Are you an early morning riser, up at the crack of dawn at your desk with a cup of steaming hot tea by your side? Or do you prefer to hit the page late at night when everyone else is sound asleep in bed. What both times have in common is access to a certain stillness, a lack of external activity, a closeness to subconscious thought — a delicious time of great quietude when the writer can allow his or her thoughts come to the fore unhindered by mundane interuptions. On our recent Bali residency I don’t know how many were burning the midnight oil, but there were definitely some early risers. To be on a beach walk before sunrise is one of the great pleasures of life and you are always glad you made the effort. At Padang Galak, our residency guest house is set only 300 metres from the black sand beach. As you creep out through the gate at the bottom of the garden and make your way across the dew laden field to the path along the sea wall, it’s always interesting to see who else is up and about. Old Balinese men are out walking or burying their legs in the sand ( a known rheumatism cure). Often there are women doing ceremony for loved ones whose ashes have been carried out to sea near here. A few joggers and fast walkers, men and women sweeping the dusty soil near their warungs and the usual band of stray dogs roaming about. I usually walk towards Mt Agung, the holy mountain in view as you walk north. This morning I go south towards the fishing boats and I’m rewarded by the golden glow that spreads across the sea and the sun raises her head above the horizon. The cool morning air starts to heat up and you know if you are going to get any writing in before breakfast, it’s time to get back.
Which ever time of day you prefer to write, the old expression, ‘ rising to the occasion’, always applies. Writing requires a certain effort, an act of stepping up to the pitch. Like the sun spreading its light across the world each morning or the moon offering its subtle glow to the night, we must allow our best efforts to rise to the page. If you forget how to do it, take a dawn or dusk walk and remind yourself that inspiration is all around.
We will be finding inspiration on a daily basis on our next journeys heading out:
Moroccan Caravan, March 1-15, 2020. Fully booked, wait list.
Moroccan Residency, March 17 – 30, still room to join.
Sensing Italy, May 23 – 30, still room!
Pics from our recent Bali Residency here.
