When it's time for Time Out

Writers find it difficult to switch off from their latest novel sometimes. They are either thinking up new stories, thinking about how to write them, thinking about their first/second/ gazillion(th) draft, thinking about edits, thinking about manuscript submissions, thinking about their failings, thinking about their successes, thinking about promotion, thinking about the next story.... well you get the picture. So it is always a good idea to cleanse the brain and do something completely different.

I joined InTune Choir just before lockdown and, despite covid restrictions, I am still a member! Research shows that singing can relieve stress, boost the immune system and may improve snoring and lung function. It is also believed to improve memory, mental health and develop social connection. All these benefits help make it the perfect hobby to not think about writing. The video below is the InTune Choir at the Minack Theatre in 2016. I am delighted to say that we will be appearing at the Minack Theatre again on 7th May, 2022. Money raised will go to the Cornwall Air Ambulance.

So let's see what hobbies or guilty pleasures other writers have to take their minds off story telling. First up is award winning short story and flash fiction writer, Rae Cowie.

"Remember when most folks bought an actual daily newspaper, with pages that rustle? Then 24-hour rolling news stations popped up and articles became available for free online – and newspaper sales slumped. But, for me, nothing beats sitting with a cup of tea, flicking through the daily news.

Here in north-east Scotland, we have the Press and Journal (also known as the P & J), which is full of local and human-interest stories, perfect when I’m stuck for inspiration. I rip out articles and headlines that grab my attention and stick them in a ring binder, waiting for the day when I’ll riffle through them and invariably notice themes – protection of wildcats, plastic in the ocean, foodie stories etc.

But I’m not the only fan of the P & J, it is also enjoyed by royalty, delivered to Balmoral Castle when the Queen arrives for her summer break."

Press and Journal logo

Mairibeth MacMillan, author of the Brothers of Thunder, an historical Viking romance series, prefers her 'time out' to be outdoors.

"During the last few years, I’ve taken up wild-swimming. Now that I have the basic gear, it’s essentially free as I live near a sea-loch and can simply wander down to the beach. The water is baltic (as we say here on the west coast of Scotland), I rarely swim unless covered neck-to-toe in black neoprene and the sun rarely shines, but swimming outdoors with no restrictions is both a physical and spiritual experience. For a while, all my cares and worries wash away and I feel that if I could just swim far enough, I’d reach another world!

Mairibeth at her local sea-loch

Jenni Keer, who has several successful commercial fiction novels under her belt, prefers to burn extra calories with friends to music.

"I’ve been attending a dance class for the last twelve years, which not only combats the writer’s bottom but is also is an invaluable headspace for me. (Sometimes it’s hard to switch off from your WIP when you’re an author.) We have a gold level formation disco team and I’ve achieved bronze in my freestyle solo. The ladies I dance with are some of my closest friends and biggest supporters."

Our dance class was 
recently visited by a Morris dancer!

John Jackson, author of historical romances based on his ancestors, prefers indulging in something that embraces all the senses.

"For me, its food! That includes, of course, the activities that go WITH food; i.e. cooking, eating and drinking!

I do almost all the cooking at home now, and I cook a lot of food from all over Asia. Friday night is Thali night in our house. The objects on the thali could be anywhere from the Pacific through South East Asia to the Indian subcontinent and beyond. So many recipes, so little time!

Or, as Lionel Bart put it in Oliver! “Food, Glorious Food! There’s nothing quite like it!”"

It's been great fun learning about how my writing friends take their minds off writing. I hope it inspires you to take some time out to recharge your batteries and 'cleanse the mind'!  If you already have a method, do let us know in the comments, we would love to hear about it!

THE GUILTY PLEASURES OF A CREATIVE MIND by Victoria Cornwall

"Why do you watch this?" asked my husband. "They don't live in the real world. All they do is argue."

This is not the first time my husband has caught me watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I watched him do a U turn out of the room, leaving me to indulge in the American reality show. Despite his protest, he knows to leave me to it. Compromise is the secret to our 31 year old marriage and it is a valuable lesson we have both learnt over the years. However, he had a point. Why do I enjoy watching mega rich, beautiful women, falling out all the time? It is a waste of my precious time and it teaches me nothing ... yet I am hooked.

