The Writers - sphere
This one goes out to all the creators - all the novelist, songwriters, musicians, painters, and any one else whom I failed to remember…
We just returned from the best three-day getaway to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I don’t mean for this to sound like a travelogue, but it will for a few minutes, so please indulge me.
I needed a getaway and a change of scenery to finish the first draft of my next novel in my Fincastle series and Eureka Springs was the obvious choice, since we only live 2-1/2 hours away. It’s the coolest place specifically taylored to artists. At the turn of the 19th century it became known for it’s numerous naturals springs. Word spread that the springs offered healing to people with a variety of conditions. Mainly, wealthy folks created the buzz. They came from all around the world to dip in them, hopeful for rejuvination from their ailments.
Today, it’s a haven for all creative endeavors and all walks of life. Their are B&B’s galore, renovated old hotels from the late 1880’s. The narrow town streets resemble a cross between Hogsmeade and Haight-Ashbury - Travelogue over.
We rented a suite at the oldest lodge in town, circa 1880. Here, I began chapter 32 of my draft. it was going great. I wrote for an hour, my wife soaked in the jaccuzi, but then my mind wandered (my ADHD kicked in, along with four cups of coffee). I thought of all the great places to eat, the shops, the galleries, and just being emersed in the relaxed atmosphere, which was too bad for me… I was there to write, right? Disipline, fingers to the keyboard, head in my outline notes… more wandering, No! Yep, there was no getting rid of it. I gave into it. My wife and I walked around, went into lots of shops, and spent a lot of money. I felt bad that I went to all of this effort with the main goal of finishing my draft, then it hit me…
If you beat up yourself too bad, you may end up not doing anything. (what’s the use, I failed). So I continued to indulge myself and enjoy the town. I’m not at a cool place like this every day. Then another epiphany lit down on me while I was eating one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life… It manifested this. Set a more realistic goal based on the situation. Ah ha! There it was. Now we’re makin’ sense.
Yes, I was going to enjoy my stay with my wife, see the town, go to wonderful restaurants and shops, ride the trolley (yes, they have those too), and listen to some some bands, I set a goal of a chapter per day. (in hindsight, that still sounds like a lot!) No, I wasn’t going to finish my draft at that pace but it was realistic and that was more important than putting a lofty and grueling goal on myself, only to be let down when I didn’t acheive it.
What was lesson from this? Well, it’s one that I have to keep re-teaching myself. Be real in your goals. Make them realist and acheiveable. (This already exists. It’s called SMART goals, duh, I knew that…?) In doing so I enjoyed time with my wife as we saw the sights and shops and I also accomplished a good deal of writing. There’s only one of you, be good to yourself.
