Mississippi, that is, for the Mid-South Creative Nonfiction Conference. By all reports a charming town, with a great bookstore and several good restaurants.
This is my first vacation by myself in over fifteen years — since I met Sandy –and it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I now feel a little stressed. I’ve done plenty of business travel on my own, and even a bit of obligatory family travel, just not personal time that was all about me.
Plus what if I show up and all the Writing People laugh at me?
On Thursday I have a workshop to keep me busy, and on Friday the events start at 3 p.m. It’s not as if I don’t have things to do to fill in those spare moments. At some point this week it burbled into my brain that I’m teaching a Writing for the Web workshop next week at NEFLIN, and I began pulling together the bare details — I can work on the wiki. I’m also taking a (ab-fab!) class on food writing through Stanford Continuing Ed, and I’m sure I’ll have homework.
Though lying in a bed reading til noon also sounds grand…
Posted on this day, other years:
Do writers, no matter how successful, ever get over the fear of rejection? I write, edit and “communicate” for a living, but I still battle paralysis when it comes to showing people anything I’ve written outside of work assignments. Is this lack of confidence or simply part of an artistic personality?
As for the vacation, I imagine I would be intimidated. I’ve never vacationed solo, but I think it sounds adventurous. Would like to try it in the next year or so, finances allowing. Be sure to let us know how it goes — the alone time and the writing bit.
Based on earlier posts to this list and the ensuing comments, it’s endemic. The good news is that hyperacute awareness and self-criticism helps us produce good writing. There’s nothing quite as confident as a really bad writer. I bet James Fenimore Cooper slept well every night.
Knock their socks off. You are going to be fabulous!
Oh, Miss K….I understand the trepidations, but you are a very readable writer…I hear your voice in everything you write. And I’ll stop by FRL as long as you keep it going, even if I never work in libraryland again…because I like reading what you write, whatever the topic.
And check out this place for a holiday/retreat that might suit both you and Sandy. http://www.hollyhock.ca/cms/