Would this view be an inspiration or a distraction?
I love to read about how other writers work. One writer (I forget who, but she was American) redecorates her study for each new book she writes. She is obviously successful and can afford such luxuries. She collects items such as books, music, pictures, articles, ornaments, fabric, flowers or jewellery – anything in fact that she considers a source of inspiration to create the right mood for writing. I found that idea to be fascinating, although I don’t think it is something I would ever do for myself.
To date, I have never had the ideal place in which to write, and yet somehow I manage. I have created makeshift offices in a spare bedroom, an attic room, the kitchen or the sitting room – wherever my laptop can be close to a power source is fine with me. I have also managed to knock out a few cheeky pages of text during a quiet moment in the office, or when I used to commute by ferry to work. I sometimes find that my most creative moments happen when they really shouldn’t; like being at work, or writing while the TV is on in the background and the males of the household are yelling at the football/cricket/rugby or indeed anything with a ball. When I am lost in a book, either reading one or trying to write one, I am oblivious to the external world.
However, the external world still remains a constant source of inspiration when I do venture outside. Today, for example, was a day of blue sky perfection and I sat outside in the late afternoon sun, while my son sprawled on the lawn, finishing his homework, and the farmer in the neighbouring field was harvesting hay. It was an idyllic scene, both relaxing and energising at the same time. A beautiful view does recharge the creative batteries, even if the said view has nothing whatsoever to do with the writing project of the day. I am now working on a screenplay, based on a novel I wrote, that is set in Shetland, so a view of the Wicklow Mountains is not particularly useful in terms of inspiration, but fresh air and a big blue sky definitely are.
When I set up this blog, I imagined that I would be “the girl from Maynooth” for the foreseeable future – at least a few years. However, a few days ago my husband received a job offer that was too good to turn down, and it potentially involves a move further south within Ireland. At first I was horrified, as I am only just starting to get settled here, and a move to Tipperary seemed too outlandish to take seriously. Not helped by my son breaking out into song with “It’s a long way to Tipperary” every few minutes.
However, some research into the area has actually made me feel quite excited about the prospect of moving. Kildare and the Dublin area are very attractive places to live, but it is horrifyingly expensive to buy a house here. Tipperary on the other hand is relatively cheap and has some really quite delightful countryside. We are giving serious consideration to the areas around Clonmel, Cashel or Carrick on Suir and will be visiting the area this weekend to get a better feel for the place.
Estate agents websites are notorious for inflating the merits of a property, but one place I looked at had the most jaw droppingly gorgeous and uninterrupted view of the Slievenamon Mountains, with a ruined castle on the skyline, just as a little extra icing. Reader, I fell deeply in love. And I also got the first germ of an idea for a new career option.
Moving to Tipperary will make it easier for me to concentrate on writing, since a second income is not so necessary to maintain an adequate standard of living. So, should I fail to make a cent out of my writing it will not mean we will be fighting off the bailiffs. However, I do like to keep a certain amount of independence, so I had an idea for a business venture that would put together all of the available resources of skill and location.
At this stage it is just a daydream, but I am considering setting up a Writers’ Retreat. It is not a wholly original idea; however, there does not seem to be anything in the way of personalised one-to-one workshops that can devote time to working on a particular project. So I am wondering if there is a market for this. I doubt it would be highly profitable, but I suspect it would be enjoyable, and stop me from becoming a total hermit, because my other plan B is to think about doing a PhD in Chick Lit. Surprisingly this idea was well received by a professor at the local university when I made a tentative enquiry, but I kind of feel that deep down I was not cut out for a life of serious academia.
So, back to plan A - would a holiday in a gorgeous part of Ireland, with full board, great food and wine, excellent research facilities, time to think and write, and the services of a friendly writing counsellor be of any appeal?
Your comments on my daydream would be welcomed.
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