Is Time Off a Good Thing? ~ Vonnie Davis

Have you ever heard the expression my horse--or cat or dog--is "off his feed?" This expression kind of refers to me, but in a different way. No, I'm not off my feed, but I am off schedule. Most of you know I am a fulltime writer, retired from outside work, but writing all day nonetheless. In three years, I've contracted ten titles. Three more are in various stages of production. If my eyes are open, I'm probably writing. What can I say? It's a compulsion.

Until...

Until we went on vacation for three weeks. Although I did research and took plenty of pictures to pour over for descriptive facts in future stories, I did next to no writing while we were gone. My mind needed a break. I'd reached the point where I questioned every sentence I wrote.

Besides, who wants to bend over a laptop, ignoring what's happening around you when there are so many fabulous sights to see, people to watch and goodies to eat. Like bowls of French Onion soup at one of our favorite outdoor cafés in Paris. Alyson and Niko in MONA LISA'S ROOM ate here, too. See? I can eat and do research at the same time. How's that for multi-tasking?

I did write one scene while we were in Berlin. Calvin and his son Kelly were deep into a physics conversation, which was waaaayyy over my head. Kelly has a PhD. in High Energy Theoretical Particle Physics, if that gives you any indication as to why I wanted to zone into my characters' lives for a couple hours. I mean, string theory? Time and space dilation? The very real possibility of being able to travel through time...wait...let me pay attention to this part...

The laid-back atmosphere of Berlin is so different from the high energy of Paris. I liken Paris to a fashion model, preening her beauty, daring you not to fall in love with her. While Berlin is like a hard-working woman determined to get the job done.

Here's a shot of the River Spree that flows through Berlin. Kelly lives two blocks away in a condo or apartment. Most apartment buildings are situated as sides of a square with a park-like square of green grass and trees in the middle of four buildings. Kelly and his Berliner wife, Katrin, live on the sixth floor--with no elevator. Calvin and I nearly died going up and down those steps.

This is a picture taken from Kelly's penthouse patio filled with pots of miniature trees, flowers, herbs and cherry tomatoes. While the French include cheese with every meal, the Germans have an affinity for potatoes.

I absorbed as much of our travels as I could, glad to be away from the writing...yet, eager to return. Writing can be addictive, after all. But...but now we've been home for three weeks and what have I done? I've written three measly chapters. Count 'em...three.

Getting back into the routine is like getting into the pants I wore ten years ago. Such yanking and pulling and struggling.

I tell you, I'm off my feed. Off my schedule. Off.

Oh I'm at my laptop for hours every day, but I'm checking email, facebook, Amazon, shoe sites (it's an addiction...don't judge) and anything else to keep me from delving deeply into my writing. I need someone to ride herd over my wondering mind. Sigh...maybe I just need a vacation.