Getting Some Distance

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen. -- Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Italian artist, writer, inventor, and philosopher

This is what I'm doing today. Well, sort of. I'm actually taking the work with me, but the change in atmosphere will give me a fresh perspective.

AAU tournaments, like club volleyball, usually involve playing several games in one day. Today we have three, the first being just before noon and the last two not until late this afternoon and evening. Obviously I will have some time to kill. For this I must prepare, take things that will make efficient use of my time, not allow me to get bored, and not afford me the opportunity to spend money. There's a Borders bookstore within walking distance of Memorial Gym at Vanderbilt. Danger, Will Robinson! Can you imagine the temptation, a writer in a bookstore? Somebody hide my American Express card. Maybe I should leave home without it, after all.

So I have my checklist:
BOOK TO READ - check
BOOK NOTES TO PONDER - check
NEXT 10 PAGES OF WIP TO EDIT - check
PENS - check

If I were a gambler, I'd bet The Tall One will be bringing a book to read. She's just started We'll Always Have Parrots, which I gave her after I'd finished it. The difference between us is that she reads about as fast as she can get down the court, which for a kid 6'4" is pretty fast. Maybe she should have another book to take just in case she finishes this one before the day is over, which is likely.

Read a book. Or two, depending on whether you read as fast as my child.

=) JB