Hibernation

February 12, 2020

Winter hibernation and writing go perfectly together.

I like winter…on those rare days when the sky is clear, the sun is shining and it’s -10 degrees Celsius or warmer. The rest of the time, when I don’t feel like bundling up to brave the cold, I hide inside where it’s warm. And I write.

I do the majority of my writing between November and March. For me, it’s easier to focus when it’s -25, with a north wind making it feel like -40, and snow blowing sideways. That is best viewed through the window.

And by writing in winter, I feel less guilty about the time I spend during the all too short summer months exploring and refilling my idea well for my next hibernation session.

So, with a -41 windchill and Extreme Cold warning out for today, my plan is to curl up under a blanket, with a cup of tea, and, more than likely, write 3,000 words before the end of the day.

It’s mid-February in Manitoba and Bon Jovi is getting a lot of airtime on the radio: We’re halfway there. Living on a prayer. Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear. Living on a prayer.