April 26, 2006

Working … the Whistler Way

My office.

Dan Brown does push ups on the hour and hangs upside down between pages. He says shifting his physical perspective seems to help him work out plot glitches. Apparently gravity boots do it for him (And how!). Elizabeth Lowell says she steps outside and breathes in the energy of nature (And look at what she produces — she’s an autobuy for me both as Elizabeth Lowell and Ann Maxwell. I love, love, love her). Other writers walk. Or meditate. Or hit the caffeine.

Running does it for me. Running with music.

I can have a thousand tenous strings – bits of ideas – swimming around in my brain, I can have a bunch of dialogue stuck in a maddening loop, I could have written myself into an impossible plot corner, or I could be plain brain dead (nothing unusual there :)), but if I step away from that computer and take it all out for a run — get the blood pumping to the grey matter, and the mountain air into my lungs — things just seem to sort themselves out.  There’s something to be said about the ‘physical’ side of writing.

So yes. This is my office, and this is work. And I am not complaining

My Path: Along the River of Golden Dreams. Um, yes, it really IS called the River of Golden Dreams That’s Whistler Mountain in the background and at the very top is the Peak Chair — awesome on a good weather day, terrifying on a bad one. And yes, to those who asked, I AM a camera-toting jogger.

My Music: Lady in Red (just kidding, Meretta :)). Sinner Man — by Nina Simone (who has the most stirring voice in the whole wide world)

My Distance: Only 5 kilometres.

Bear Sightings: 0

And now I’m wondering … what does it for others?

1. On April 26th, 2006 at 5:18 am
   Eve Says:
   

   Well, with mother, I can’t just step out whenever I wanted to, and even if I could - with the ozone and such, its not a good idea to jog about in the middle of the day. So I switch brain gears. I either blog or play word games like TextTwist. I’ve figured out many a plot during a bang-up game of Spider Solitaire. I just have to be careful and not get caught up in the game.

   BTW - broke 2 nails!

2. On April 26th, 2006 at 5:19 am
   Eve Says:
   

   BTW - that is absolutely gorgeous.

3. On April 26th, 2006 at 7:56 am
   Meretta Says:
   

   Running doesn’t do it for me. I’m too busy trying to breathe to think of anything else.

   I have a hot bath if I’m stuck. And if things don’t unstick, then at least I’m clean.

   Lovely, lovely mountains you live in, Loreth. But watch out for the bears!

4. On April 26th, 2006 at 7:57 am
   Meretta Says:
   

   And ha ha at the ‘Lady in Red’ comment.

5. On April 26th, 2006 at 10:01 am
   Peggy Says:
   

   That is absolutely stunning! I could live as a hermit if that was my view.

   I walk, mostly at night, alone with my dog. I enjoy the silence and solitude and, of course, the fresh air.

6. On April 26th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
   Toni Anderson Says:
   

   I walk–wherever I can

   What a view!! I’ve been to the top of that mountain (Hmmm… assuming it is the one the chairlift goes up?) A day trip once. Lovely place Loreth

   Have fun–watch out for those bears and cats!

7. On April 26th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
   Toni Anderson Says:
   

   PS. LOVE Elizabeth Lowell, but for some reason I haven’t read her as Anne Maxwell ??? Not sure why.

8. On April 26th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   Toni, I have a hunch you may like her even more as Ann Maxwell. I have SHADOW AND SILK on my keeper shelf

9. On April 26th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
   Loreth Says:
   

   They opened the Peak to summer trips only last season, I believe. It’s a rather “breathtaking” chair ride up a cliff face, and it looks all the steeper without snow. The chair dumps you right at the edge of the cliff :). But wow, is the view ever worth it. Check it out<

10. On April 26th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
    Loreth Says:
    

    Um .. I still appear to hyperlink challenged …

11. On April 26th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
    Toni Anderson Says:
    

    OK–not sure where I went, but it sure were purdy

12. On April 26th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
    Ranurgis Says:
    

    Since I recognized your name on someone else’s blog, I decided to come and see you. You do have an awesome view. How I envy you. Actually, my friends’ daughter was doing her college co-op there for 3 weeks, all the way from London, ON. When she’s finished her exams sometime this week or early next, she’ll be headed back. She’ll be doing group programs for children while their parents enjoy other things in and around Whistler.

    I’m not a writer and still haven’t figured out what to get me going in the morning. I’ve always been a night owl. I know I have at least one of your books but don’t ask where; since I moved last November everything is in a shambles–unless it’s been consumed by the rats. Maybe both.

13. On April 26th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
    Loreth Says:
    

    Ranurgis, thank you for stopping by. Whistler is a small town — I may well run into your friend’s daughter this summer. She’s probably around the same age as my own

    LOl @ the rats!!

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