A one-week sabbatical

I am taking my own advice and giving myself the gift of not just a one-day sabbatical but a one-week retreat from writing for my column and blogs. It’s been a while since I’ve been sensing a mild case of burnout. I am ready to admit it and take action to refuel, refresh and revive the dimming flame.

Now, don’t be surprised if you see me here before the week is out. Either way, please know that I’ll still be writing. I want to concentrate on writing by hand. It is a practice that nudges my heart and my creativity. However, sometimes I get so caught up in using my laptop that even though the practice calls me, I find it difficult to pull myself away to savor the simplicity and the pleasure of cradling a lovely pen between my fingers and dancing across the page with words that reflect my thoughts and my emotions.

Have you tried writing by hand lately? With the speed and versatility of the computer you probably view writing by hand as an ancient custom. But very often old customs hold a sort of pleasurable simplicity and freedom that new customs might lack. Try it. Try writing by hand at least once per week, just for a few minutes. Maybe it will become a regular practice that opens you heart in a new way and brings you the kind of pleasure it does for me.

I also have a few books to read as well as a folder of articles and reports on writers, writing and the writing life.

Two books I am especially excited about are:

(1) Writing from the Heart by Nancy Slonim Aronie. I'm three-quarters of the way through. Nancy taps my heart ever so gently but firmly with her writing. I have only been able to read one chapter at a time as each chapter highlights the similarity of our experiences. Then I need a week or two to grapple with how those experiences have shaped and continue to shape my writing. It is a soul-searching exercise reading through this book and I owe it to myself to take my time to understand and absorb every benefit I can from it and I owe it to Nancy for her bravery in exposing her life experiences and lessons, her heart and her passion for writing.

(2) The courage to Write by Ralph Keyes. I acquired this book only recently but I have long desired to own it. Snippets I've read over the years and comments by other writers have kept me intrigued and in a constant state of anticipation. Finally I have it and although I was tempted to devour it immediately. I felt it was to my benefit to leave it for a time when I can devote the undivided attention I believe it deserves.

So my cherished readers and friends enjoy the rest of 2008 and as long as God spares our lives, we will met here again in the New Year.

It's here and I can hardly wait.

The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes arrived yesterday. I want to sit and absorb this book with undivided attention. So, I'll resist the urge to dive in now and wait until I've sent off the last of three articles I promised my editor.

She leaves for vacation on Friday 19th and wants three installments for my weekly column to leave with her assistant. I sent one on Sunday, the second yesterday and expect to submit number three on Wednesday.

That will leave me some much needed time for reading over the holidays and The Courage to Write is on top of that list.

Are you planning to catch up on some reading over the holidays? What books are on your list?

Book Talk Meme

Encouraged by Melissa Donovan over at Writing Forward I'm taking part in this meme.

I'm calling it Book Talk. Here goes:

What was the last book you bought?

On Monday September 29th, I bought four books from my Amazon wishlist:

1. Page After Page by Heather Sellers
2. Chapter by Chapter: Discover the dedication nd focus you need to write the book of your dreams by Heather Sellers
3. Writer's Workshop in a Box by Manuela Dunn
4. Writing from the Heart - Tapping the power of your inner voice by Nancy Slonim Aronie

Name a book you have read MORE than once

Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul.

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

I thought I had found a treasure when I rummaged through some old book at my church, and I did. Agatha Christie - An Autobiography mirror much of my own experiences and motivated me to stop making excuses and make my way to my desk and write regardless of what is going on around me and to see everyday life as ready-made inspiration and not as a hindrance to writing.

How do you choose a book - eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews

I choose books by summary but if someone I admire recommends a book I'd consider it.

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Non-fiction books are my favorite but I'm not opposed to a suspense novel once in a while.

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

Do I really have to choose? All right a gripping plot.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)

Sarah Witt in A Disappointing Truth - the tragic Story of Sarah Witt by Sarudzai Mubvakure

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?

A cup of Comfort for Writers and Ernes Hemingway on Writing.

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?

Just three chapters into Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?

Only twice. Both times I began reading knowing that the book didn't the area of my reading preferences.

Let's have some fun and keep this meme going.

Promoting A Disappointing Truth - the tragic story of Sarah Witt by Sarudzai Mubvakure

I am a sucker for a mystery/suspense story, so when my friend Saru offered to send me a copy of her debut novel I said, "Yes. Thank you. I can't wait."

It was a long one too, 718 pages. I put aside almost everything else to read it through, that's how riveting it was.

Here's the review I posted at Amazon.

I am happy to share with you a little about Saru.

Sarudzai Mubvakure

Sarudzai was born in Islington but then at the age of ten moved to Zimbabwe to live with her parents and siblings. She studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Zimbabwe and then returned to London in 1998 to work. A Disappointing Truth is her debut novel.

I'm displaying this post on my other blogs to help promote Saru's book.

Sucked into May Sarton's House by the Sea

After my anxious and impatient wait, two of the three books, by May Sarton that I ordered arrived on Friday. I’d long decided that her Journal of a Solitude would be my first read. So I tore open the packaging and hastened to write my name and the date on the inside cover of each book.

With a cup of mint tea on the side table, I settled down to a couple of hours of delightful reading. After a few pages, I thought I should at least take a brief look of the other book, The House by the Sea.

I was smitten, obviously. Before I knew it, I had read 38 pages.

What a captivating record of her time at Wild Knoll! And I found it so because for the longest time, I have harbored a secret wish to live by the sea. There were numerous thoughts May expressed that struck me and resonated with my heart for solitude, the sea, writing, home, pets (cats and dogs specifically), and life. I had to go back to the beginning and do what I always do when I read – underline, highlight and take notes.

This happens sometimes. I start reading a book or magazine planning to mark and note words, phrases and thoughts that strike me or spark an idea for an article perhaps. But sometimes, I am drawn into what the writer is sharing and then have to backtrack when I realize that I had not been recording my discoveries.

Anyway, I only stopped reading at page 38 because I just felt so delightfully overwhelmed with the richness of her description of each day her affinity to solitude which mirrored mine so closely.

Finding or in this case, reading about someone who so thoroughly enjoys the pleasure and purity of being alone makes me more confident in asserting my own preference for it. Also, I mentioned in my last post, that I had written a piece, Ode to Solitude, and some of her thoughts seemed like an extension of what I wrote on the topic. May Sarton’s journal entries about her time in The House by the Sea was such a refreshing confirmation of the beauty and benefits of solitude.

Of course she also wrote about some of the fears and problems she experienced living alone. No great and beautiful thing is without its drawbacks. But as in all circumstances in life, we must weigh the good and the bad; consider the pros and the cons. And, decide for ourselves, which outweighs the other. We have to choose the path that we believe will feed our souls and give our lives meaning, day by day.

I plan to share with you, excerpts of this book as I continue reading and lingering with May throughout her time at Wild Know, The House by the Sea.

P.S. You can see the books on my bookshelf, below, to the right.