Leaving On A Jet Plane

Is 'traveling' the same as 'a holiday'? For me, travel conjures up images of moving from place to place, being out most days looking at sites and having new experiences. A holiday is going to a destination and staying put. No housework. No responsibilities. Just relaxing. And writing. Yes,  a perfect holiday would be going somewhere that has no daily distractions and interruptions, but has a beautiful view, wi-fi and few hours a day to sit and write, and evenings to chill out with my man.

I recently accompanied him to Fiji where he was working. With no car, so no means of going anywhere interesting, no TV and no company during the day I had little option for keeping myself occupied other than writing. And I wrote more than I ever had in the same time-frame at home. With my laptop on the balcony, a view of Suva harbour and a beautiful cool breeze, I'd write in 100 words sprints from mid-morning to mid-afternoon and my ever-increasing word count spurred me on even more. I felt so productive and motivated.

I'm currently in the midst of writing/editing two contributions to upcoming box sets and as I sat in my office, stared at the screen, then got up and put on a load of washing, or ducked out to the shops, or binged on a TV series I joked about how we need to go back to Fiji so I can get the words done. But he's headed off to PNG (Papua New Guinea) which isn't a particularly safe place so I'm still at my desk at home, daydreaming about locations where I'd be inspired to happily set up my laptop and pump out the words.

BALI - I spent some family time here  a while back and love the place. This villa at Jimbaran was away from the main tourist areas and was tranquil and relaxing.

Sitting on one of those sun lounges again, or on the plump sofa in the living area, with all that greenery, the sparkle of the pool and the quiet of the surroundings would not only be conducive to gluing my bum to the seat and writing, but there is nothing to distract me - well apart from ordering some delicious nasi goreng or slipping into the cool water, but there's only so much time you can spend in the pool!

SANTORINI - One of those deck chairs has my name on it. Looking out to Mediterranean Sea, on the terrace of one of the iconic white buildings on this beautiful Greek island, who could not be inspired to create a story about love? I would have to take some time off from writing to indulge in one of my other passions - photography - but if this was my writing spot for a week or so, the words would flow and a glass of crisp white at the end of the day would be my reward.

ENGLISH CANALS - I adore the English countryside. All that green is so beautiful and restful, but in a car on those narrow English roads and lanes you can't just stop and take in the scenery, or take photos. But on a barge (especially if someone else is driving) I could kick back on a comfy bed with my laptop as fields and villages drift by. No shops to tempt me away from my writing, no cafes or restaurants unless we tie up somewhere. Just the ripple of the water as we float leisurely along the network of canals. I could finish my English historical!

LAKE COMO - With my laptop (and camera) in hand, hopefully I can find a somewhere to sit and write with this fabulous Italian view. Maybe on a luxury water limousine, or just a spot on a grassy lake-side bank. It wouldn't even matter if it was cloudy like this, just being in this imposing landscape is inspiring in itself. I can guarantee that housework or gardening wouldn't be tempting me away from my writing.

Looking at all these fantasy holidays, I'm not surprised they're all water locations. Despite being someone who doesn't swim well and is a bit terrified of deep water, I'm still somehow drawn to it. Any sort of water. A pool, the ocean, a river, a lake. A luxury bath! The look of it, the feel of it (as long as it's not icy cold), the sound of it whether it's just gentle lapping or waves crashing

My affinity with water has finally translated to a story. The heroine from my current WIP is a Selkie, a seal shapeshifter from Celtic mythology. I wanted her hero to be a surfer and I was so excited to find that there are in fact Surf beaches in Ireland - there's even a music and surf festival in Bundoran which is the vague setting for my story. I know if I could be here to write, I wouldn't be procrastinating and finding the thought of washing floors so enticing.

Surf at Bundoran Beach (from discoverbundoran.com)

Find out more about Andra at www.andraashe.com