Three Cities, No Pages, and Exactly What I Needed

A trip through the Cotswolds, Paris, and London that reminded me creative rest is part of the work

Tonight is my last in London, and it’s the first time I’ve written anything on this trip. 😅 I brought three notebooks, intending to fill them and maybe even start working on the manuscript of a new book. That didn’t happen. Instead, I read, enjoyed the cities, and spent time with my family. (It was great! And, in hindsight, exactly what I needed!)

Cotswolds

As a nature lover and Wisconsinite, it's no surprise that I love farms! So, of course I’m a big fan of Clarkson’s Farm. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend checking the show out. Jeremy Clarkson is hilarious.

One of the main activities we wanted to do on the trip was go on a Clarkson’s Farm tour, which included seeing Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Hawkstone Brewery, and The Farmer’s Dog. I had the best burger and fries, possibly my favorite meal of the trip.

With a little thinking juice 🍺 and a brain wave, anything can happen.

Paris

I’m not going to lie—I was nervous visiting Paris. The first time I went there, over 12 years ago, I didn’t have the best experience. However, this time around, Paris was lovely. The weather was fabulous, and I enjoyed the Louvre and Versailles. I loved the city’s art and beauty, and this time I truly appreciated its magic.

London

I love London. It’s a very clean city, and the museums are free, which is so cool. The last time I was in London, over ten years ago, I had less than 100 pounds to get me through the week after losing my credit card. I managed to survive on that.

I was very excited to visit the city again with a credit card. This time around, my favorite part was visiting bookstores and imagining my book in them one day. Plus, it didn’t rain once on the trip!

Conclusion

I need to be in my body to write so I can connect to Source.

Because of the time change, my brain was scrambled, and it took about a week to adjust. I always forget how long it takes to get out of the fog. That, along with long days spent navigating busy cities, left me feeling like blah. By the end of the day, my energy was muddled, and I needed extra time to reconnect with myself, since I wasn’t always the best at self-care throughout the day.

Although I didn’t write, the trip was wonderful. Stepping away gave me a great break from everything, and reflecting back, I don’t think it could have gone any better.

Book Talk

I absolutely loved Woven from Clay by Jenny Birch. It is a YA fantasy set in the real world.

Terra is excited to have the best senior year ever. However, when Thorne comes to town, everything changes. Terra has always wanted to know who her real parents are, but she discovers that she is a golem created from mud and the bone of a powerful warlock she knows as Cyrus Quill. Thorne is a witch bounty hunter who must capture Cyrus Quill in order to become a member of his coven. However, if Cyrus Quill dies, so will Terra and the other golems. She strikes a deal with the coven so that they won’t kill him if she can prove that she’s also a witch.

There’s mud magic! It is a delightful, super well-written fantasy novel. I devoured it.

Writing Update

I’m still working on my query letter. I hoped to finish it before I went on the trip, but that didn’t happen. When I return, I want to finish it. Then I want to integrate the feedback I got from two agents I met during StoryStudio Chicago’s Pub Crawl. My goal is to finish another revision before my next trip, mid-April. And I really want to get my manuscript printed and bound. I have never done that before, and I think it’ll make it feel more like a real book.

Sending you spring vibes,

Liza