Bad Habits

Lisa Cox · Jun 22, 2009

I ran a search, and recent history showed a post about the bad habits you have in your writing, not while you're writing -- or should be writing. This isn't about your writing, it's what you do when you're writing. Have I been redundant enough yet? lol.

Anyway, to give you an example, here's mine:

I smoke almost non-stop while I'm writing. ETA: Just to clarify -- I write on the balcony when my son's in bed. I don't smoke indoors.

I check my wordcount obsessively. Every few lines or so I click that little button and hope it's magically jumped up by a few thousand. *sigh*

I write for five minutes, then check email. Write for five minutes, check email *and* phone. Write for five minutes, check email, phone, and new AW posts. Etc.

I write ideas and notes on scraps of paper I can never find again, rather than keeping them all in one file/notebook.

And my worst, because it actually costs me money -- I'm forever printing my ms out. All of it. From the beginning. I do this every few days and I have an old inkjet printer, not a laser. I don't know why I can't wait until I'm finished or why I can't print from where I left off last time. It's not even about a hardcopy back-up or for copyright purposes. I just like to see my ms on paper and every time I print it I do so from the first page. Gah!

scarletpeaches · Jun 22, 2009

Yup. Obsessive word count checkerist here. MS Office 2007 enables you to have it set at the bottom of the screen so I keep glancing down rather than risking ALT-T-W-based RSI now.

I drink way too much tea.

I click refresh on my email window even though I have a pop-up alert so no, SP, there are no new emails but why don't you just check in case one got stuck in cyberspace?

stormie · Jun 22, 2009

lisamarie84x said:
I write for five minutes, then check email. Write for five minutes, check email *and* phone. Write for five minutes, check email, phone, and new AW posts. Etc.

That's my worst habit. Runner up is drinking too much coffee. But the good news is that there are times when I just write and write and don't stop for an hour. Then my fingers get worn out and I go get another cup of coffee.

JJ Cooper · Jun 22, 2009

I have a bad habit of flicking through internet forums and following member's posts who really annoy the crap out of me. I find it helps me get back to my writing and keeps me on track to fulfilling my contractural obligations.

JJ

Bubastes · Jun 22, 2009

lisamarie84x said:
I check my wordcount obsessively. Every few lines or so I click that little button and hope it's magically jumped up by a few thousand. *sigh*

I write for five minutes, then check email. Write for five minutes, check email *and* phone. Write for five minutes, check email, phone, and new AW posts. Etc.

Yep, I'm guilty of both of these. I'm also obsessive about updating my word count in my sig line every 50 words or so.

jodiodi · Jun 22, 2009

Until I can get in the zone, I'm easily distracted. Go to the bathroom, get something to drink, wind up eating ice which then makes me go to the bathroom. All of which interrupts my thought flow. Then, the dogs decide they just HAVE to go out as soon as I get back in the groove. Otherwise, they stay asleep on the Futon-of-Power.

defcon6000 · Jun 22, 2009

jodiodi said:
Until I can get in the zone, I'm easily distracted.

Same here. I'm always flipping through forums or wasting time on youtube trying to find that right song. I also get up and move around too much without any purpose.

HigherDef · Jun 22, 2009

i tend to watch tv while writing and I can get completely side tracked for hours if I'm not careful. So, typically i try and put on something boring that I'm not interested in so I can just write with some BG noise.

I also tend to ignore everything else when I'm writing. If you came in and told me you needed _________ I'd say "uh huh" and I wouldn't miss a beat, completely ignoring you.

Writing wise. I have terrible grammar. That's a bad habit that I end up passing on to others to fix when they read it for me

I write the way I talk and that can have all sorts of run-ons and commas throughout.

Charlie Horse · Jun 22, 2009

I snarl and growl rudely to anyone who might happen to cross my line of sight.

Other than that, I'm a pretty decent guy.

Phaeal · Jun 22, 2009

I listen to the same two or three CDs until I wear them out, and then I have to buy new ones. A Decade of Steely Dan is about to melt down at the moment. I'm on my third soundtrack for Amadeus.

