Fall has a way of throwing me off balance. The weather turns cool, the rain drizzles, and my laptop doesn’t look half as cozy as the comforter on my bed. Hibernate first, write later.
That’s how I felt all last week, and very little writing got done. My mind wasn’t completely on sleep mode, though. I was busy feeding my creative self with other projects. And, sometimes, I was just busy.
Bread
In an effort to warm up and watch something develop (especially with my writing at a standstill), I dove back into the world of baking with yeast. Yeast and I are old enemies, in a kind and loving way. Yeast teases me, hints at some level of greatness, then leaves me with some concoction that weighs on the heavy side. The loaf of bread I pulled out of the oven last week, dense as it was, lacked substance, if you know what I mean.
It smelled good. It even looked good. But, all that kneading and watching and hoping yielded a rock-solid lump of grain that took a strong arm to cut into slices. If there was a circle of bakers similar to my writing critique group, I’d had marched that sucker straight to the table and begged them to show me no mercy. What is the secret to raising a perfect loaf of bread? And, can that translate into a good story? Or, at least a good sandwich?
Books
Remember that comforter I mentioned? I wasn’t kidding when I said I went into hiding. Come 9pm most nights, I crawled into bed with a good book. I started and finished reading Hillary Jordan’s When She Woke, a story about what happens when religion and politics mix too closely and women’s rights are thrown to the wayside. If you like Margaret Atwood, you’ll love this book. If you swing to the right, you might not like it so much. I don’t want to push politics here, but, while Jordan’s book is futuristic, much of the story hits way too close to home.
On a lighter note, and to balance my reading experience, I’ve also been sifting through stories of the past. My daughter and I are knee-deep into the Little House on the Prairie series, currently reading The Long Winter (no wonder I’m in hibernation mode). My son and I are halfway through Blackwater Ben, a YA fiction about a boy working with his father in the cookhouse at a lumber camp. Both books are set around the 1800’s, around the same time as that novel I’m finishing up. So, while I’ve been reading with the kids, my brain has been absorbing nuances of the 19th century life and studying the techniques of writing historical fiction.
Coffee
I’ve been drinking decaf for months now, maybe even a year. I can’t exactly remember, which is perhaps a side effect of cutting the caffeine. At any rate, I poured myself a cup of half decaf half regular last Saturday, and um, wow.
I finally sat down to do some writing and was typing 100 words per minute. No, I didn’t count the words, but who can count when you’re zipping through a draft of something that reads really well on a caffeine high. I even managed to rake several piles of leaves from the back yard all the way down the driveway to the curb like there was no tomorrow and somebody get me a refill on that coffee, would you?
Lordy.
What’s your story? Hibernation, or heavy on the coffee?
Hibernation. Definitely.
Since the hubs and I moved the household and two dogs to North Dakota this summer, I have had the awesome opportunity of working from home. Unfortunately, with the 2-hour time difference between here and my corporate co-horts in Seattle, I have used that to excuse my sleeping in until 9 even though I told myself I would use it for writing.
But as you say, that memory foam mattress and cushy feather-down comforter is so warm and inviting! I just love to snuggle and relax, sleeping with no fear of an alarm waking me. Even on days I take my husband to work (round trip is all of 6 minutes), I still find myself tumbling into bed, the dogs eager to snuggle into their own doggie mattresses.
So how do I turn over a new leaf/life and re-invest my time into writing? How do I shake awake my former morning-person self? I’m not certain yet, but it will definitely require more coffee. YUM!
North Dakota, this time of year? I’d say hibernation, too. Double up on that coffee, for sure, Nina. And, PS…I’ve been known to bring my laptop to bed. However we can make the writing happen, right? 🙂
That sounds like a fantastic week, much better than my chicken-with-a-head-cut-off strut. Thanks for the book recommendation. _When She Woke_ sounds like just my cup of java. P.S. I’ve been on the caff. train since school started, but with strict limitations. Hey, we can’t all be Wonder Woman. 😉 See you soon, sista!
Caffeine with limitations, I think that’s a good balance. I’ll bring my special coffee cup when I see you. And, maybe a pair of boots. It’s good to pretend.
Coffee, books, bread. Sounds like the perfect way to welcome in the fall days. And finally, the return to writing. (I think I would still toast that bread and slather it up with some good, creamy butter and a fat dollop of bitter orange marmalade. That will soften the sucker up.)
Good idea for the bread. I love the bitter orange marmalade especially. I’m sure it would taste delicious, but it also rings of a little “I’ll show you, you yeasty monster.” 🙂
Love this post, Christi . . . when I got to the end I actually laughed out loud!
As for me, I’ve always adored autumn. And though I tend to want to sleep a bit more, I enjoy getting the fireplace going in my little home office and sitting down to write.
Ooh, a fireplace in a little office, Beth, that sounds perfect. With Wonder Woman hosting a warm drink on the side and a piece of heavily smothered, molasses bread, there would be no stopping me! 🙂
Mmm… I love hibernating, and I’ve recently been experimenting with caffeine, too, Christi! I was on decaf for at least a year, and now I’ve been adding back some of the real stuff. I can get so much done! As far as books, I just finished The Sisters Brothers and I tried three different books after that and had to put them aside because they just weren’t working for me. The Sisters Brothers was THAT amazing. It’s not my usual subject matter (killers!) but it was so adeptly–and beautifully–told. I am still thinking about scenes as I go about my daily life.
It’s frightening how caffeine works, right? 🙂 I’ll have to check out The Sisters Brothers. I haven’t heard of it, but I do love a story that sticks with you!
Christi … I gave up the “octane” in the coffee almost two years ago and I don’t miss it. I love the taste of coffee and drink decaf-espresso, black and sweet. This time of year does the opposite to me … I feel energized. However, I am in a “nesting” mode now that I have moved and I won’t have my normal schedule back until I decide hot to settle into the new space. Stick with the decaf … you nervous system will thank you 🙂
Florence,
This is a great time of year to settle into a new space — no outside, summer distractions. I’ll try to stick to decaf. I’ll tell you, that was quite the kick, that half & half! I know you’re right, though, especially when I think of it in your terms: octane. Great description 🙂
Oh, I sooo loved the Little House books. And I have Hillary Jordan’s book on my shelf (loved her first novel). Never even tried coffee, because I know I will become addicted. But if I get THAT kind of energy, maybe I should ;-).
Never tried coffee? Power to the resistance! You’re right to stay pure, Melissa. The caffeine and the energy boost are too addictive 🙂