Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering. Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne
Because of a scheduling change I got the day off from the restaurant…the whole day off. While I want to do nothing as Pooh suggests I know I will feel better if instead I work on getting caught up on business and personal boring financial stuff…my reward for doing that is a night out with friends. Margarita’s await!
What would you do if you had an unexpected day off and if none of the usual obligations had to be met? What if money was no object and time travel was possible?
If I could be anywhere today on my unexpected day off I would be on the coast of Oregon, specifically Cannon Beach; walking the beach and planning on meeting friends and sharing a meal maybe clam chowder and steamer clams at the Wayfarer or a cheeseburger at Bill’s.
One reason I like writing is that even if I can’t do these things my characters can…I can give them a perfect day off, feed them food I want to be eating or make their lives as boring or interesting as I want. In Leslea Newman’s book Writing From the Heart, she suggests writing lists of things that give you pleasure. From the list choose one activity and write about it in such detail that the reader will feel how special this activity is. Today write about the perfect unexpected day off and include plenty of sensory details so that your reader will understand how this would be a perfectly wonderful way to spend the day off. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
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