I know why. While I am watching the Housewives of Wherever Land betraying each other, I am escaping the stresses of the day job, my edits and my attempts to fill in the plot holes of my current project. I am having a rest from the promotional wheel and from worrying about the numerous conflicts in the world. I am not proud of my choice in television programs, but it is a guilty pleasure I enjoy.

A guilty pleasure is something that one enjoys despite feeling that it is not generally held in high regard. Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), says "Indulging in some of your guilty pleasures can add years to your life. Whether it’s a “mental health day” off from work, a long bubble bath, nap, massage, chocolate croissant, or serving of tiramisu, treating yourself can bestow numerous health benefits -- especially if you strip away the guilt."

I sometimes think women's lives are ruled by guilt, either trying to avoid it or experiencing it. However, take heart as indulging in your guilty pleasure is thought to be beneficial and something to be encouraged. It allows one to take time out and put distance between oneself and the demands of the day. It helps to recharge those batteries and spreads a feeling of well-being without being too taxing. It might just be what you need to motivate or kick start that creative gene inside you.

So my advice is to give yourself permission to indulge in something that may not appear to have a direct benefit to your day job, or your chores, or your latest creative project, because in the long term it may just have more benefits than you can foresee.

I asked some fellow authors what their guilty pleasures were. I banned chocolate as I had a sneaking suspicion that 95% would choose the coco bean confectionery, besides I had a feeling there were more interesting guilty pleasures lurking in their lives. Below is what they confessed:-


Jennifer Bohnet Looking at expensive houses on the internet - that I can't possibly afford.
Jennifer Young A glass or two of red wine -- in bed -- with a good book, when my husband is away.
Gill Steward Lying on the bed for half an hour after lunch, reading.
Linda Michelmore Expensive lingerie
Rae Cowie Watching Gogglebox while eating Doritos
Morton S.Gray Shower Gels - I love to have a selection and get lots of my book ideas in the shower!
Janet Gover Say Yes to The Dress
Clare Chase Indulging in Youtube spirals (ie top of the pops The story of 1981...)
Chris Stovell Spotify Listenathons (music)
Sheryl Browne Binge watching Kiefer Sutherland and Game of Thrones ... and eating cupcakes.
Kathryn Freeman TV series Arrow on Sky 1
Angela Britnell Say Yes to the Dress
Georgia Hill Doctors on the TV and The Archers and standing in front of the bathroom mirror, holding a shampoo bottle and giving my Oscar acceptance speech
Lisa Hill Doc Martin
Bernie Stevens Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Lynda Stacey Watching the Gilmour Girls
Henriette Gyland Strong liquorice
Jan Brigden Made in Chelsea/Real Housewives of Cheshire and searching out and singing along to old skool/cheesy tunes via YouTube
Kirsty Ferry Celebrity gossip magazines
Christina Courtenay Reading until the early hours of the morning and Thor movies as often as I can
Rhoda Baxter Lego Friends sets
Anne Marie Brear American TV show, The Amazing Race
Amanda James Playing phone app games (songpop, words with friends, begewelled, blitz and cookie jam on Facebook
Jane Cable Shoulder massages
Liz Fenwick Playing Solitaire on my phone

Thank you to all those who were brave enough (and had the sense of humour), to share their guilty pleasures with us. Our guilty pleasures may vary, but at least we are all united in the idea that it is okay to take time out and do something which appears useless, but may have long term health and creative benefits ... or at least that is my excuse and I am sticking to it!

As I climbed the stairs to go to bed, I listened to my husband flicking through the channels.

He stopped and settled himself deeper into the sofa cushions and started  to laugh quietly to himself. Curious, I retraced my steps to see what he was watching. It was Family Guy. Hhhmmm, a family that does not live in the real world and fall out all the time. Perhaps our guilty pleasures are not so very different after all!

Victoria Cornwall

Author of The Thief's Daughter