Charlie Horse · Jun 22, 2009

Phaeal said:
I listen to the same two or three CDs until I wear them out, and then I have to buy new ones. A Decade of Steely Dan is about to melt down at the moment. I'm on my third soundtrack for Amadeus.

You should rip them onto your computer. No movable parts to wear out.

scarletpeaches · Jun 22, 2009

Bloody hell Bufty.

Lisa Cox · Jun 22, 2009

I hope that was some poor attempt at a joke.

Bufty · Jun 22, 2009

Yep!

You admit it in your profile -

Deleted anyway.

lisamarie84x said:
I hope that was some poor attempt at a joke.

Lisa Cox · Jun 22, 2009

Ah. I'm conquering the laziness in regards to writing. I've written 30k in three weeks when I have a toddler and insane family situations. So I think I'm doing okay-ish.

Bufty · Jun 22, 2009

Course you are -

scarletpeaches · Jun 22, 2009

For someone as sarcastic as me I sure am piss-poor at recognising it in other people. :ROFL:

Aggy B. · Jun 22, 2009

Surfing the web is a big one for me. I used to write on my desktop computer (no internet) but my hubby kind of took over my desk. Now I'm back on the laptop and the internet. *gah*

I also drink tea by the quart which results in having to pee like every fifteen minutes. >_<

ShebaJones · Jun 22, 2009

Smoking, obsessive email-checking, oh yeah.

For some reason, I sometimes also watch/listen to Jerry Springer while I'm writing. And Maury "You are NOT the father!" Povich.

And I drink too much Pepsi.

roonil_wazlib · Jun 22, 2009

Researching. Even if I'm 99% sure of something, I just have to go online and check three different sources to make sure I'm correct. Because, you know . . . there's always that 1%.

I also take frequent breaks from writing to find 'inspiration.' If I get stuck, rather than write through it, I'll go online and find images relating to the story. Towns, houses, people, drawings, costumes. I have The Costumer's Manifesto and Steam Fashion on speed dial in Opera. Then, of course, I look up to find it's been two hours and I've only written fifty words, type 'FILL THIS IN' and skip the scene entirely.

And music! I'm constantly making up new playlists, searching for new songs. I could spend an hour just playing with my iPod.

Mr Flibble · Jun 22, 2009

I smoke almost non-stop while I'm writing. ETA: Just to clarify -- I write on the balcony when my son's in bed. I don't smoke indoors.

I check my wordcount obsessively. Every few lines or so I click that little button and hope it's magically jumped up by a few thousand. *sigh*

I write for five minutes, then check email. Write for five minutes, check email *and* phone. Write for five minutes, check email, phone, and new AW posts. Etc.

I write ideas and notes on scraps of paper I can never find again, rather than keeping them all in one file/notebook.

We're twins!

*hugs*

BigWords · Jun 22, 2009

Chain-smoking, endless cups of coffee (or something a little stronger) and pinging paperclips across the room are about the worst habits I indulge in while writing.

maestrowork · Jun 22, 2009

lisamarie84x said:
I write for five minutes, then check email. Write for five minutes, check email *and* phone. Write for five minutes, check email, phone, and new AW posts. Etc.

That's me, if you add Facebook, twitter, CNN.com, stock market, etc. to the list.

MsGneiss · Jun 22, 2009

Distraction is a major issue. I browse the web, check my email, start chats with people. I can't justify this as "research" no matter how hard I try. I also drink ridiculous quantities of caffeinated beverages... but that's kind of a pervasive issue for me.

Phaeal · Jun 22, 2009

Charlie Horse said:
You should rip them onto your computer. No movable parts to wear out.

Ah, but that would destroy the mystic writing ceremony of getting the CD out of the sacred jewel box, raising it to heaven, then lovingly inserting it into the CD slot.

Respect my savage culture, please.

Bad Habits

storm central

.

bananaed

Reflections of Reality

much better than regular HD

Speaking in metaphors

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Speaking in metaphors

Where have the last ten years gone?

Where have the last ten years gone?

Not as sweet as you think

I post in the nude.

Smile.

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Geekzilla

Fear the Death Ray

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.