I don’t care if it’s not PC, as
it were, but I’ve decided I like having my laptop with me on vacation.
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| Cloudy horizons at Mumbles |
In the past, I just used to pack
an A4 pad, some printouts and a pen, and hoped for the best. However, I never
did anything useful, I’m afraid to say.
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| Norwegian Church on a bright Cardiff afternoon |
This year, I’ve been parcelling
up the old Acer and recharger and shoving them in my hand luggage. Then off I
go. It’s not been obsessive and I haven’t been tempted to do hours and hours a
day, but just a bit of dabbling. I have say, it’s been great.
Here’s why:
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| Breakers on Rhossili Beach |
- I don’t lose the thread of whatever I’m working on.
- I hate typing on a tablet.
- It keeps me sane during inevitable delays at airports, stations, ferries, car hire desks etc.
- I feel liberated to tackle those knotty plot problems because
I’m not distracted by the usual domestic nonsense.
- I don’t fret about the weather, for I can always edit a quick
chapter while waiting the sun to come out. Especially useful in Wales, as you can see.
- Taking the laptop means I have all my notes, background
details and so forth, so I can keep the text consistent.
- By the same token, if I get stuck on one manuscript, I have
the wherewithal to dabble in another.
- Any work I achieve is a bonus.
- It’s much more environmentally-friendly than printing out
masses of pages.
- Writing is fun for me, so why deny myself the pleasure?
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| Leafy bower in a shower on the Gower |
So, it might not be for you, but
it works for me. And since you ask, I'm now officially halfway through Machiavelli's Acolyte and raring to go to finish it soon.
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