Insecure Writers Support Group: Separation Anxiety #IWSG

I'm soon to take off on an excellent adventure - my senior-in-high-school son and I are flying across the pond to visit my sister in Londooon!  99.5% of me is nothing but excited, but the remaining teensy .5% is wondering what it's going to be like to live without my laptop for a full week.

I've never left it behind before. It's not like I ever end up having any time to spend on it, but it's like Linus' security blanket to me. I just like knowing it's near, just in case. I'd probably cave and lug it along this time, too, but li'l Lappy is having issues. She's working fine, but she's literally cracking up. See?


For her sake, I can't take her anywhere (hrm, maybe what I should be insecure about is that I'm okay with writing on junk). And so, I leave behind my unfinished manuscripts, my notes, my bookmarked reference sites, my collection of inspiring images, and the only sized keyboard I can comfortably type on. I know I'll be well compensated by hanging out in Dickens' old haunts, attending theater on the West End, rooming with my favorite writer in the whole wide world, etcetera, etcetera, but please tell me at least some of you have felt this kind of separation anxiety before. Please?




)

This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as Insecure Writers Support Group, founded by the one and clonely Alex J. Cavanaugh. Did you hear that IWSG is holding a SHORT STORY CONTEST? Stop by insecurewriterssupportgroup.com for details. The deadline is coming up soon.


Comments

Sarah Foster said…
I can't imagine being away from my laptop for that long! I'd probably have a panic attack. My laptop is in bad shape, too. My comma key has been missing for quite some time and I had to super glue a corner back together.
Hope you have an amazing time on your trip!
Maybe this is an opportunity to go "old school." Grab some notebooks and pens and pencils and let yourself go. :)
When my home burned to the ground, my laptop went up in smoke, too. I found myself banned from all my cyber-friends at a time I needed to reach out badly. Worse, all my past writing and present WIP's died, too. Store your laptop in a safe place, and enjoy this great adventure with your son -- these memories you make will be priceless. Enjoy!
LOL. I have the same anxiety. I've learned to take along my Kindle and use it to check in on my blog and other social media on it. Leaving the manuscripts behind can be freeing. Enjoy yourself.

Susan Says
L. Diane Wolfe said…
LOL - I named my laptop Lappy, too!

Ten years ago, it didn't matter. We weren't so connected or in need of a computer. But sometimes it's good to return to that and remember what's really important.
Jennifer Lane said…
Aw, Lappy's all cracked up. I think Lappy probably needs a vacation as well so it's best to let her rest while you and your family have your excellent adventures. Have a blast!

And when you return, I suggest you look into buying a Macbook. Pricey but SO WORTH IT! I love my Macky.
David Emanuel said…
I also have a problem stepping away from my computer.

But I've tried to turn this into an advantage.

I'll print the manuscript I'm working on out, and bring it along in paper form. Then I'll pour over it and unleash my criticisms and ideas in the margins and back pages.

Dave Emanuel
Carrie-Anne said…
Back when my family still had our first computer, our dear 152K 1984 Mac, my father always lugged it along on vacation with us. At the time, I thought he just wanted to use it when we visited my grandparents and went to Cape Cod, but as an adult, I found out he didn't want his $2,000 investment to get stolen. None of our other desktops went along on vacation. In the age of laptops, it's hard to imagine not taking them along for even a few days away.
Your laptop's not looking too good. Leave it at home. Go enjoy family and London. Trust me, you'll be too busy to do anything else. (Although you might want a notepad and a book for the really long flight there and back again.)
Sylvia Ney said…
How exciting! You'll be surprised how quickly the time goes by, and it won't matter about the missing technology. Enjoy yourself!
TBM said…
I never travel with my laptop. I have the best of intentions of writing in notebooks, but I never the time or motivation. Have a great time. I love London.
Julie Flanders said…
How exciting!! I hope you have an amazing trip. I can't deny I'm a little jealous - I visited London some years ago and have always wanted to go back. One of these days.
I bet once you are there you won't miss Lappy at all, no offense to her, obviously. :D Have fun!!!
Juneta key said…
Bon Voyage. I am telling my age, but I went London in 1986 to see WHAMS! final concert at Wembley Stadium in my early youth. London was wonderful, one of my best memories. I had hope to go again, but it has not worked out that way yet.
Have a blast!
Juneta Writer's Gambit
Anonymous said…
Um, yeah.

I can miss a day or two of writing, although I feel EXTREMELY guilty and always a little off. But anymore than that and I'm a wreck. I need to be close to my laptop. When I travel to see my folks a few hours south, part of the drive I think, "I'm moving further and further away from my laptop." It's like a little key to a creative kingdom, so I know what being without it is like!

This is what you do: bring a journal, focus on your amazing experience and jot down what you can, when you can. It'll give you that outlet and, if need-be, you have notes for an awesome update blog when you return :)

Have an awesome time!!
dolorah said…
Its good to get out and enjoy the sights anyways. Your son will appreciate it.
Loni Townsend said…
I hope you're too busy having tons of fun to worry about missing your laptop. :) She'll look forward to your return and all the stories you'll have to tell her.
Jeffrey Scott said…
I have to be honest, when I went to London I took my laptap as well. I even went to a park to do some writing on it. Quite the experience. Lots to do there, lots to see. You may even come to find, you've forgotten about your laptop while you are there. Make sure to take a lot of pictures, it's a fun place. I enjoy every visit.

Make sure to visit the Shakespeare Globe Theatre. It's right on the Thames and such an interesting experience, especially if they are rehearsing. And the good thing about the visit. I acquired a lot of pictures I was able to post to my blog. Using my laptop computer of course. :)

Have fun!!!
Rena said…
Oh yeah, I take my laptop with me everywhere, and I mean everywhere. I was once at a con, and I saw a line forming really early in the morning. When I asked, they said they were waiting for Mercedes Lackey (one of my faves). I'd planned to get in that line three hours latter. I had a book ready for it and everything, but I was just out and about hunting down breakfast. The line was filling up fast, so I hopped in, knowing I didn't have a book. But you know what I did have? My laptop. So I had her autograph my laptop.

I mourn them when they die, but that's the way with things. Though, I have to admit, for me, they never crack apart. Mine die in fire. Like really they let out the magical smoke and sometimes spit flames.

Good luck living without your laptop. You are braver than I.

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