All About Atmosphere

[lucky-E-leven]

After six weeks of not writing, I am finally writing again. During that down time I thought quite a bit about what affects the will/urge/ability to write. I realized that the big change came when I moved from the desktop computer (in my bedroom) to my new laptop in the living room. The only time I am able to write is in the middle of the night when there are very few distractions.

So moving from a comfortable office chair and an ergonomically placed keyboard, screen, etc... I screwed myself out of the comfort required to produce. It has taken me quite a lot of time to adjust to the overstuffed chair in my living room with my laptop perched in my lap or a t.v. tray.

I'm finally used to it but even with those changes there are some things I just really need to be able to write. Here's my list and I'd be interested to know if anyone else has these type of quirky devices that help them create.

Staples for Writing:

1. Must have a candle going nearby at all times.
2. Music is an absolute necessity...radio will suffice but a compilation c.d. of my favorites is better. (Selections must be carefully chosen, because I've noticed the tone of the music can affect the tone of my writing. Evanesence during love scenes is not a good thing.)
3. I am a sugar fiend and almost always have something close at hand. (PEZ are my favorite, but lemon drops and cherry sours are yummy too.)
4. I'm learning that I need to get offline while writing as it is almost impossible to resist adding to the damn 3-word thread or come up with another silly rhyme on Creative Minds.
5. I am not comfortable without having my legs curled up in my chair and lately my cat has been curling up in my lap and purring loudly as I clickity-clack on the keyboard over his head. Surprisingly, it has the same soothing and centering effect as the candle.

Am I the only weirdo who requires such things for productivity?

~lucky

 

[minsue]

Happy dance that Lucky's writing!







- Mindy

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Mindy, you're a sweetie, even with your troupe of air-humping bananas!

I forgot to mention one thing in my earlier list...

6. I absolutely LOVE writing when it's raining outside!

~lucky

 

[English Lady]

I need background noise...the TV,radio or a CD but I need something....I cannot concerntrate in complete silence...


Actually I don't munch as I type....but i do have to stop for snack breaks a few times*chuckle* I do tend to find I need a drink by me and more often than not that drink will be pepsi max..though I try not to let myself drink that too late at night*L*

I think really thats it......but i do need to be in the right frame of mind to write....

 

[Guest]

Opera, cigarettes and tea for me.

Already anxious to read more of you, Lucky love.

Perdita

 

[destinie21]

I need to be turned on to write
and music. I always need music preferably jazz

 

[dirtylover]

re

Mozart is great to write to, makes me feel like I'm really clever cos apparently he rises your IQ.

The internet is my biggest distraction.

 

[wildsweetone]

...It has taken me quite a lot of time to adjust to the overstuffed chair in my living room with my laptop perched in my lap or a t.v. tray.

...~lucky

Hi lucky,

I just have to say... be careful with the laptop on your lap. I've heard of some people having bad leg burns.


wso

 

[SnoopDog]

Mindy, you're a sweetie, even with your troupe of air-humping bananas!

I forgot to mention one thing in my earlier list...

6. I absolutely LOVE writing when it's raining outside!

~lucky

Snoopy's doing a rain-dance, so that lucky-e-leven can rise to the best

 

[Boxlicker101]

I like soft background music but quiet otherwise. Usually the TV set is on and it is a distraction but one I can put up with. (up with which I can put?) I write better if I am by myself and I can'r write when people are talking around me. That being the case and since I am not really antisocial, regardless of what some persons would have you believe, I usually stop writing and join the conversation. This is, after all, just a hobby, not a profession.

I don't usually eat when I write but I do like to have coffee, either regular ar decaf. Soft background noises like rain are nice too.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Re: Re: All About Atmosphere

Hi lucky,

I just have to say... be careful with the laptop on your lap. I've heard of some people having bad leg burns.


wso

Thanks for the warning, but I'm more worried about melting down the machine as the closer it gets to my...well you know...it has a heat advisory as well.

~lucky

(It's normally on a pillow in my lap, so all is well but mine doesn't get that hot anyhow.)

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Cigarettes and coffee and no noise. If I have music on I start listening to it and it takes over the rhythm of my writing.

I do my best head-writing riding on a train or in a bus. It seems to provide just the right amount of visual stimulation. Riding the El and looking in people's windows always starts stories going for me. I don't take public transportation as much as I should.

---dr.M.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Cigarettes and coffee and no noise. If I have music on I start listening to it and it takes over the rhythm of my writing.

I do my best head-writing riding on a train or in a bus. It seems to provide just the right amount of visual stimulation. Riding the El and looking in people's windows always starts stories going for me. I don't take public transportation as much as I should.

---dr.M.

Doc,

Music is to me, what the train is to you. I'll hear little snipits that spark ideas or moods that are easily incorporated into the story. Also, it doesn't distract me and my family hates that I can sing and read at the same time. I get a kick out of it but drives most people crazy.

I hate coffee, but a nice glass of SoBe Lizard Fuel really gets me going.

~lucky

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[destinie21]

whoo hoo just finished another story. By the by I begin to realize that emotional tumult increases my drive to write.

 

[Guest]

Hey, Lucky, you need to get the special vibrator button for your laptop. I've gone through a few. I call my machine my lapdog.

Perdita

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Hey, Lucky, you need to get the special vibrator button for your laptop. I've gone through a few. I call my machine my lapdog.

Perdita

oooooohhhh, where can I get one of those? sounds wonderful...and may help me write hotter scenes. help a sister out, Ms. Perdy.

~lucky (hummmmmm)

 

[wishfulthinking]

I find the best time to write is when I don't have time to write. Very annoying and unfortunate. I'm halfway through my next story when I promised myself not to even go there until after my exams next week.

Procrastination be thy name...

Not to be outdone by Min, here is another happy banana for lucky



Oh, forgot to add - zero distractions, no music, nothing. Maybe should try the candle thing. I find getting driven around, waiting in line, or other forced inactivity are great for thinking up stories.

 

[damppanties]

4. I'm learning that I need to get offline while writing as it is almost impossible to resist adding to the damn 3-word thread or come up with another silly rhyme on Creative Minds.

SO RIGHT!!

I need absolute silence, no distractions, I probably could write better during the night but I don't have access to the pc at night. So mornings for me, or maybe afternoons. I can't write to music. I need to hear myself think.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Thanks to everyone for responding!

(And thanks to Min, Snoopy, Perdita and Wishfulthinking for the kind words, rain dances and dancing bananas!)

So it seems as though half of us must have some type of music or background noise, the other half of us must have complete quiet.

Interesting. Another recurring trend is cigarettes and caffeine. Maybe next time I get stuck, I'll have to try some coffee

~lucky

 

[destinie21]

speaking of music and needing it to write, I need to know where I can get some Big Mama Thorton music all I have is records and the needle on my outdated record player is now broken

 

[raphy]

Aaah, I have to write in silence, or at least in the absence of music. If I hear music, it steals my attention and I dissect it, and thus don't get any writing done.

 

[TheEarl]

Apples and music. Music to distract me from what I'm actually doing and apples so I can storm into the kitchen, grab an apple and eat it while muttering about how I can't seem to get a single word down. Then sit down again. Then repeat.

The Earl

 

[Boota]

I have to have it peaceful. Not necessarily dead silence, but as few sonic distractions as possible. I never write while online. In fact, I don't even go online until I've written at least 2,000 words or so. Whatever my quota for the day is. Anything beyond that is a bonus. I always drink Kiwi Strawberry Snapple while I'm writing. I drank so much of it while I was working on my first novel that it just tastes like creativity to me.