Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Power of Water

I've started swimming laps. I figure, we have a pool, why not use it? (I know, I know, my genius astounds you.) So for the last week or so, I've been faithfully jumping in and swimming laps, throwing in some extra leg-kicking by holding on to one of the underwater benches. Some days twice a day! Not only am I hoping to tone up a bit with this non-icky exercise, but I'm also hoping to get a little bit of color so I don't look like I live underground. It's tough living in FL. People expect you to be tan. Whatever. I'm a writer. You're lucky I'm wearing a bra, don't push it.

Now I know tanning isn't good for you. Blah, blah, blah. I'm not really tanning (unless you count the 20 minutes per side when I'm just drying off in the sun while slathered with the brown-sugary, coffee-scented glaze that is Maui Babe), I'm just getting some residual sun while swimming. And floating. Which brings me to the point of this post.


Floating is fabulous. I get the best ideas while floating. The sound of the waterfall, the gentle breeze, birds calling as they skim the canal we live on, the buzz of the landscapers next door (okay, not that part), all of it combines to put my brain into overdrive. Not that I need more ideas, but sometimes I'll get a thought on taking my current manuscript in a different direction, or think of a way to twist the action to lead somewhere else. Which is probably why I haven't finished it yet...

7 comments:

  1. Sounds like my idea of heaven. Really. Sigh.
    Teri

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  2. Anonymous7:31 AM

    Sounds great, Kristen! :)

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  3. Buying a house with a pool. I expect to be flooded with fabulous ideas.

    Actually I totally believe it. How many writers tell you about how they thought of the great twist int the shower? It's the water, I tell you.

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  4. That sould like heaven. I need to live at the beach.

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  5. I so want to go swimming right now. I used to swim laps when we lived in Queensland. Tassie is just so freezing cold for that kind of thing. I make snow look tanned.

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  6. I'm very jealous of your pool, but I'll live. Next beach vacation I'll see what ideas I get from being in and around the water.

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  7. I would kill for a pool -- an Olympic-sized pool. I used to swim with a Masters' club, 2,500 - 3,000 meters three times a week, and I was in the greatest shape of my life. Our municipal pool sucks -- not only is it L-shaped, it's always packed with kids.

    What is it that's so inspiring about water? Rain, waterfalls, floating in the pool -- they all get my creative juices flowing.

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