Rituals

P.C Greene · Apr 5, 2007

A lot of writers have rituals, something they have to do before they write, some believe its good luck, some dotn, i just want your views and see what your rituals are, heres what i usually do:

Drink of Mochacino (If none, capacino, latte or coffee)
Soft music
Crack knuckles

And a few other things that i dont want to get into =).

Namatu · Apr 5, 2007

There must be music of some sort. And slippers, never shoes.

Cav Guy · Apr 5, 2007

Turn on the computer. Or open the notebook. That's about it, really.

Birol · Apr 5, 2007

I tend to writer fiction better later at night, after everyone has gone to bed, then I check e-mail, follow-up on a couple of tasks, look in at AW, and then I settle in to write for the evening.

What happens if your rituals are disrupted? How does that effect your writing production?

victoriastrauss · Apr 5, 2007

My ritual: procrastination. Sometimes I perform it so effectively that I never get to the writing.

- Victoria

Spiny Norman · Apr 5, 2007

I enjoy some coffee and I like it when people leave me the hell alone. When my roommate comes around whining for my attention when I write it takes everything in my power not to brutally, brutally murder him.

On the whole, there's not a lot I need but there's a whole lot I DON'T need.

ShannonC_77 · Apr 5, 2007

Usually coffee or tea for me (although I'm worried this may be a bad habit to get into if I start writing more...) and then I usually burn some sort of incense. I find it helps me concentrate and when I smell it, I know it's time to write.

Namatu · Apr 5, 2007

I do better later at night as well, but I always strive for earlier because I do love my sleep and I always refuse to get up later. I'm considering changing that for a week or so though because lately the desire and even inspiration have been there, but the time has not. It's starting to physically frustrate me, and I'm not allowed to do aikido anymore so I can't throw people around. Something's gotta give!

JPLangsdorf · Apr 5, 2007

I love the word 'ritual'.

But I don't really have anyway. I have different music I tend to listen to, depending on what I'm writing, but I just write wherever and whenever I can. It might be at home, it might not. So I guess I get into the habit of not having a habit.

I do tend to drink water a lot while I'm writing, though. And I crack my knuckles excessively, but that's less because it's a habit at this point and more because my fingers feel cramped and uncomfortable if I don't.

Brutal murder crosses my mind, too, when people keep trying to talk to me while I write. I'm too polite to do that, though. I have the dedication, the willingness, and the tools - but it'd be so rude to just up and skewer somebody. Can't bring myself to do it.

veinglory · Apr 5, 2007

I need the TV on, that's about it.

janetbellinger · Apr 5, 2007

I used to light a candle but then I discovered it was causing me to get migraines. Now I have no ritual, just the determination to get cracking.

ccarver30 · Apr 5, 2007

Hmm, I don't have any. Maybe I should start one or nine!! :tongue

WildScribe · Apr 5, 2007

I decide that I am going to write, spend a half hour checking email and forums, remember that I was going to write, and get to it! If I really can't seem to focus I turn on Pirates of the Carribbean in the next room. Does it for me every time.

maestrowork · Apr 5, 2007

victoriastrauss said:
My ritual: procrastination. Sometimes I perform it so effectively that I never get to the writing.

- Victoria

Same here.

Other than that. I need my tea.

MidnightMuse · Apr 5, 2007

I used to make a ritual out of putting off writing while I searched for a really good ritual. Then I gave that up. Now it's Insert USB Key, Open File, Sit and Stare at Words.

Sometimes I need tea, or coffee.

PeeDee · Apr 5, 2007

I have no rituals. I sit down, write. Usually, after writing for twenty minutes or so, it occurs to me that I might like some music, and I turn some on. A little later, I think I would like some tea, so I make a pot.

Mostly, that's it. I tend to write late at night, just because my wife's asleep and I can mostly work uninterrupted.

rugcat · Apr 5, 2007

PeeDee said:
I have no rituals. I sit down, write. Usually, after writing for twenty minutes or so, it occurs to me that I might like some music, and I turn some on. A little later, I think I would like some tea, so I make a pot.

Same goes for me, except that after writing for twenty minutes, it occurs to me that I might like to take the dogs for a walk. Or check out the board. Or watch some TV. Or...

ChunkyC · Apr 5, 2007

At home, I like to write first thing in the morning and enjoy having a big mug of tea and honey as I settle in. When writing elsewhere, it really doesn't matter.

No matter where I happen to be, I have NoisyKeyboard running. The typewriter sounds make me feel like I did way back when I wrote my first sci-fi story on an old portable manual typewriter. That's the only noise I can stand while writing, so I suppose silence other than NK is the one real ritual I have.

MidnightMuse · Apr 5, 2007

ChunkyC said:
...NoisyKeyboard running.

OMG - I want that!

ChunkyC · Apr 5, 2007

Here ya go...

Noisy Keyboard

Be sure to read the instructions, there's a little setting up to do, but it's not too hard. The only glitch I ever encountered with it is that it interferes with the customizable program launch button on my Dell Inspiron 1150 which I have set to launch my word processor. So rather than have NK run on boot, I just press the button to launch my wp, then run NK from a shortcut I put on the quick launch bar next to the start button.

Ms.Write · Apr 5, 2007

Like Victoria, it's procrastination. I seem to be on a roll right now, doing everything but writing. The pressure builds up and eventually I find myself back at the writing.

The other thing I seem to need to do is take a long walk. I can think more clearly about my story and characters then.

Devil Ledbetter · Apr 5, 2007

Morning: Coffee, Pearl Jam
Early Evening: Coffee, Pearl Jam
Late Evening: Pinot Noir or Corona, Pearl Jam

bunnygirl · Apr 5, 2007

Wish the husband good night. Breathe a sigh of relief that he won't be pestering me. Put in earplugs if the cat is in the room (the cat snores). After that, I'm good to go!

lfraser · Apr 5, 2007

Place rump in chair.
Turn laptop on.
Place fingertips on keyboard.
Scratch head for a while.

PeeDee · Apr 5, 2007

lfraser said:
Place rump in chair.
Turn laptop on.
Place fingertips on keyboard.
Scratch head for a while.

Hang on. If your fingertips are on the keyboard, what are you scratching your head with!?

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