Everyone is allowed to indulge in some wishful thinking from time to time. I often daydream about the unlikely possibility that I am eventually able to be a full-time author. I realize this is a pie-in-the-sky kind of daydream, as most authors are never that successful. Honestly, I’d be happy to get my first novel published and go from there. When I do allow myself to dream, I like to dream big.
I’d like to think that I would be happy doing nothing but writing. I know myself too well, though, to really believe that could be true. Writing is a reasonably solitary profession; yes, we may work together, discuss craft, and so on, but when you get down to the act of putting words to paper it is something you have to do alone. I am not a solitary person. I enjoy my time to myself, don’t get me wrong, and I start to get tired of people if I have too many things going on at once, but I like people. I like to be around people. I like to converse with others throughout my day. Most of my friends and social life revolve around work and coworkers, which means that I would probably get very lonely very fast if all I did was write.
I would like to give it a try, though. I’ve been thinking about a good writer’s retreat for a while; it will be much more effective if I am away from my home and obligations. Perhaps I’ll use some of my vacation time to run away for a few days and write in solitude. A few days without people shouldn’t be so hard, right?