What Do You Do In Your Free Time?

 By Kait Carson

A friend asked me that question, and it gave me pause. It wasn’t one I expected or had anyone ask before. Unless you are a well-known author or under contract to a publisher, the more usual question is: But what do you do all day? Writing is work, hard work, but it doesn’t entail regular hours or punching a time clock, and years can go by before a writer’s efforts bear fruit, so civilians may not recognize our labor. Those of us in the trenches know better. My friend is not a writer, but she was a full-time mom. She understands that perception often differs from reality. Her husband once asked her what she did all day. She had a wonderful, pithy response, but not one I can share in this space.

Because most people think writing is what I do in my free time, the question took me by surprise. And I had to think about it. The answer is: a lot. I haven’t thrown pots in a while, but if I can find a place to rent kiln time, I hope to get back to it. I crochet and have graduated from afghans to sweaters. Living in Maine, I’ve paused scuba diving in favor of snowshoeing in the winter and hiking in the snowless seasons. Wildlife and nature photography is another passion. And let’s not forget baking, much to my waistline’s detriment. Spring is coming, and that means gardening. I’m grateful for the sixteen-hour days we have in my part of Maine. Lots of time to write all day and still head to the garden after work. So, that about wraps up what I currently do in my free time, but wait, as they say on daytime game shows, there’s more!

I’ve got a fistful of bucket list projects. My mom was a fantastic knitter, but she never had the patience to teach me. Last week’s Wirecutter (the product review section of the New York Times) featured the best fiber craft kits for adults, including two scarf knitting kits. Coincidence? I think not. Now I’m on the hunt for a needlepoint kit. That’s a skill I’d like to refresh. And while I’m at it, embroidery sounds pretty good.

What about you? What do you do in your free time?

Kait Carson writes the Hayden Kent Mysteries, set in the Fabulous Florida Keys, and is at work on a new mystery series set in her adopted state of Maine. Her short fiction has been nationally published in the True Confessions magazines and in Woman’s World. Kait’s short story, “Gutted, Filleted, and Fried”, appeared in the Silver Falchion Award nominated Guppy Anthology Hook, Line, and Sinker. Her nonfiction essay was included in the Agatha Award-winning book Writing the Cozy Mystery. She is a former President of the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime, a member of Sisters in Crime, and Guppies.