Part 1, Part 2

A writer vacation renews your creativity

You have been working day and night trying to get your writing career going. To retain your love of writing, take a well-deserved writer vacation to make sure you don't burn out and end up hating your decision to write full or part-time.

Are you worried you can't spare the time to go away? Read part 1 of this series on writer vacations. Are you trying to decide what kind of get-away to pursue? Read part 2.

Now that you have decided to take a writer vacation, here is how to prepare to get the most out of your time away.

How long should your writer vacation last?

Ten years ago pundits said that the ideal length of a vacation is fourteen days. Conventional wisdom said people need a week to calm down enough to start recuperating from the stress of being an entrepreneur. Recently though, experts began to believe that eight days was the ideal length of time to go away. This change is probably due to the amount of time it takes to catch up when you have been away from the office, rather than the time it takes to recover from the stress. If you have the luxury of a two-week writer vacation, I recommend taking it. I find it to be the ideal time for me. However, if you haven't gotten away in years and the idea of being gone for fourteen days makes you anxious, take eight days and see how you feel. You can always try a fourteen-day vacation the next time. Experiment and find the amount of time away that works best for you.

Should I write while on a writer vacation?

Some authors get stressed out when they are not writing every day. Some are philosophically committed to writing daily. I write daily when at home, but when I'm on vacation, I read rather than write.

The idea of a vacation is to get away from the stress of daily life, but we are writers. Our profession isn't like others. Not all of us need to get away from writing. It is the repetition of our schedule that leaves us drained. Some authors recharge by going to a new place and writing! However, if you are on a writer vacation, you might try writing something new. Instead of romance novels, try writing poetry or short fiction rather than working on a book. Alternatively, work on a short story. The point is to use the time to relax by trying new activities. If you can't rest without writing each day, then sit down and type away and enjoy yourself!

Learn how to meet your writing deadlines and have time for your writer vacation.

When you go on a writer vacation to get away, go away!

Use your writer vacation to expand your creativity. Get inspired by nature, or acquire a new skill, or expose yourself to a new culture.

Read.

Some entrepreneurs gather books they want to read all year long, then take them with them when on their writer vacation. They go to a quiet spot, usually surrounded by magnificent views and read a book. When they return home, they come back with new ideas and new perspectives.

Creativity demands being exposed and confronted by new experiences that challenge your existing views. Reading does this.

Why not just read at home? When you sit down with a book at home, you still have to deal with all the mundane tasks of keeping up an apartment or house. You have to look at those bills that come in. You end up getting interrupted by calls. Going away lets you put people on notice you will not be as available. People tend to respect vacation time. Reading in a new environment opens your mind to new ideas.

Physically challenge yourself.

Learn a new skill. Some people take cooking classes when they travel. You meet new experts and locals as well as other tourists. Be observant, and you will add plenty of characters you can use in future novels.

Gain knowledge to use in future stories.

If you are vacationing abroad, take a language course while you are in a foreign locale. You can never truly understand people until you speak their language. Every language has a distinct way of describing the world. Gain insight into the words used to describe the world, and you learn what is unique about a culture. You can never truly understand people until you speak their language. Every language has a distinct way of describing the world. Gain insight into the words used to describe the world, and you learn what is unique about a culture.

Start your exercise habit while on your vacation.

Protecting your health is one of the best things you can do for your writing career. When we are sick, we lose writing time. Use your time away from your writing desk to begin the habit of walking 5000 steps a day.

• EXERCISE TIP: Did you know you can work on your steps walking or jogging-in-place while watching TV? Start your exercise habit while on vacation and it is easier to maintain it while at home. Are you watching TV at the end of the day? Walk in place and meet that goal. 5000 steps too much? Start with 1000. You will be surprised at how easy it is to do a 1000 steps. Build up to 5000 and then to 1000 steps. If you walk-in-place, you won't have any excuse not to exercise!

Writer vacations are fun, and they are a necessity.

Everyone benefits from changing the routine from time to time. If you use your time away from your writing office to pick up new skills, investigate new environments or learn about new cultures, and you grow as a writer.