This summer, I wanted to do something exciting. Something I'd never done before. So I decided, rather on the spur of the moment, to go to Amsterdam (The Netherlands) for a month. Alone. To explore and to write, and to see if I could.
And I'm so glad I did! I rented an apartment a bit outside the city center with a gorgeous rooftop terrace that, once it stopped raining, I sat outside on and wrote longhand. I had forgotten how much actually writing helps me think through things.
I also met up with the awesome Corinne Duyvis, YA writer and Amsterdam inhabitant. She showed me the city and we even got a chance to do some writing in a coffee shop (the kind that actually serves coffee). The coffee shop had this cute little cubby upstairs where you could sit, but you couldn't stand.
Corinne
When I wasn't writing, I spent time just wandering around, and taking in the city. I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at the canals.
I had an amazing time. I didn't write the Great American Novel, but I did figure a lot of things out, explored ideas, and worked out a solid outline for a story I'm really excited to tell. I want to say thanks so much to my Sisters in Scribe for their patience while I was out of the country and not blogging. How about you? How did you spend your summer vacation?
Also, my short story THE LAST BEST DAY is up this week at Tangled Fiction!
3 Comments on How I Spent My Summer Vacation, last added: 9/15/2011
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omg Valerie--that sounds absolutely amazing. You have some serious courage for going alone--I always wanted to do something similar, but never did.
I'm so glad you had an amazing time! Welcome home :)
I love your pics...and that rooftop terrace looks amazing. Glad you had such a wonderful experience!
Love the pics! And that coffee shop cubby is awesome!