Taking a Break

Last week, one of my author friends posed this question on Facebook, "Do you go on summer hiatus, put the writing aside, and enjoy the season, or do you plow through even though the outdoors beckon?" Great question from the amazing Robena Grant, whose newest book, One Truth Revealed, launches this Friday, July 14, and is available for preorder right now.

I've given that question some thought in regard to my own writing, which has pretty much gone on hiatus since I wrote "The End" around June 1 on Saving Sarah--book 4 in the Women of Willow Bay series. I'm in limbo about the series right now, waiting to hear from the two pubs who currently have it on submission, while at the same time waiting to hear from my editor, who has Saving Sarah. Here's the deal--I'll keep waiting on the two pubs until I get the manuscript back from my editor and I go through her edits and make whatever fixes I decide to make. Then, I'll nudge the pubs and give them a week or so to at least respond to the nudges. If I get nothing, then Saving Sarah goes up as indie, just like the rest of the series and I'll start the promo wagon rolling. At least I've got a plan, right?

Women of Willow Bay

I don't really want to be on writing hiatus this summer, but life may well cause me to be. Grandboy and his parents arrive in about two weeks, although they'll spend the first week of their time here with the other grandparents. Then they'll be at the lake with us until early August, with DIL heading home in late July, Son heading back early August, and Grandboy staying on with the two sets of grandparents. We'll pass him back and forth for a couple of weeks and then Nanny (that's me) will escort the kid home and hang out for about a week to see him start kindergarten (I know! Where has the time gone?). That pretty much wraps up the summer.

I'm not complaining one bit. Frankly, any extra time that's mine will probably be spent working because there is that job thing--I'm still a freelance copy editor, even when I'm being Nanny and Mom and Wife. If the kids' visit cuts back on writing time, so be it. After all the sorrowful crap that's gone on in my life in the last couple of years, I need some joy time, and what better place to find it than at the lake with my kids and Husband?

Plus, I need some rethinking time--time to figure out where to go after the Women of Willow Bay. There is one more book and maybe a Christmas novella that could come out of that series, but not right now. A break from Willow Bay is in order, and I've been thinking about cozy mysteries. I'm kind of intrigued with the idea of writing one. I've also got Hallie and Tim's story on a front burner--doing discovery there, and a friends-type women's fiction story brewing.

I carry a notebook everywhere, ready to jot down ideas, words, thoughts, feelings, conversations, characters, etc.--just being prepared for whatever may pop into my head and  pop right back out again if I don't write it down. I'm confident writer Nan will be back on track again--but for now, well, a summer hiatus might be just the ticket.

How about you? Do you take a writing break during the sultry days of summer? Oh, and don't forget to drop by Liz's post yesterday--she has a contest going! Share a favorite story beginning in the comments for a chance to win a tote bag of goodies.

Comments

  1. That summer sounds way to busy to be classified as a break! :-) I hope the time with the kids is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Liz! There's a chance I fit in some writing days, but I think I'm going to try not to stress about it.

      Delete
  2. Nan, you deserve a break and the lake and grandboy sound like a perfect soul-recharger! Personally, the sultry days of summer (read: hot, humid, sticky, and buggy) don't tempt me. Lol! But I did lose the muse for several months around Fall/Winter. Fortunately it eventually comes back :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ava, I appreciate the support! The muse does sometimes take a hike, but as you say, so far, she's always returned ready to roll. ;-)

      Delete
  3. First of all I am looking forward to reading Saving Sarah. I love all your books. Sometimes you just have to enjoy where you are at the moment. It is all right to be prepared for what may come. In the meantime just let yourself abide in the now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carolyn--you are a sweetie! And yes, I just gave my kid the "live in the moment" speech--I need to look in a mirror when I give it, don't I? ;-)

      Delete
  4. I only wish I could take the summer off. Never again will I sell a book with a September 1 deadline! Take the time while you can!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I imagine you're crazy busy with garden, yard, and everything as well as book stuff. You can do it! Can't wait to see on August 4!!

      Delete
  5. I don't *technically* go on hiatus, but with a 9 year old at home all summer long, I'm not as productive as I am during the school year - there are more swim practices, more daytrips, more lazy afternoons spent in the pool out of practice...I don't want to miss out on her last single-digit-summer because I can see the teen years coming and they're coming fast!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're smart to make Bebe the priority summers because, you are right on, once they reach teen years, summers with mom are way less important than summers with friends. Enjoy her while you can!

      Delete
  6. I'm sitting in a condo by Seacrest beach Fl. We've been with family in Florida for ten days. Tomorrow my husband and I head home. With going to the beach, swimming and being together I only found one day to write and that wasn't very long. But I've been reading Stephen King's book On Writing. Even though I'm not writing I'm learning.
    I take advantage of these special times with family.
    I hope you have a wonderful time visiting with your family

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patrice, thanks for stopping by--yes, absolutely, reading about writing is important and King's book is amazing. Glad you had a chance to spend time on the beach with your family--we should never lose sight of what's most important. Be safe driving home!!

      Delete
  7. I don't think we're ever on hiatus--except maybe the actual process of butt-in-chair. But, wherever we are and whatever we're doing is usually part of the process as our writing brain is storing away experience information to be used later. LOL

    I think your summer sounds absolutely fabulous! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a surprise to find this post, with my cover, in my FB feed. Thank you for this, Nan, you are a generous soul. I think it's fine to take some downtime, refill the creative well. While I'm not really writing this month, as Margie suggested, my brain is spinning and weaving story. My final story in the English Village series is with the publisher, awaiting contract (hopefully) and I think that is a lot of why I'm on break. I'm thinking about where to go next. ��
    Enjoy the lake, the hubs, and the family!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Roben and thanks for the inspiration for today's post! Can't wait for my copy of OTR to hit my kindle! Hugs, baby!

      Delete
  9. I don't deliberately take summers off, but I always find it harder to write in the summer. With holidays and golfing and other fun events, time is tight. Motivation is hard to find; when it's so nice outside, who wants to chain herself to her laptop? I'll probably spend the rest of the summer doing a combination of writing and playing.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment