Romancing the Writer
Have you noticed how many movies romanticize the life of the artists–painters and writers?
Like in Last Chance Harvey, Emma Thompson’s character dreams of becoming a writer and living by the sea. She wouldn’t need much, she says. Just a cabin and a lake to bathe in.
Or how about the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona where they just sit around and gaze at the city drinking a glass of wine for inspiration.
Yeah, right. (I’m so throwing popcorn at this point)
The truth is the writer’s life isn’t easy. Sure, we need to daydream. We need inspiration. At the same time, most of us have day jobs, deadlines and the grit of real life. So that means late nights, early mornings and being inspired while I’m attending a boring faculty meeting (Shh! don’t tell my principal!).
It’s not easy. Not nearly as romantic as the movies make it out to be. But I love it—all those sleepless night, banging my head over my plot and extra cups of coffee included. Because I have a story to tell and I can’t help but telling it.
So, just for fun. Let’s pretend you are rich and you can live, do and write! anywhere you’d like. Where would it be?
Me? I’d have to say I’d bounce between a chateau in the Swiss Alps (fireplace please!) and Santorini. And eat lots of chocolate.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Do I have endless amounts of money in my dream?? If so, I’d live in London – in a row house somewhere in Kennsington or Belgravia, close to the tube and a greengrocer. I’d have a walled-in back garden, paved with bricks and a gardener would come in once or twice a week to trim the roses bushes and wisteria. I would sit in my beautiful garden and write prolifically.
If I didn’t have endless amounts of money, I’d live in Stockbridge or Lenox, MA with a scenic view of the Berkshires. But I’d still have to have a gardener, because I HATE gardening, but I love gardens, so I guess I’m dreaming of a lot of money no matter what.
Oh let’s be wild and crazy and say ENDLESS amounts of money!
OR we could go the other spectrum and say we don’t care about money and are content to live on canned food and bathe in the river. But that doesn’t sound like much fun, does it?
I don’t live anywhere where I can’t plug my hairdryer in, so I’m not in the running for river bathing or canned foods.
Don’t you hate how children’s writers are portrayed especially? Like Susan on Desperate Housewives. Be a total flake and live in a huge house thinking pretty thoughts all day! Ugh!
I think I’d let my husband pick out an old house to restore with my unlimited money. One in the middle of nowhere since commuting wouldn’t be an issue, next to a lake or a stream. And if he got in trouble with repairs, he could hire someone to help him since I’ll be busy writing.
Yeah, Susan on DH really bugs me – she NEVER seems to be doing any work on her books, yet look where she lives.
I like your idea, Kate. My husband would love that, but we’d definitely have to be on a quiet lake so he could row.
London, with access to a castle in, say, Scotland. I want to be in a city, with all the research capabilities that entails, and also somewhere very remote and private with little distractions.
Kate- Yes! I totally agree. How does Susan afford the cute little house, be a single mom, clean and work?????
Beth- Oh a castle sounds so fun. And I like your idea about being near a city for information. Smart girl.
My first impulse is to say that I’d love to be writing in a spacious, light-filled cottage overlooking a glacial lake ringed by snow-capped mountains.
But then I’d spend all my time gazing out the window or wanting to be outside.
Hmm…but I like Beth’s castle idea, especially if it has reliable high-speed access. I think we should all share a virtual castle. I’d like the northwest tower, please. I’m going to hang richly coloured tapestries up on the wall and have a fireplace.