This week I am in Hawai’i and the trip is transforming Oahu back into a vacation spot for me and not the hustle and grind of real life.
I know that sounds strange, but it’s true.
I used to listen skeptically when Hawai’i residents said life was “just real life” in Hawai’i, but with a better backdrop. How could that possibly be? Hawai’i to me was always magical. From that first breeze walking off the plane’s jetway to the colorful sunsets and everything in between.
Real life? Pish.
But it was true. Real life happens in paradise.
It’s been 11 months and 9 days since we moved away from Hawai’i and back to New Orleans. That’s 11 months of real life in another tourist destination city. Almost a year of different tropical climates.
I still have my Hawaiian ID. I really need to change it.
This week, my daughters have been busy boating, swimming, and laughing with friends. I have too.
My 85-year-old friend I met here, who we rented our boat dock from, made us pancit and mochi this week. I saw my friend Danielle (her husband was the prop master on NCIS Hawai’i) and her new art studio where she features 60 local artists. Danielle is an Emmy-nominated Hollywood makeup artist who now creates gorgeous Illuminated Art.
I visited NCIS Hawai’i cast friends Jason and Seana and their dog, Quinn. I met my friend Malia at a new restaurant called Earl’s, where we laughed about our daughters’ friendship and how it feels exactly the same after almost a year away.
I enjoyed pizza with five other Mid-Pacific mamas at J. Dolan’s, where we talked about life after graduation, how our kids were doing in college off-island, and how we’re doing too.
Fellow New Orleanian turned Hawai’i resident Sherman and I met for coffee at my favorite coffee place in the world, The Curb. My husband and Sherm have worked on numerous productions over the years together.
During all these fun reunions, I thought about how blessed I am. Whether or not I live here, I have these amazing people in my life. And Hawai’i, which used to be only a tropical paradise, is now something even more meaningful. It’s a place where so many friends I care about call home. I guess I have my own version of Ohana here.
Of course I had to write about it. The way I am using my time here this week has nothing to do with day-to-day life like when I resided here. My hotel doesn’t even have a laundry facility. Therefore, I’m on vacation mode but I am also nearing the end of my Q2 writing goal by finishing my nonfiction micro book as well as the final days of Jami Attenberg’s 1000 Words of Summer.
It made me think:
How do you write on vacation?
Here are 10 ideas I like to do.
1. Write on the Plane
Something magical happens when you’re 35,000 feet in the air. There are fewer distractions, limited Wi-Fi, and nowhere else to be. I like to say I’m prolific on planes. I journal, work on my writing projects and finish books that I want to read.
Use the travel time to your advantage.
2. Morning Pages About the Day Ahead
Before the adventures begin for the day, write a page or two about what you hope to experience that day.
What are you excited about?
What are you noticing?
Who do you want to remember? (People watching is the absolute best on vacation and can be turned into character research.)
Personally, I like to write my morning pages outside while squinting in the sun.
3. Collect Observations
Pay attention to the room you’re staying in. The sounds outside your window. The flowers. The people. The weather.
Vacation is a goldmine for sensory details.
The other night my older daughter hosted a game night in our hotel room so I brought my writing down to the lobby. I decided to list everything in the lobby because the decor is so beautiful. One of my future characters will definitely have a living room that feels like this.
4. Write Postcards Home
There’s something about a handwritten postcard that feels like a small act of love.
When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I mailed her a postcard daily from Hawai’i with a healing Bible verse on it. We filled three postcard photo albums with them. She loved the pictures and seeing my handwriting. She said the combination comforted her.
When she passed away, her housekeeper asked me if she could keep the books. I was touched. She said that my mom used to read the postcards to her as they arrived and they would have a Bible study.
Truly, I can’t believe those postcards live on.
5. Journal at the End of the Day
“What day is it?”
It can’t only be me who loses track of time right? A few times this week I grabbed my journal at the end of the day and jotted down what I did, who I saw and what I ate. I talked about how weird it is to be on vacation while my husband is working in Park City. I reminded myself of how my feet feel as they get buried in the sand when I stand in the shoreline and the waves race by me. I always want that perfect wave photo with an equal ratio of whitewash, aqua water and cerulean sky. I have not achieved that yet on this trip but I don’t mind trying again today.
6. Toes in the Sand, Notebook in Hand
Leave the phone behind. Sit by the ocean, a lake, a mountain, or wherever you’ve traveled. Set your feet on the earth.
Just write.
7. Imagine Living There
What would your life look like if you moved there permanently?
Where would you work?
Who would your friends be?
What would Tuesday afternoon look like?
It’s a fun exercise that often reveals what you’re really craving at home.
8. Find a Local Coffee Shop
Every city has writers. Find where they gather. Order a coffee or tea and write for an hour.
You’ll feel like a local instead of a tourist.
9. Visit a Local Bookstore
Browse the shelves and see what local authors are writing about.
Notice the stories that emerge from that particular place.
Inspiration is everywhere.
10. Write About the “Vacation” Feeling
This may be the most important one. What is it about vacation that feels so good? Is it the freedom? Sleeping in? Connecting to nature? The adventure of something new? Spending time with loved ones?
Write about the feeling you want to carry home with you because maybe the goal isn’t recreating the vacation but the feeling on vacation.
With more time on my hands to get my steps in, I got the opportunity to listen to some fantastic podcast episodes over the week like this one featuring David Baldacci.
On the plane, I finished Saltwater by Katy Hays. So good! Her writing is an inspiration.
And somewhere between the ocean, old friends, coffee shops, and words on a page, Hawai’i stopped just being the place I used to live. It became paradise again and not because of the perfect views but because of the people, the writing and the feeling of returning to myself.
That’s the best kind of writing prompt there is.
Today is the last day of the 1000 Words of Summer challenge. I hit my goal of 1000 words per day and many more on some days. I learned so much from this challenge and committing to a number that is easier than I thought it would be and actually moves the needle forward. If I could write 1000 words a day for a full quarter my novel would be done. (I have 28,000 words so far). My micro book is close to being done thanks to my long airplane flights from New Orleans to Oahu. I also reconnected with a former writing project which will become my Q3 focus.
What are you working on? Join me on Fridays to Write. It’s 3:00 a.m. in Hawai’i right now but I am online with fellow writers because the energy you get from writing together is real.
WEEK 11 BOOK WRITING UPDATE
What’s working: Very long flights and dictation. Same as last week.
What got done: Rewriting the introductions to all my chapters.
What felt hard: I was having too much fun with 1000 Words of Summer and fiction writing that I had to refocus on my nonfiction writing.
What surprised me: How quickly 1000 words add up when you focus on that writing goal daily.
6/19: Finish all chapters
6/26: Read through entire first draft revising daily
6/30: Compile first draft into one document
Still on target to talk to my publisher on 7/1, Jessica DeBry about next steps. My goal is to publish in Q4!
"Maybe the goal isn't recreating the vacation but the feeling on vacation" - that's the whole thing right there! I hold on to those feelings for a long time after I've been on holiday.