I was on a writer retreat with my bestie, Liz Flaherty a couple of weeks ago. It was fabulous. We wrote, we drank wine, we ate chocolate, we talked, we processed her book and mine. Our retreats are always as Liz puts it,
“… harbors, as in they are places of refuge and safety, places for gathering, resting, and repairing. They are narrow and small and contained and when we are finished in them, we are ready and happy to return to the open sea of our everyday lives, both our writing ones and our real ones.”
Isn’t that gorgeous? And so very true.
We talked about the little pieces of ideas that wander through our writer minds—snippets of conversations, words, things we notice that perhaps no one else notices. We share ideas about settings, even as minute as the furnishings in a specific house in a setting. That got me thinking about where my random ideas rest in my imagination—on a chintz chair, I think. Faded old flowered fabric on a huge overstuffed chair sitting in a sunny spot under the eaves. Maybe there’s an ottoman, but it doesn’t have to match because honestly, my decorating style, like my writing style, is as random as my ideas. So why would I imagine something that matches?
Everyone has word pictures in their minds—and often it takes just seeing a pair of fancy cowboy boots in a store in West Yellowstone, Montana, or a rusty pump on a ranch in Virginia City for a story to start to happen.
The what-ifs are the things that writers and readers store away in the chintz chairs in their imaginations, and they are as myriad and varied as readers and writers themselves.
So, here’s a list of just a few of the random pieces of ideas, thoughts, and word pictures from my chintz chair:
- She exuded grace and intelligence
- A streaky sunset
- A child mute and blinking in terror
- He let go of my hand and suddenly I was untethered and adrift in my own thoughts.
- Rumpled (Isn’t that a great word?)
- A train stops at a small snow-covered station
- What if I look in the mirror and someone else stares back.
- He crooked his finger in a come-hither gesture (Okay, I’ve used that one in more than one book, but it’s still on the table because it’s such a wonderfully sexy word picture.)
- Earthy and raw
- Coffee that tasted like morning . . . or was it the other way around?
Doesn’t that cozy chintz chair up there make you want to curl up and read or nap? Share a way that you find the cozy and comfy when you need it. There’s an e-book copy of Forever Cowboy waiting for one lucky commenter.
Until next time…
A crackling fire and a big easy chair
Oooh… nice!
I’m in a pretty log cabin bedroom, propped up in a cozy bed, pillows at my back, a comfy handmade quilt surrounding me, snow gently falling outside the large window, a fascinating novel in my hands, and cup of hot tea or coffee within reach.
I want to be at your house! That sounds perfect!
I have a favorite sweatshirt I like to put on when I need to feel comforted. It is almost 25 years old, worn out and practically falling apart. It was my husband’s, a coaching sweatshirt from our early days of marriage. I originally took it to wear to his games, but then wore it because with toddlers I could no longer attend. It became my go to when I missed him, or wasn’t feeling well. Each time I wear it- it’s like a hug.
Oh, Danielle, I love that! My husband has an old barn coat that belonged to his best friend, who passed away several years ago. He calls the coat “my Richie hug,” and says he feels Rich close when he puts it on. I have a sweater that was my sister’s who passed away in 2014–it’s full of holes, but it’s become my writing sweater. I wear it every day when I sit down to write. I’m sorta afraid to wash it because it’s full of holes. What if it finally falls apart?
I have a blanket that was my grandmother’s. When I need a “hug”, I just wrap up in it. It feels like she is right there.
What’s better than a hug from your grandmother? How lovely, Ann!
Early morning walks is my way to find comfort.
That’s a great way to find comfort–crisp morning air can be such a comfort.
Welcome today and thanks for sharing your post. I love those cowgirl boots. Oh but that chair looks so comfy and fun. Early morning is my time for quiet time with the Lord and the Bible. I have a recliner that I love to sit in when mornings are cool. During warmer weather I love to sit outside on our swing and enjoy nature as it wakes up.
That sounds lovely, Lori. Early morning is my time to write. I put on my writing sweater and let the words flow. Sometimes if I’m at our lake cottage, I can watch the sun rise over the bay…it’s very comforting.
I have a blanket and some books I read over and over again.
Oh, Debra, don’t you love comfort reads? I have several that I reread when I need the familiar and comfortable!
Well, I have major depression so I’m on medication and see a therapist.
With that said, I enjoy reading so I can “be someone else” for a period of time and then return to “reality”. I read/listen to many different genres and authoes so I don’t get bored and can be so many people. I’m trying to get more audiobooks because my vision is failing and it’s easier for me and really brings the books to life with a narrator.
