Day 4 at Doe Branch Ink: Milestones and Fatigue
Tired.
Though I have no good excuse.
Midweek at this one-week writers retreat in the North Carolina mountains: and today I slept quite late, did a little writing and email, took a small hike along a high ridge and down to the creek called Doe Branch, had one-to-one meetings witn two of the writers here, then a workshop session in late afternoon. Followed by shrimp and spinach crepes and for dessert: a very rich almond cake.
Tomorrow we have our workshop mid-afternoon and then go into the town of Marshall (pop. 840) for dinner and bluegrass jamming at Zuma. It will be a bit of a shock to leave this deeply wooded mountainside where we're staying at Doe Branch Ink.
The week seems to be slipping past at the downhill speed of the creek at the foot of the mountain. I'm pleased that I'm now well into the book I restarted Monday, after four years neglect. I wanted to use my non-teaching time here to do something beyond the routine. I think of an experience like this as a mini-Bonus Life. Regular readers here may remember that I blogged a while back about my 18 day "bonus life" apartment-sitting in New York. It truly felt like an extra life tucked into my normal one; it was the time I was a New Yorker. My three months in Varanasi, India, researching my novel Sister India was the same way: an extra life.
This week in a completely different setting also feels extra, which is wonderful, demanding of energy, productive, contemplative, and now and then tiring.
Categories: enhancing creativity
Tags: Doe Branch Ink, mountain writers retreat, writers retreat, Zuma
Comments
Hey Peggy, I'm glad you're having a good time. Isn't it strange how writing works – that some manuscripts come to fruition straight away and others need to be 'put away' for a while before they come into their own again later? I wish you happy writing.
Belinda.
Seems like most of mind require dormant periods, Belinda. If not all, now that I think about it. I hope your work is going well.
Spinich/shrimp creps'd be dessert enough for me – guess I'm old fashoned — or just plain old .
For me , a regular , deep , warm , intimate relationship is another kind of Bonus Life — which I'm sure , u also enjoy . Aiki
PS You may be right about knowing who i am , but i bet u don't Really Know who i am — i hardly do , myself . Anyway , keep guessing .
The relationship is the Main Life, Aiki