What Happens When A Writer Takes A Vacation
May 18, 2007
There are days when you wish that you could take a break and get away from it all. But unfortunately only a few can have that luxury to leave on their whims and fancies to relax at their favourite hideout. What happens to the rest?
Taking a holiday once a year is recommended and is also feasible if things are planned in terms of destination, budget and so on. I have found many writing experts recommending that take a notebook to write every detail of the vacation. A quaint coffee shop or the strange fruit seller who sells his fruits only on a particular day of the week; these will add uniqueness to your piece. Actually I have tried this tip.
Six years ago, on one of my vacations, I wrote extensively. Every miniscule detail from the construction material used for a tea shop, to the cleanliness of the ocean and even spoke to the local fisherman on how he caught his fish and sold them in the market. When I came back home, I was stressed more than before because my notepad was full of information and now I had to create my characters.
Needless to say I didn’t enjoy my trip. I was too busy trying to fit my background setting to the proverbial plots that I could be identified with my writing style. I was so tired that whatever I thought was interesting then, now looked like any other holiday that anyone could have experienced. What was new and fresh in what I wrote? – Nothing.
Last month, I was on a holiday for twenty days and I did nothing other than taking in the scenery. I traveled across India and only took pictures. The bi-lanes, the architecture, important landmarks, local means of transportation and didn’t think of any plot or characters. I let my mind wander wherever it wanted to and never forced it to work. Sounds like a disaster isn’t it?
But I really enjoyed my vacation and I am still in that dream mode. I have yet to set my routine and go back to my mundane lifestyle. Once I do that I will sit with the photographs and contemplate on what I saw and take it from there.
In life, when opportunities come with its arms wide open and guides you for a change then I seriously believe that you must take it. Forget who you are and what you do for a living. Be one with the new surroundings and see how it changes you and your perspective. I am hoping that mine has too; surely I will know it in a few weeks time.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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