Carrie, I’m very glad you’re getting good help, and yes, escaping into a story is a grand way to cope. I do it all the time, both as an author and a reader. Hugs to you.
I have a horse quilt I curl up with!
Hey, Teresa, horse anything and I’m all in! Got a pic of that quilt? Love to see it!
Love that chintz chair.
A havre de grace is special. There’s a town in my county with that name , and it’s so important, historically.
I love that! Haven of Grace. We need more of those, Denise! Hugs!
Havre de Grace. Means Harbor of Grace. a la Lafayette.
I do like the looks of the chair.
Isn’t that grand? I may have to break down and find one as close to it as I can…
looks comfy
Doesn’t it? 🙂
I have kitchen chairs that are stuffed on wheels that will lean back just a little. I sit in one and put my feet in another one- that’s my comfy spot.
Oooh, nice! My kitchen chairs are pub height and wooden… sigh…
My recliner with a throw blanket over my legs is my comfy place to read.
We have a reclining sofa and we love that we can still hold hands over the little fold-down table while we both recline. It’s the little things, isn’t it?
I have a wooden rocking chair that sits in a corner between two big picture windows. It is my place to read or just look out the windows with a cup of tea. There is usually a quilt or afghan to wrap up in too.
Alice, how lovely! I love to rock. We have Husband’s grandmother’s rocking chair. The one she rocked his dad in when he was a babe. We’ve now rocked four generations in that chair. It will go to Son and then Grandboy… and we will rock on!
I curl up in bed with a book (I always leave reviews on Bookbub and Amazon for every book I finish to thank authors
I read every night in bed–it’s how I wind down from the day. Let me tell you, authors appreciate reviews so very much! Thank you for doing that!!
It’s amazing (and sometimes frustrating) how our minds drift from one thing to the next, and we have no idea how we started thinking about Jello 5 minutes ago yet now we’ve thought of two dozen other things and end up with, “Now where did I put my phone?” and it’s right there in your hand. Oh yeah, a grand day of life!
Absolutely love your words and thoughts. When I come up with some phrase that about knocks me over because it’s so good, I tell myself it’s so good, surely I’ll remember it until I can write it down…Nevermind how many times I forget before I get my hands on paper! LOL!
I get inspired by everything, and never know what or when it will trip my trigger. There’s no particular place, but it’s always better when it’s quiet.
I think you’ve been living inside my head, Lynne… and yes, quiet always seems to help. Hugs!
Since I was a child I have loved to curl up in a car, parked in the sunshine and read. I guess when I was growing up our house did not have central heat, only a gas space heater in a central room. So there were usually cold spots throughout the house. After lunch, especially on Sunday I would go out and get in the car where it was nice and warm. I still like to do that on occasion though we have a nice warm house now. lol
I totally get the nice warm car thing but mine comes from waiting for the kid after extracurriculars–marching band, etc. and reading while I waited. I always have a book, well, now, my kindle. And there’s something just a little marvelous about sneaking away to the car to read…
What wonderful pieces of ideas. I can see in my mind where some of them could lead.
When I was much younger, our family owned a camp on a small mountain lake in Northern N.Y. When I just needed to relax or think, I would go out and sit on the dock. Just feeling the breeze, listening to the birds and insects (and occasionally frogs), and feeling the peace and stillness. One morning when the mist was on the water, it was so quiet and still, I could just imagine a Brontosaurus emerging from the mist. It was such a wonderful place, I wish I still had such a place to go. With life as chaotic as it is, people do need that cozy chintz chair to recharge and dream. When I do get a chance, which hasn’t happened much lately, I sit on our porch. We live in the country, so it is relatively quiet with the sound of birds and the wind in the trees. On hot summer days, there is always a nice cool breeze. I do believe I need to take advantage of the few warmish days we have left to sit out there and find some peace and think some good thoughts.
Oh porch dreams are so lovely, Patricia. I’m glad you have that space to escape to. Our dock at our lake cottage is communal, so weekends aren’t very peaceful, but weekdays, we love to go down and open up our boat and just sit on it together, have a drink and enjoy the bay.
This time of the year, when we are still having some warm days in N.C., I like to sit in my rocker on the front porch with the sun at my back, something to drink by my side, reading a good book.
Nan, such a lovely post. How nice that you and Liz could get together for a little retreat. Those really recharge our batteries. When I’m missing family who’ve passed over and need comfort, I cook foods that I grew up. Beans and potatoes, cornbread, biscuits and gravy. I’m so happy you’re a Filly!
Like everyone else, I like the chair. 🙂 I just come to my office. Even in its messiness, I am happy here, and comfortable always. Retreat was glorious, wasn’t it?