Over the last few weeks I’ve posted about the beautiful environments I’ve been in, and the hope that being ensconced in those surroundings would inspire me to write more and be more creative.
So, as I come to my last couple of days in Bali, has it panned out that way? Basically, yes. And no.
When I was in Inverloch, I was with my friend. Whilst he would never impinge on my request for writing time, I found it more difficult to focus on my writing with him around. We would talk, go to the beach together, walk the dog together, go to town together. It was more a social type of holiday.
Also, Inverloch was the first two weeks of my four weeks away from work. This meant there was some innate relaxing, decompressing, de-stressing, and unwinding that was desperately needed that did not lend itself to sitting still and writing. These needs were met through gardening, walking, going to the beach and doing odd jobs around the beach house.
The yes part comes is about my time in Bali. Here, I am alone. I still talk to people back home over the internet, and I have met great people here to hang out with, but there are no social expectations. I can go out alone for the day, sit in a beach-side cafe, and write to my hearts content. Which is exactly what I have been doing.
In the time in Bali I have completed some editing on my submission for the Limnisa Short Story Competition; completed a first draft on a travel article for Global Soup Travel Writing Competition; completed half of the first draft of my submission for The Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize ; and sketched the outlines to three more short stories for future development. All in the last 5 days. I’d say that was productive.
Thus my reflections on my productivity seem to show I work more and I am more creative when I am on my own. I guess I just can’t handle distractions!
David McK Writes 