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An author friend said when she sits down at the keyboard, she has to apply a specific brand of hand lotion before she can start writing.
Do you have any rituals, routines, or quirks that you have to follow before you can settle in to write?
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Coffee. Copious amounts.
That is all.
🙂
I have a feeling you’re not alone, Deb.
Interesting example with the specific hand lotion before writing. It made me think of a phrase commonly used by physical therapists–“motion is lotion.” So maybe this author has adapted that phrase for writing to “lotion is notion” for smooth flow of thoughts while writing? 😎
I’m afraid I’m quite boring and other than having water or something to drink and of course either my computer or pen and paper, I have no rituals. But I think I should develop one just for fun. 😎
When you do, let us know, BK.
In my case, brewing black tea. Reading the day’s Killzone Blog post, and commenting when I have something to contribute 🙂
When I get to the keyboard, I usually journal for a few minutes about the current-novel-in-progress–I find that can really help, as long as I limit the amount of time spent journaling.
I’ve never tried journaling, Dale. I have this inherent dislike for writing anything that’s not part of the WIP, but maybe writing ABOUT the WIP would slip through.
Certainly the coffee. Sometimes I’ll read a chapter of two of a favorite writer to remind myself of how it’s done. Been known to grab a moment or two of the morning news.
I’ve found that lately, the news doesn’t help my writing energy, Steven. But reading can light a spark.
I like to read a writing quote, or look at one of the photos of authors I admire that are in my office. One of them is of the prolific Evan Hunter (who wrote also as Ed BcBain) looking sternly outward, as if to say, “Write, sluggard!”
Those stern looks will do it every time!
Beyond my normal quotidiens of feeding the cat, using my backswing, and prepping coffee and a light snack, I like to clear the decks. Meaning: scanning my emails, deleting most but looking at anything urgent (and of course: TKZ!). I’m sure there’s a psychological term for it, but I’ve always been a “remove first” kind of guy. I get rid of the unwanted things and then get to the things to do. That way, there’s nothing niggling at me. Then it’s: re-read the last scene and dive into the next.
You and I are very much alike in our ‘rituals’, Harald. I find if I don’t clean out my inbox first thing, I’ll be wasting brain cells wondering if there was anything I need to know about. I make my blog visits over coffee before I start my writing day.
I make a playlist for each book. So, my mind’s cue comes when I slide on the headphones. It also helps me to switch between projects. When edits come back for one book while writing another, I just change the playlist. Bam! I’m back in that world. No idea why it works, just know that it does.
That’s cool, Sue. Thanks. I used to have a writing playlist. It ran for exactly 1 hour, so when it was done, I felt justified in taking a break.
Similar here… I used to go about 40 minutes or so – 20 to the side of a record album (yes, I AM that old…), now it’s a bit longer (but not a full 80 minute CD unless I’m in a real groove)… I don’t “stream” because then I really loose track of time, get distracted, don’t hydrate like I should… besides, it’s usually “artist specific” as opposed to a random mix…
What a great idea Sue! I’m going to give this a try.
Playlists! Absolutely! I have a different one for every book of my series. I send the titles to my beta readers so that they can get in the groove, too.
Music is definitely my quirk. I don’t have it on when I’m reading the ms aloud to myself, but when I’m actively writing, it helps put me in the right head space.
After a certain point in your writing career, unless you have some type of OCD, even magic muse rituals get boring or lose their importance. Many of us tiredly just put our butts in our chairs and write.
Maybe your ritual is opening the WIP, Marilynn! 😉
My ritual generally involves becoming cocooned into my writing posture as such:
1. Sit in comfy chair
2. Put laptop tray on lap
3. Let Heimdall the Norse Dog (a Yorkie) settle in his place between my knees.
4. Place Bose QC headphones on head
5. Initiate Noise Cancelling
6. Begin Ambient Instrumental music
7. Float out of this world into the Realm of the Tale Kingdoms
8. Commence transcribing what I see
Sounds like you’ve got it down, Basil. When I was writing Remaking Morgan, where the female protagonist was a classical pianist, I asked Alexa to play classical piano so I could get in the mood (and figure out pieces to mention in the book). My dog appeared and curled up on the floor by my feet. Apparently she likes classical piano music.