Preparing To Write - Your Quirks

[AsylumSeeker]

I'll start. When I sit down to write I open Word, Visual Thesaurus, and a simple game (usually Hoyle Yacht, a derivative of the tradional Yahtzee).

Sometimes I may open more than one story on Word if I'm multi-plexing. But more times than not, just the one.

I write my story, referring to the thesaurus/dictionary combo on occasion. I usually find that I already know the definitions and word useage but appreciate the confirmation. I don't always trust my "instinct".

And so I write, normally several paragraphs. If I get stymied I play a game or two of Yacht or another simple game. That clears my mind.

And then I return to my writing.

I was just wondering if any of the other authors have little "traditions" or "quirks" like I do.

I'm okay with being weird, but I suspect I'm not the only one.

 

[Boxlicker101]

First I come online to Lit. and putter around, posting to threads, etc. After that, I win a game or two of Hearts or Free Cell before I am inspired to write. Just playing isn't enough; I have to win.

I keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy but I see nothing quirky about that.

 

[English Lady]

I get the urge to write, I open word and I write. I always have the internet open and will post here and send messages to friends when i get stuck but I don't put IMs on a if I were to find someone on there(which is a shock in itself) I'd get too busy chatting to write.

I can write reviews without surfing the net quite easily but I can't write stories without it, or at least the promise of an internet break after x amount of words (can you spot that I've done NaNoWriMo?*L*)

 

[chris 44]

There are as many ways to write as there are writers.

I usually come online as soon as I get out of bed, around 08.15, just to put the kettle on and check out any overnight messages from around the planet. Sad, but its one of the most exciting moments of the day, particularly when I find the odd genuine message in amongst the spam. Another story te read, or edit. Getting up to speed on the latest gossip from London, Melbourne, Arkansas or wherever it is that L of L is staying today.

A bite to eat, a shower, a shave and maybe Ill manage to get some writing done by mid morning. Been having trouble lately, but thats not unusual. I tend to write in long intense sessions, editing every paragraph or so as I go along. I can get away with that for a month, but then I seem to get drained.

Thats when I switch to editing other peoples stories. That can be ALMOST as good as writing my own. They give me a different slant on the craft of writing, new subjects, new ideas, and there are a lot of good writers out there.

Lit tends to be quiet at this time of day, its 19.30 in Oz, darkest night in the States, only the vampires and insomniacs are left. Okay time I got down to work.
Take care,
Chris

 

[scheherazade_79]

Door closed, blackout blinds down, blue light on. No music, no background games, nor internet. If I want to do some serious writing, I sit at my executive desk in my Mastermind chair. I have to hear the sentences in my head before I can write them down. If I'm on a roll I'm hearing the words almost faster than I can get them down.

 

[matriarch]

I need quiet around me.
But I will wear earphones and play music - with no words.
I have to have the story already in my head, then I need to write it down. In one hit.

Unfortunately, this hasn't happened much in the last year or more.

 

[impressive]

It varies. Nothing particularly quirky, though. I often have music playing, but it's not necessary. Sometimes I have kids underfoot. Sometimes I'm alone. I edit as I write, so it's a slow process.

 

[S-Des]

I'm so weird

I actually write to the TV. I watch news programs or sports, and for some reason that relaxes me to write. If I'm really stuck on something, I'll try writing in quiet or I'll think about the story while I drive (that's where I usually come up with my best ideas). The word game is a brilliant idea, I would have never thought of that. Every time I start to think I've got a handle on this thing, one of you comes up with something that blows me away.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I have to have an idea of where I'm going - where the story's going - and then I just sit down and start writing my way towards it. I work out the plot and characters as I type, usually staring at the screen with my eyes blank, I guess, although sometimes I get up and lean in the kitchen doorway. If I'm really stuck I might take a walk with the dog, but he's such an oaf he's always pulling me around smelling shit and I don't get to think at all. Maybe that's for the best.

I need coffee and lots of cigarettes - way too much and too many - and quiet or just natural sound. I don't know how you can find the words to describe the tenderness of a first kiss, say, while you've got Shithammer playing "Kissing the Devil Where He Sits" in the background.

I have the OneLook Dictionary in my tool bar for when I forget how to spell bureuacrat or something, but I rarely use any thesaurus because their words never seem to mean just what I want. When I'm looking for good words, I might go to Forthright's Phronistery and play around in there for a while.

When I need inspiration, I often go upstairs and read a story in some magazine - the New Yorker, usually - and think, "God! What a cool way of describing something!" or "What a great way to do dialogue!" or "I can use some of this author's tone."

I'll write till I'm exhausted, then I'll answer e-mail or such, and then I might force myself to write some more. I used to think my best stuff came out when I was fresh and full of energy, but I've learned that I was wrong. A lot of my better writing comes when I'm just so fucking tired that it's a chore to pull out every word. I think I make each word count for more when I'm tired

 

[Aurora Black]

I isolate myself. I refer to the extensive notes that I made in my notebook when the idea first came to me. I make sure that I have plenty of bottled water, chewing gum and chocolate nearby. Sometimes I use music, sometimes not. The genre depends on both my mood and that of the story (soundtrack love themes for romance, alternative/ambient for horror, etc). When I am ready, I plunge into the new world that I create.

 

[Liar]

I stare at Word for hours. I bang my fists into the screen and my forehead into the keyboard. I scream. I pout. I give up and watch TV again. Then, if there's nothing good on, I suddenly rush back to the computer and write what I wanted to write in the first place.

If that's a quirk or a dysfunction, I leave for you to judge.

 

[Boota]

I have to be alone and it has to be quiet. At least in my immediate vicinity. I can live with a television in another room, but I never have the tv or music on in the room when I write. I pop open a bottle of Kiwi Strawberry Snapple and start writing. Before I ever start writing, as said above, I know where I'm going and I start working on the best way to get there. I always have a plan when I write. How loose the plan might be depends on what I'm writing. There is a dictionary and a thesaurus on the shelf above my writing desk, but I don't think I've ever looked inside them. I tend to go with the first word I write down, and I don't try to use words I'm not familiar with. It feels awkward to me.

 

[FallingToFly]

I select my poison of choice.. usually ice water or iced coffee, depending on the time of day. Since most of my writing gets done after 8pm EST, it's usually water.

I select my playlist.

I block everyone on my IM except Pyxie, because she's Pyxie, and Nyt, because she's been sick lately, and if she goes to the ER, one of her housemates of Damon will IM me so I know whether to pack a bag and go.

I open my file and start.

If I'm writing something that is killing me emotions-wise, I drop a shot of bourbon over the ice after I finish the first glass of water, change the music to my "Eurotrash Rejects" (the husband named it for me. ) list and go get an extra pack of Camels from the freezer. Those are the nights that I'm still up when the man gets up to go to work.

Today, I'm writing between posting here. But that's because I'm collaborating a story with Pyxie. We both need time to muse over the other's offerings before we can compromise.

 

[AsylumSeeker]

Thx

Thanks much for your responses. I've read more than a couple of other threads where frustrated writers asked for advice how to work through their "block". I thought this thread may help.

I was also interested to learn about "your" routines.

 

[MissBri]