I'm sitting here at my desk trying to write and wondering how one types well with cold fingers. It is 1 C outside and I am dreading when it hits -30 c. Right now it is cold enough. I have a sweater on and a big fleece blanket wrapped around my shoulders. A mug of herb tea sits steaming at my elbow, its spicy aroma filling the room, and the keyboard of my laptop gets warm when I type, so eventually my fingers will become more nimble. Now if I could only find a way to make my brain more nimble.
Truth be known, I've been looking forward to this time of year. This summer I tried writing, but even though I accomplished a lot, it wasn't the same. I wrote my first book this way, herb tea and blankets, so every time I try to write anything else, I feel like I need that blanket over my shoulders. It's like the blanket holds in all those crazy thoughts and confines them so they have no escape except through my fingers.
I hear about other writers who have odd little habits to help them write. There are those who listen to certain music, play a game of solitaire first, or surround themselves with objects related to the thing they are writing. Some say having rituals can be limiting. They might prevent you from writing whenever you can. I am training myself to write anywhere in any amount of time (Friday night it was in a little notepad during the intermission of a play), but my serious writing happens in front of the laptop with my blanket over my shoulders. So what are your writing rituals? What helps you get into the writing frame of mind?
6 comments:
Holy cow, that is cold!!
Rituals -- I have to be wearing lip balm. Can't write with dry lips. I also have to check my mail first -- I can't write if there could possibly be an e-mail waiting for me.
I get my girls on their school buses, quickly read through a few blogs, check to see if anyone has visited my blogs, sigh deeply to drive Ponopono away, and then start writing.
I suppose this is more of a routine than a ritual, but it's what I do.
Oh yeah, that email is a killer. When I'm not in the mood for writing I check it way too many times.
Routines are good too. I think they help our minds get in the right place for writing.
I like to listen to music when I write. I don't always have to, but it seems to get the creative juices flowing quicker.
And it has to be certain type of music. If it's a romance story, I listen to romantic music. If I'm writing a part that has some spiritual moments in it, I like to listen to LDS music. Music just gets me in the right frame of mind for writing.
I love having a blanket around me. That sounds like the perfect writing setup to me. Cold outside, warm blanket, hot chocolate, silence from the kids, and some quiet music. :)
A. Riley has hit the nail. I like music for themood I'm in which determines what I will be writing. I like different music to set the mood for my attitude. I supose what they saya bout music really speaking to you and having a part in your life wether for good or bad is true. I can see the effects while writing.
I love Winter after the long summers here in Phoenix! Hot cocoa, my pink fuzzy slippers with a sweater on sounds nice. :) We still are in the mid 80's right now...I'm STILL waiting for my Winter to hit me. I'm still wearing shorts, t-shirts and flip flops. :O grrrrrr
I love to listen to music when I write, but I find I have to listen to music without words, or before I know it I am singing along and not writing at all.
As for -30 C, I don't mind it too much if I can stay inside wrapped in my blanket, drinking a mug of hot chocolate and typing away on the computer. Now when I have to go out in it, that is a whole other story.
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