vanillafluffy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vanillafluffy) wrote2008-09-21 02:22 am
vanillafluffy) wrote2008-09-21 02:22 am
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The mythical Remote Writing Cabin
Here (http://growwings.blogspot.com/2008/09/remote-writing-cabin.html) is a marvelous post about the mythical Remote Writing Cabin. Which is apparently in some snowy winter wilderness---charming, if you like that sort of thing.
I, however, am not into freezing my noogies off. I'm more inclined to a Remote Tropical Cottage in a hurricane-free zone where cool, gentle breezes always blow. The little bungalow has porches all around and is encrusted with gingerbread---like Victorian barnacles. All of its windows offer some scenic view, be it cloud-scattered sky or wave-spangled ocean, shell-strewn beach or bright green jungle. Inside, the rooms are accented with happy colors---think Fiestaware---peaceful, but never boring.
How can it possibly be boring, when the low tide may reveal a ship's figurehead, canting out of a dune that was mere sand the day before, or a sunset walk may bring a cryptic message in a pale lavendar bottle: Raimund, if I don't return, you must take my sword to St George. Only if my son can pass their test should it fall to him. My eternal love to Jessabelle. My last thoughts will be of her. P."? When macaws flap out of the foliage and perch on the porch railings and squawk: "Thank you, Your Highness!" when you toss them a cracker? Adventure---and plot elements---are everywhere, from the ball-gown that appears in, of all places, the library, to the Chinese junk that appears on the horizon.
When the Muse is irresistable, pull the window shutters closed against distraction and scribble breathlessly until another glowing tale has been told....
I, however, am not into freezing my noogies off. I'm more inclined to a Remote Tropical Cottage in a hurricane-free zone where cool, gentle breezes always blow. The little bungalow has porches all around and is encrusted with gingerbread---like Victorian barnacles. All of its windows offer some scenic view, be it cloud-scattered sky or wave-spangled ocean, shell-strewn beach or bright green jungle. Inside, the rooms are accented with happy colors---think Fiestaware---peaceful, but never boring.
How can it possibly be boring, when the low tide may reveal a ship's figurehead, canting out of a dune that was mere sand the day before, or a sunset walk may bring a cryptic message in a pale lavendar bottle: Raimund, if I don't return, you must take my sword to St George. Only if my son can pass their test should it fall to him. My eternal love to Jessabelle. My last thoughts will be of her. P."? When macaws flap out of the foliage and perch on the porch railings and squawk: "Thank you, Your Highness!" when you toss them a cracker? Adventure---and plot elements---are everywhere, from the ball-gown that appears in, of all places, the library, to the Chinese junk that appears on the horizon.
When the Muse is irresistable, pull the window shutters closed against distraction and scribble breathlessly until another glowing tale has been told....
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A few years ago, I went on a weekend retreat to a camp in the mountains of northeastern Georgia. (I do not do the sleeping on the ground kind of camp. This one had creekside cabins with double beds and private bathrooms.)
And I could not write a blessed thing. I spent my free time sitting with my feet up on the porch railing watching the creek go tumbling by. Perhaps if I'd been there longer than two days it might have worked. I'd really just like to have a room of my own with a window that looks out on the woodsy part of the yard. Maybe someday! :)
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Yay, Fiestaware! I watch Clean House regularly (more often than I actually DO it, O_o!), and tried to imagine how I would succinctly sum up my preferences if a designer asked me what I liked. "Well, I like turquoise and orange and pink and cobalt blue and yellow and---" and after a while, realized that it was the Fiestaware palate, which made it much easier to summarize!
I had to stop and think of when my last away weekend was...2004. GK and her kids, Kat and BC's kids and I all caravaned over to Tampa and stayed at a motel there while visiting Dr Bizarre (Dr B, BC and GK are siblings). Both mornings we were there, I got up before everyone else, went down to the pool for a swim, and worked on my current opus poolside while I dried off. (There will be a never-ending supply of steno pads in the cottage, and an ever-expanding expanse of shelves to contain them all.) Oh, to have that prolific ease of writing again!
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Oh, and I just loved your bit about the gingerbread trim being like Victorian barnacles! That's some delicious (no pun intended), descriptive writing!
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