Writing Rituals

[sweetnpetite]

do you have any? what are they and what is there purpose (are they mandatory for you, or are they inspirational, organizational etc)

do you have any quirky writing habits? ie must have six sharp pencils to begin writing. focus techniques to block out distractions... or any other eccentricities you'd care to share?

 

[PennLady]

Interesting question. I don't think I do, really. I feel like I barely have the time to write to start with, so any rituals or what have you would just complicate things. I have been taking some time to go somewhere maybe one weekend day, while my husband watches the kids, and go somewhere to just write. I wonder if developing rituals would help at all.

 

[bronzeage]

I keep a game of freecell open at all times. Whenever I am stuck for the right words, I let my brain play with the cards for a minute or two.

 

[Boota]

I drink Kiwi Strawberry Snapple while I work. (Tastes like creativity.) To figure out any problems I walk, sometimes for hours.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I sit at the key board and start wiggling my claws.

 

[sr71plt]

Nope no rituals--except perhaps making sure my spouse isn't looking over my shoulder. (She thinks I'm always writing something to make money when I'm composing.)

 

[frostyghost09]

I like to draw, perhaps on the corner of the notebook i'm writing in, or on a nearby sketchbook. As far as getting ideas...I swear, I do my best story-plotting when I'm trying to sleep. Is that weird?

 

[EmeraldKitten]

I make sure I have my ciggies, make sure the dogs have chewies (so they leave me alone, lol) and away I go.
I usually have music playing- and the type depends on what part of a story I'm trying to write.
Candles are nice.
And the best time to write, for me, is in the morning when I'm home alone. Less distractions.
So whenever my coffee starts kicking in, I'm ready to roll.

I also usually have two different stories open, that way if I get stuck or irritated with one I can just hop into the other one.
(Take for instance my other holiday contest story.. I can't get it written because these people will not have sex. I don't know what is wrong with them! lol.)

Hm, so nothing quirky.. I guess I'm normal, lol.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I do lotsa reading.

I recently read a book about how cancer happens, came across a process of cell suicide called APOPTOSIS, thought about how I can use it for a horror story, and opened a new story file. As ideas pop into my noggin I add them to the file until enough idea kernals outline the story, then I write.

 

[sweetnpetite]

bump bump bump bump

 

[_Lynn_]

Nope, nothing special. Although I make sure there isn't anything out of place on top of the desk. I hate clutter.