Erin Hosier leaves town and contemplates favorite work retreats
I'm coming to you today from Memphis, TN. where I've been for the last five days meeting with the subject of an upcoming biography, taking some meetings, catching up on some delinquent reading. These are things that I do on the regular in my home base in NYC, but whenever I'm down south—in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina—everything takes on an otherworldly glow. I adopt the accent. I eat things that I don't even think are legal to eat back home—breakfast cooked in lard, coconut pie with meringue, Gus's Fried Chicken with white bread and deep fried dill pickles. I drink bourbon at lunch. I talk shop over burgers at The Lamplighter. Maybe it's my longstanding obsession with Gone With the Wind, or the fact that I grew up around Civil War reenactors, or maybe I just love it when the waitress calls me "baby." Whatever the combination, I feel like I'm the best version of myself down here and I can get so much accomplished.
What's your favorite place to go and be inspired? What's your favorite change of scenery?
I just spent 3 days and night in Belmont, on the north coast of NSW, Australia. I was right beside the lake and between writing and sleeping, I watched the pelicans take off and land, the sailing boats bobbing on the water and the most amazing shooting star. It was lovely! Inspiration multiplied.
Newfoundland and Ireland and Yorkshire. I've left bits of myself in each place, so I have an excuse to go back (as if I needed one). I also spent some time teaching in Tennessee last year. Monteagle. Man, loved that place!
Coffeeshops!
I just spent 3 days and night in Belmont, on the north coast of NSW, Australia. I was right beside the lake and between writing and sleeping, I watched the pelicans take off and land, the sailing boats bobbing on the water and the most amazing shooting star. It was lovely! Inspiration multiplied.
Absolutely the beach; I even love the beach in the winter..so deserted..so quiet!
A bookstore, I guess, for the inspiration. Scenery-wise: the west, definitely the west!
New York City, a hike in Griffith Park, a weekend in Joshua Tree.
I'm always inspired at my cottage by the lake (in Quebec) - I am forced to actually handwrite ideas due to the lack of laptop power on wooden docks.
As God is my witness--I love that picture of Scarlett. Enjoy your time in the South, Erin.
Newfoundland and Ireland and Yorkshire. I've left bits of myself in each place, so I have an excuse to go back (as if I needed one). I also spent some time teaching in Tennessee last year. Monteagle. Man, loved that place!