Comments on: 5 Essential Ingredients In My Ideal Writing Weekend

By: Results from the My Ideal Writing Weekend Group Writing Project } Group Writing Projects

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:02:54 +0000

[...] Joanna Young at Confident Writing: 5 Essential Ingredients of My Ideal Writing Weekend [...]

By: Captivating Words: Results from My Ideal Writing Weekend Competition | Absorbing Writing

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:36:36 +0000

[...] Young (a non-competitive entry!): 5 Essential Ingredients of My Ideal Writing Weekend Space: That includes creating the space to get away for the ideal weekend, and to switch off from [...]

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:15:38 +0000

Bill, thanks for sharing those ingredients. The idea of a cabin in the woods sounds most intriguing – though I think it would be hard not to go off exploring whether you were familiar with the area or not!

Joanna

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:27:02 +0000

For me the writing would have to be a place that I am somewhat familiar with, otherwise I would spend all my time exploring. I love the idea of a cabin in the woods – with electricity for my computer, but no internet access (I am too easily distracted). An enclosed screened in porch would be great to be able to type somewhat in the wilderness without fighting for the keyboard with the bugs who always appear to believe the story they are trying to tell is more important than mine. I would have other writers there with some writing challenges – short challenges that allow us to get back to our own masterpieces.

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:42:08 +0000

Jean, thanks so much for sharing those parts of your writing process. That sounds fairly ideal! I remember you saying before that you used photos as a way to prompt your writing – it sounds like a fascinating way to work, and obviously one that helps you to learn, reflect and write creatively.

Joanna

By: Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk

Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:06:10 +0000

I don’t have trouble concentrating in our small apartment…I’m great at tuning things out. My problem is getting myself to take time away from the computer to do housework and other chores. I’m a visual thinker, so looking at photos from Flickr is one easy way to get me started. I also read other people’s posts to see what stirs me up, and I often write comments there in addition to being stimulated to pursue a topic in more detail on my own sites. But once I have a general topic I try to find the picture(s) I’ll use. Once I have a topic and picture, and often a quote or two, it’s just a matter of playing around until I learn something by trying to turn my ideas into a post.

I don’t worry about whether or not the post is any good. If I’ve learned something it’s a success.

It’s a great life. I can’t imagine anything I would rather be doing.

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:54:51 +0000

I like the feast for the senses. it is good to engage all the senses. A pretty place is nice, but a place that also smells good, feels comfortable, sounds pleasant and has plenty of tasty treats really fits the bill.

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:43:49 +0000

Lillie, you’re right it can – especially if we manage our state and ‘tell ourselves’ that we’re going somewhere different and new.

But there is something about an actual journey – even the hassle of tickets and bags and checking in and wondering if you’re in the right place and then relaxing into the movement and letting the boat or plane or train transport you… which changes things. In my ideal weekend anyway

Joanna

By: Lillie Ammann

Lillie Ammann — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:25:41 +0000

Joanna,
You’ve described the elements of a great writing weekend. Ideally the journey would be to a far-away place, but even a trip down the street can create that sense of leaving the old and entering the new.

By: Joanna Young

Joanna Young — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:33:23 +0000

It’s very easy to get distracted at home isn’t it? Though I have read that some people unplug their phones when they want to work in peace… (don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone)

Joanna