I go on a getaway (alone) and the only thing I do is write. I envision immersing myself in a chosen locale and sitting in quaint little cafes and tea houses with my laptop and writing and drinking fine coffee and gourmet teas. Maybe I'd go the odd sightseeing outing depending on where I was, but the idea would be to focus solely on my writing in a totally different environment.

Sounds like something I would want to do.

But, knowing me, I'd talk to the waitress for a while after ordering my coffee, then decide to check my sales before writing. They would depress me, so I'd jump on KB and find out if something was wrong with Amazon's reporting. After finding out it's working properly, I would almost click off and begin writing, but then notice there's a thread about grammar going on. So I would jump in and argue over the use of the semi-colon for a couple of hours. After that, time to check the sales again. Still no change. Something has to be wrong. So, I go to Amazon's forums. Still no problem. I decide now would be a good time to research that time travel angle I had in mind for my story, so I pull up Google and begin searching. Three hours later, after reading about fruitbats, the world pistachio shortage, Lindsay Lohan's latest arrest, and the political situation in the Sudan, I'm ready for a break from researching. Time to start writing. But I realize I've missed lunch, and I can never write on an empty stomach. So, I go find a local cafe that has wifi, so I can get on KB while I'm eating and complain about how I don't have enough time in the day to write.

 

[Fictionista]

Sounds like something I would want to do.

But, knowing me, I'd talk to the waitress for a while after ordering my coffee, then decide to check my sales before writing. They would depress me, so I'd jump on KB and find out if something was wrong with Amazon's reporting. After finding out it's working properly, I would almost click off and begin writing, but then notice there's a thread about grammar going on. So I would jump in and argue over the use of the semi-colon for a couple of hours. After that, time to check the sales again. Still no change. Something has to be wrong. So, I go to Amazon's forums. Still no problem. I decide now would be a good time to research that time travel angle I had in mind for my story, so I pull up Google and begin searching. Three hours later, after reading about fruitbats, the world pistachio shortage, Lindsay Lohan's latest arrest, and the political situation in the Sudan, I'm ready for a break from researching. Time to start writing. But I realize I've missed lunch, and I can never write on an empty stomach. So, I go find a local cafe that has wifi, so I can get on KB while I'm eating and complain about how I don't have enough time in the day to write.

But, knowing me, I'd talk to the waitress for a while after ordering my coffee, then decide to check my sales before writing. They would depress me, so I'd jump on KB and find out if something was wrong with Amazon's reporting. After finding out it's working properly, I would almost click off and begin writing, but then notice there's a thread about grammar going on. So I would jump in and argue over the use of the semi-colon for a couple of hours. After that, time to check the sales again. Still no change. Something has to be wrong. So, I go to Amazon's forums. Still no problem. I decide now would be a good time to research that time travel angle I had in mind for my story, so I pull up Google and begin searching. Three hours later, after reading about fruitbats, the world pistachio shortage, Lindsay Lohan's latest arrest, and the political situation in the Sudan, I'm ready for a break from researching. Time to start writing. But I realize I've missed lunch, and I can never write on an empty stomach. So, I go find a local cafe that has wifi, so I can get on KB while I'm eating and complain about how I don't have enough time in the day to write.

Yes, swolf but at least you'd be doing all of that in an entirely new environment. Lol

Sarah Halton, that sounds lovely. I say go for the cafe...think of all the interesting people you'd see coming and going. I love people watching too. Even when I sit at the coffe shop in the mall and people watch, I get ideas for stories.

jillmyles, a write-in with friends sounds fantastic too! My problem is I don't know any local writers, but that idea would definitely float my boat as well.

SEAN H. ROBERTSON, see, now you've got me thinking. It would be nice if one could visit the places that were the settings for the novels they were working on. Would be an excellent way to gain a true perspective of the atmosphere and influence the story itself. Although I'm sure certain places wouldn't be as pleasant to visit as others would be.

 

[Lefty]

Sounds like something I would want to do.

But, knowing me, I'd talk to the waitress for a while after ordering my coffee, then decide to check my sales before writing. They would depress me, so I'd jump on KB and find out if something was wrong with Amazon's reporting. After finding out it's working properly, I would almost click off and begin writing, but then notice there's a thread about grammar going on. So I would jump in and argue over the use of the semi-colon for a couple of hours. After that, time to check the sales again. Still no change. Something has to be wrong. So, I go to Amazon's forums. Still no problem. I decide now would be a good time to research that time travel angle I had in mind for my story, so I pull up Google and begin searching. Three hours later, after reading about fruitbats, the world pistachio shortage, Lindsay Lohan's latest arrest, and the political situation in the Sudan, I'm ready for a break from researching. Time to start writing. But I realize I've missed lunch, and I can never write on an empty stomach. So, I go find a local cafe that has wifi, so I can get on KB while I'm eating and complain about how I don't have enough time in the day to write.

Pretty much.

 

[Ell]

Sorry...I ...just...had...to

 

[Brad__W]

I was supposed to do that this weekend and have four days in Munich to get started on the next book + a little sightseeing... but now the entire family are coming along so I'm figuring the writing is gonna go out the window as the main focus.

It's a great idea, and something I've done in the past to help with focus and wordcount, as well as getting many ideas pop into the head from the muse when you're away from the home environment. The problem with it can be the many distractions... museums, shopping, sightseeing, looking for wireless connections to get an Internet fix, etc...

If you can keep the focus, they really can be refreshing and inspiring.

 

[Lefty]

Going skiing next week for Spring Break. Figure I'll have some time on the plane, at night, etc. Yeah, no.

 

[MegHarris]

Sigh. It sounds nice. I'm a single mom, and considering the three kids at home and my elderly father living with us, I don't expect I'll ever get a chance to take a vacation on my own. But if I did... this sounds ideal.

 

[Brad__W]

Sigh. It sounds nice. I'm a single mom, and considering the three kids at home and my elderly father living with us, I don't expect I'll ever get a chance to take a vacation on my own. But if I did... this sounds ideal.

Sometimes just getting away for a single day can be the best vacation ever, even if it's just to the town/village/city next door. Any chance you can manage that in your schedule?

 

[J Dean]

More power to ya if you can do it!

Just don't end up like Jack Torrance...

 

[SEAN H. ROBERTSON]

Sorry...I ...just...had...to

Roaring laughter over here from that clip. So true. Thanks Ell. Starbucks IS international. Lol.