The virginia creeper outside my writing studio is turning red. It’s a glorious sight and always stops me in my tracks. It’s a stunning signal of Autumn’s arrival and that it’s time to be back at my desk.

I remember reading an article years ago about the joys of having a job that allows you to take the summer off. I dreamed. I was not convinced The AA, my employer at that time, would be obliging. Ten years down the line I managed it! I took the whole summer off.

I cannot say it was a restful time. With a horse mad daughter showing her Fell pony all over over the country we’ve had many long days preparing, competing and recovering. Wouldn’t have changed it one bit.

But the article I read all those years back forgot to mention the tough part. Getting back into it!

Perhaps it would be easier if I had an employer? If I worked in an office with colleagues to welcome me back? Any broken habit is hard to resume.

Sitting at my desk again reality hit me. I had, literally, lost the plot. Those summer weeks of washing horses, cleaning tack, driving the lorry… I’d forgotten all those people waiting for me to come back to work. My characters…

What was that twist I had decided to add? Oh, and the sub-plot love triangle, what shape did it take? The key foreshadowing? I was sure I had changed my mind on my protagonists story. But what had I decided?

A read through of my notes and a flip through my draft only made me panic. A few fretful days later things were beginning to return to me. Time to get back in the saddle!

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