Delighted to report that I have been offered the use of a flat in a beach suburb of Sydney to use as a writer’s retreat for ten days.
So signing off now. Hopefully no internet (unless I scurry to a nearby cafe in desperate need of a Facebook hit), hopefully no emails, no bills, no administration tasks, no stray research that is never going to turn into a story for this manuscript, nor any other procrastination techniques which I have been mastering in recent months.
The Reluctant Retiree 
How lovely, a beach, writing, sunshine ☀️, time to think 🤔. Good luck 🍀.
All my best
Charlotte
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a very productive time. I only have to write one more scene and then I can send the first section off for my agent to run her eye over. Been back home for a few days and haven’t written it yet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m envious and admiring. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds like heaven! The weather is gorgeous for beach walks at the moment too. I hope it is both a super-productive and refreshing 10 days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am focused on the reason for this break, but yes! I did go to the beach yesterday morning and managed two swims! Then this morning I persuaded myself that was a waste of precious time and stayed glued to the laptop most of the day.
Output for each day? About the same. Go figure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m convinced that breaks are just as important as work time, maybe even more important, and deserve respect. Now if only I took more of my own advice! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t seem to develop a routine. What works for me one day is not the same the next. Sometimes, all I need is to go and do the dishes, other times I need a couple of hours. Sometimes I forget to eat lunch. But it has been a productive time. 50,000 words into the second draft now, and that is a wrap of part one which focuses on a specific character. Now the focus moves to her daughters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like it’s going well then. I hope to do the same one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope it is a blessed and productive time for you, Gwen. Much luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a slog. I hate writing. I hate myself. I am a lousy writer . . . Oh Look! That’s a nice sentence! I think I’ll keep that one. Oh Gosh! Here’s another keeper! Who knew I was such a brilliant writer. . . . feels good about oneself. Goes to bed happy.
Wakes up in the morning. Everything I wrote yesterday is rubbish. Should press delete button. . . 🙂 nooooooooo
LikeLike
Hopefully on the Northern Beaches where peace is assured, but facebook????
Really cheeee… exits .>>>>>>>>>>>>>>stage right shaking head
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know – FB – it’s an addiction, right? I even feel horrible about myself while I gorge on it. Turns out mine host left their wifi password, but I’m being very strict with myself. I’m blogging now while the noise from the tourists outside settle down 🙂 I might reveal the location in a future post.
LikeLike
I’m not addicted, hate the thing, only reason I have it is the WO likes to play some silly bloody game and when she runs out of tokens on hers she uses mine. Sort of ddouble ddipping in a way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Noise from tourists??? Manly??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Still nostalgic for the north side?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I love the Northern Beaches, they always feel like home to me, and Manly especially.
Hard to believe that a grumpy old Pom like me would have such feelings is it not so Miss Garrulous ❓ 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even the prickliest pear has a sweet fruit hiding inside.
LikeLike
That calls for a facetious response, I have been called one of those for quite sometime though for some reason the liest part always seems to get left off. Suppose it’s the lazy Aussie way of speaking really, come to think of it they even forget the pear bit, . I’m damned if I know why.
After 67 years in the country you’d think I’d be able to understand them wouldn’t you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha very droll. had to read that one twice. Must have been the translation from English to Aussie.
Read your health post yesterday – good luck with it all.
BTW, I’m at Bondi. Only until Thursday, when it’s back home to the grindstone of retired life 🙂
LikeLike
Bondi?? Now why on earth would any sane person go to Bondi when Manly is “just 7 miles away….:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey! An offer of free accommodation doesn’t come along every day. $850 a week similar places rent for, and that’s under a lease.
It’s been a successful writing week though, so if you can wing me a similar deal at Manly, I’m happy to have another retreat.
LikeLike
2 grand a week there
LikeLiked by 1 person
Call me when you wangle me a free deal. I just put the finishing touches to part one of the manuscript. 150 pages in the can until some editor tells me it’s all rubbish.
LikeLike
and then you’ll be in trouble 😈
LikeLike
Will miss you round the Links!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy your writing. Hoping for a good read
after you have finished creating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!!
LikeLike
Write! Write! Write!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m working on quantity over quality at the moment. Caught your most recent story in a lunch break. Loved it.
LikeLike
May the muse be with you. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish my muse was on speed. It’s taken me since the beginning of January to re-write the first sixty pages. Today was excruciating – three hours to write five hundred words, again, and again, and again. It just wasn’t working. But I think I got there in the end.
LikeLike
Oh dear. There are always good days and bad days. And, fine-tuning text eats up the hours. Here’s hoping you are in for a few good days of flowing writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s moving along. The first part was a complete re-write. Now I am into the section where I can retain great slabs of the story line and simply improve the writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah a craftswoman at work now. Hope you are enjoying it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wishing you all the best, Gwen. I’d suggest – NO FB fix. But have a good time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
FB is not even a good place to stalk my grandchildren anymore 🙂 They’ve moved on to other mediums. I’m left addicted to funny cat videos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy the experience, Gwen. Thanks for letting us know
LikeLiked by 1 person