Thursday, April 08, 2010

heading off to writing retreat

Time flies - it's writing retreat day, and I'm getting packed and heading out soon. The magical ponies are ready to ride, and I'm leaving the real magical ponies at home in a cloud of pollen. With my sincerest hope that the rain comes tonight and cleans everything up for them.

Also leaving behind a list a mile long for husband. (Sheaffer, this is when I need your love of lists and perfect memory - though it would be hard to choose - leave you here as my list-enforcer or take you with me to the mansion - I think you'd be going with me!)

It's funny and wonderful that even in the midst of the hard part about writing retreat, which is extricating myself from my routine here, from the animals and all the things they bring to my days, I can already feel the pull of the story I'm working on. The promise of uninterrupted time and perfect space always revs the writing engine.

16 comments:

Peggy Payne said...

Billie, have a wonderful and productive retreat.

I love the idea that the hard part is over once you're packed and have left things organized. Then the writing is the easy fun part. Relatively, anyway.

jme said...

i'm jealous! i hope the time proves productive! happy writing :-)

Grey Horse Matters said...

Everyone needs to get away now and again just to keep your perspective fresh. Have a great productive time.

billie said...

Thank you, Peggy!

I'm settled in here and have already begun work. Tearing myself away from home is absolutely the difficult part. The writing is easy.

Let's not talk about publishing and we can just leave it at that. :)

billie said...

j, wish you were here. I've already been to two tack stores!

billie said...

Thank you, Arlene - you're so right about all of us needing to get away from time to time. Travel of any kind opens the clogged brain pipes.

ponymaid said...

Billie, I wouldn't be anywhere but with you, breathing quietly down your neck as you compose and tip toeing around the writers mansion. It's my idea of heaven - especially if there's a bit of antique dust to roll in. Perhaps I could become the resident ghost donkey - although the woman says my substantial physical presence and heavy breathing is hard to overlook. Could there be a donkey ghost series somewhere in here? I wish you many hours of happy writing.

ponymaid said...

Billie,my first comment mis-fired somehow - rest assured I would be with you as the resident donkey writer. I could tiptoe about quietly, inspiring people by breathing gently down their necks. I could sleep at the end of your bed and would try to snore discretely,if at all. Perhaps by acting as your donkeyt muse I could tempt you to write a new series with a donkey cast of characters?

billie said...

Sheaffer, I can so easily see you and Rafer Johnson as groundskeepers here, tiptoeing in and out, supervising the gardeners in their work, keeping a watchful eye on the horses and carriages that train and live on the grounds, and herding the bullfrogs in the small goldfish pools.

There are trails perfect for donkey walking, and a great room with grand piano for donkey dressage.

I have a much different image when I think of Redford and Jack in residence: a trail of gardening tools leading hither and yon, water lilies strewn about on dry land, and two red donkeys dancing in the fountain, braying to the moon.

Ghost donkeys! Now there is a charmed idea! Even Marguerite Henry didn't think of that one!

Máire said...

Have a wonderful break. Uninterrupted time and perfect space is what every woman needs ("A room of one's own"). I chuckled at your beet pulp visualisation by the way.

Máire

billie said...

Sheaffer, I needed your help last night, as I stepped in thinly socked foot on a rather large bug and screamed. We needed some brave male donkey energy in this place!

I feel you are sending inspiration through the ether, directly to me. Thank you!

billie said...

Thank you, Maire! I have an entire manor of my own for 5 days and it is a true gift.

I'm glad you liked the meditation. I'm waiting for the one on locoweed!

Jane said...

May it be everything you need and more! Enjoy. :)

billie said...

Jane, thus far, very productive. That's why we call this the magic mansion. :)

Greta said...

I'm happy for you!

billie said...

Thanks, Greta. It's a wonderful retreat so far. So much work getting done, and so happily.