A couple of weeks ago, I packed my bags and headed out of town. No hubby or kids. No girlfriends. No fellow authors. Just me, my computer, and my characters for 4 days. Like a writing retreat, but solo.

At first, it always feels a little weird. But I’ve spent so many years writing out by myself or with author Ella Sheridan than I’m used to it. To feel the complete silence of the hotel room, and know that I wouldn’t be interrupted was a relief. I’ve been pushing pretty hard over the past year, through working with kids in the room, scribbling notes at the day job, pushing through to write in short periods of time where its hard to immerse myself in my characters. Yeah, relief was an understatement.

I took Nate and Sara’s novella with me. My goal was to finish it, which I didn’t. But I made really good progress. Even more important, I was able to sink into the characters and reacquaint myself with them. Spend time thinking about what they would do and say, without the pressure to finish before someone needed something.

I think this is a great way to refill our creative well. I talk often about “refilling the well” in terms of renewing our energy, etc., but this is about the creative part of our lives. It reminded me to find ways to reconnect with this part of my life also, which will improve my writing, and also my enjoyment of my writing. That was a happy thing!

Another happy thing is going on today! I’m sharing on 2 other blogs and I hope you will join me. I’m over with the Nice Girls talking about, guess what, refilling the well.  🙂 And my latest hero, Jacob Blackstone (The Blackstone Heir), is being featured on the USA Today Happily Ever After blog with some other chivalrous heroes.

What’s your happy thing today?

Dani