Warming up

seun · Dec 15, 2007

When you start your writing session, do you need to warm up before the writing becomes easier and you get lost in your work? My brother asked me this recently. He's a painter; he said it takes him 20 minutes or so to warm up before he can properly work. Takes me about the same which I thought was kind of cool seeing as we both do art in different ways.

What about you?

Danger Jane · Dec 15, 2007

I take a few minutes to put myself in the right emotional state for the scene I'm about to write. It's harder on me I guess emotionally, but makes the writing easier because basically I can transcribe my physical reactions to the character's feelings and thoughts. So it makes whatever feel more real.

preyer · Dec 15, 2007

i might crack my knuckles and/or run my fingers over my tongue if they're dry, but that's about it. well, i may sit there for a few minutes playing solitaire while smoking a cigarette or sit down and think about it before starting. never thought about it, but i'm not consistent, either. i don't need ideal circumstances or settings, just the time and inclination which never seem to want to get together. see, they dated once and had a bad break up, so getting those two in the same brain at the same time seems to invite drama, which i try to live without if i can.

miles · Dec 15, 2007

I'm pretty much thinking up lines and plotting my WIP throughout the day in my mind, so when I sit down to write, I'm usually very ready.

However, if an emergency comes up and I don't think about my novel or do any writing for a couple days, then it definitely takes some time to find my voice again.

johnzakour · Dec 15, 2007

I just sit down and type and see what comes out.

Garpy · Dec 15, 2007

I tend to end the previous writing session at a point where I'm keen to continue....which then (usually) means when I sit down the next day, I'm keen to get cracking. I might backtrack one or two paragraphs to get a consistant 'run in' for my next session of writing. But..if I backtrack one paragraph too many, I find myself correcting stuff....which is a reall no-no.

Ending at a pont where I'm gagging to go usually works really well. Doesn't always work that way though. I had a few months recently where I was suffering the most appalling literary constipation and nothing was coming out.

Maryn · Dec 15, 2007

I usually need to reread the last two pages or so to get in the swing of things. It only takes a few minutes.

Maryn, trying to ignore Mr. Maryn hammering a few feet away

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 15, 2007

I do about 15 minutes of stretching. Then I have one of those low-impact runner machines that I use for another 15 minutes to get my heart rate up. Then I get into it.

Wait. Were you talking about my warmup before I do serious exercise?

Because writing, I just sit at the keyboard and start banging away. Not sure why I'd need a warmup for that. It's not that strenuous on my fingers.

seun · Dec 15, 2007

I leave each session at a point where I know what's happening next although I still like to read through the last couple of pages before starting again. I don't think I could ever finish a chapter or a scene and then start from there the next day.

brokenfingers · Dec 15, 2007

I like to warm up. A while back when I was in a regular groove, I noticed that I was a lot more productive and got into the 'zone' easier and deeper after I'd post a few serious posts on AW or a few other online forums.

I guess it got my brain cells firing and my fingers (of which I only use two to type - gasp!!) synchronized or something. But ever since then I like to spend a little time writing something and getting into the mindset before I plunge into the world of my WIP.

It just makes everything easier for me and decreases the frustration potential.

Zelenka · Dec 15, 2007

I read for a little while before I start into it. I've found that gets my brain into a more creative mood, no matter what it is I've actually read beforehand.

Nateskate · Dec 15, 2007

seun said:
When you start your writing session, do you need to warm up before the writing becomes easier and you get lost in your work? My brother asked me this recently. He's a painter; he said it takes him 20 minutes or so to warm up before he can properly work. Takes me about the same which I thought was kind of cool seeing as we both do art in different ways.

What about you?

I'm not warming up at the keyboard. My warm-up takes place when I'm out and about, when ideas come to me. By the time I get to the keyboards my fingers are flying.

It may depend where you are in the story, and the kind of story you're doing.

Prawn · Dec 15, 2007

It depends if I am in a good spot or not. I try to end with an incomplete scene, so when I start again, I will be able to jump right in.

johnzakour · Dec 15, 2007

Prawn said:
It depends if I am in a good spot or not. I try to end with an incomplete scene, so when I start again, I will be able to jump right in.

See, I could never do that. I can't end until I reach a spot where I would be willing to break if I was reading the story.

maestrowork · Dec 15, 2007

Yes... it could take me up to an hour or so to warm up. I usually read what I've written before and get into the grooves and probably a few hundred words of drab before I get into it. I also warm up by taking a long drive -- it's not unusual for me to drive to another city, find a coffee shop, write, and then drive home.

scarletpeaches · Dec 15, 2007

I don't need to warm up because I'm never in a state of mind where writing doesn't seem like something fun to do. Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, I'd always rather be writing. So my mindset is already there.

Straka · Dec 15, 2007

Warm up for me is a mental thing, getting into the mindset. But since I think about my work all the time now I pretty much just sit down and write. If i need a little kick I'll reread parts of the story and edit or reread or write source material.

jannawrites · Dec 15, 2007

If I could get a few minutes at my computer without hearing "Mom! I need you!" or "Dear, what's for breakfast/lunch/dinner?" (etc, etc) I'd be contendedly warmed up. *sigh*

David I · Dec 15, 2007

I read the previous day's output aloud and fix whatever makes a clunking sound. By the time I'm done with that, I'm back in the groove.

Claudia Gray · Dec 16, 2007

One trick I use is creating soundtracks for every project. I listen to the soundtrack (in the background, fairly low) whenever I am working on that project. Then, during my commute to and from work, I also listen to the soundtrack on my iPod. I brainstorm about the storyline, the characters, what's happening next. (I outline, so in the broadest sense I know what's happening next, but basically it's like play, rewind, play, rewind, until I hit the tempo or mood or feel or twist or whatever that really grabs me.) If I do that, I find that by the time I get home, I'm pretty much in the right mood for whatever chapter I'm working on and ready to go.

Warming up

seun

Horror Man

Danger Jane

preyer

excessively spartan

miles

agent at The Knight Agency

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

Garpy

keyboard monkey

Maryn

I Tried

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

seun

Horror Man

brokenfingers

Walkin' That Road

Zelenka

Going home!

Nateskate

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

scarletpeaches

Straka

Bored Fanatic

jannawrites

no, really

David I

Claudia Gray