I take a week off between manuscripts, and I have a collection of fun things I do to take the mental vacation I need between stories. It won’t come as a surprise to many of you that I knit a lot, I do lots of lunches and coffees with friends I’ve ignored while in deadline dementia, plot and plan LIFE things instead of book things, and usually take in a movie or two (or four).
Funny thing is, I find a almost never read.
Which is odd, because there’s usually a huge stack of books around my house that I’m dying to get to but can’t find enough time while I’m writing. And yet, I actually prefer to read while I’m writing. I just have to make sure that what I’m reading isn’t the same genre as what I’m writing. That means, I read historicals while I’m working on a contemporary novel, and dive into contemporary stories while I’m working on an historical.
The more I thought about it, the more I had the same “ritual” between books. I can’t start a new book the same day I finish an old one. I think that’s because I usually make a big deal out of choosing a book that’s totally different from my last one. And while I’m always devouring two or three books at once (one fiction book, one non-fiction book, and one audiobook), the switch-over rule still holds. Yes, I realize this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but I hadn’t even realized I had such a complicated system until I sat down and thought about it.
I suppose that’s my brain’s way of holding all those balls in the air while I juggle the many tasks of life and career. What about you? Do you have things you do between books? Between writing projects--or sewing projects, or decorating projects?
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One week off is good, Allie. I tend to need two weeks. Can't even think of a new hero or heroine during that time. Guess I'm still so attached to the last characters that I don't want to let them go. :)
ReplyDeleteI usually collapse for a couple of days after I send off a book. But I guess I should plan in some vacation time between them. It would be nice to refresh!
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I usually try to make time for movies about once a month. :)
Hmm. Maybe I should try the one week thing but I usually take more depending on how draining the manuscript was. Some are so muc easier than otehrs. Currently I'm on way more than a week, try a couple of months, but life has intruded in a big way and with a few passes on some proposals, it's been hard to get motivated. I actually read, because I have the time then. Interesting to think about. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteI know Jillian Hart takes a bit of time of between books to rest, relax and veg out.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you need the break.