Monday 17 October 2016

Habits and Rituals of the Resident Writer

By Cassandra Samuels

Greetings Dear Readers!

Today I delve into the habits and rituals of some of our favourite authors. We all have them, those little things we do to prepare to let the words flow. Some are simple, some are perhaps even a little odd, but if they help us get the words down who is to complain?

Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables, liked to work in the nude. It meant he couldn't leave the house and had to stay home and write.

Truman Capote,  author of In Cold Blood, liked to write lying down with a coffee and a cigarette. I guess he had formulated a rhythm of sip, puff, and write.

For me, I have to listen to music. I have several playlists but, generally, it is Two Steps from Hell (strangely enough, not a punk rock band but a group that do soundtracks to movies and games).

Once I am writing, the music fades into the background like white noise and I can concentrate on what I am doing without being distracted by the sounds of the house around me (phones ringing, doors banging, conversations etc).

Here are what some fellow authors have said about their writing habits and/or rituals.

Alyssa J Montgomery


I don't think I've got any particularly interesting or remarkable writing rituals. I do like to have made any important phone calls/attended to anything important before I sit down to write, and I always sit down with a cup of tea. I generally read back over the chapter I've left off at to get me into the character voices again and to refresh my mind so I'm not repeating word choices. I look at my plot outline (I've adapted a colour system I learned from Cherry Adair when I attended her plotting by colour workshop in Dallas a couple of years ago). Once I have firmly in my mind where I am, I just write. Chocolate was definitely a welcome part of the ritual but since my last cholesterol reading was too high, that is now sadly lacking when I write!
Alli Sinclair
I never used to have a ritual when writing but a year ago I saw a Reiki Master and mentioned how I was feeling blocked on my story. She asked how I like to write - which is usually on the couch with my laptop - and she said to try writing at my desk with my feet placed firmly on the ground as it is supposed to help with the flow of creativity. I gave it a go and, lo and behold, the words came out fast and furious and the block I'd been suffering disappeared into the ether. I've been sitting with my feet firmly placed on the floor for a year now and my productivity has increased tenfold!
 
Narelle Atkins
I plug my headphones into my iPhone and listen to 80's music when I write. I mix up the playlists, depending on my mood.  
Cathleen Ross

I take the dog for a walk and then write until about 4 p.m. for six days a week. I aim for 1000 words a day unless I have to do research. Because the book I'm currently working on requires a lot of research, I do as much study at night. 
Amy Rose Bennett
I don’t need much to get me into a writing mood other than booting up my laptop and turning off social media. Fortunately, I can pretty much write anywhere, anytime; in fact, I actually don’t have a particular writing desk or space. The only ‘must-have’ I can think of is making sure I have a good cup of coffee at hand. Then I’m good-to-go.

Maggie Nash
I think my most successful method of preparing to write is not to prepare at all. Sometimes I am guilty of overthinking 🙂 ..so I find I get a lot more done when I don't prepare and just make that decision to sit down and write, and get on with it.

Do you have any habits or rituals before writing?Please do tell!


I love to love: Watching Poldark Season 2

I love to laugh: At old guys dancing.

I love to learn: About the writing habits and rituals of other authors - hence this post!

23 comments:

  1. Ooh, I so adore reading about other people's writing rituals and systems, so thanks for this. What fun!

    I like to write at my workstation which is set up exactly the way I want with everything close at hand. I also try to have a them song for my stories that I play on a loop until it fades into the background. Once I've heard and written to it enough, it becomes a trigger for the story - the moment it comes on, I sink straight into that story zone, so a bit Pavlov's dog! Other than that it's cups of tea and/or coffee, the online thesaurus open in the browser, and Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi's The Emotion Thesaurus by my side and I'm ready to go.

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    1. That should be theme song, rather than them song. Am not typing well this morning!

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    2. Hi Cathryn. Thank you for dropping by and for sharing your writing habits. I love the idea of a theme song for your WIP. What a great way to trigger the mind and get into the story.

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    3. I love that theme song idea too, Cathryn! Must give it a try.

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  2. This is fascinating, thanks Cassandra! I guess whatever helps a writer get in the groove is good. I think for me it would be coffee and music. And being warm. Nothing like shivering to put your thought processes off.

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    1. Yes Malvina one must be comfortable to write. Totally agree.

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  3. This is great I love learning more about authors as for reading anywhere for me :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Hi Helen. Reading is one of those things where you can do it anywhere and escape the real world for a while.

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  4. Hi Cassandra! I love reading about what other authors do to get themselves into the writing zone. I light a scented candle to signal the beginning of my writing time. I've always preferred to write with no noise but recently I experimented with listening to 'focus music' with brain.fm and found it surprisingly helpful with concentration.

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    1. Hi Marilyn. I'll have to check that out. Making a peaceful serene environment can only help with the creative process and candles and music do that so well, don't they?

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  5. Its a great post Cassie. I might have to try the scented candle thing...or even an oil burner, with a new blend for each book. It might work like a theme song. If I listen to music, it needs to have no lyrics or I sing along instead of write!

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  6. Hi Cassandra, I like to have a cup of tea or coffee beside me when I write. I usually begin by visualising the characters and setting for the scene I'm working on.

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    1. Visualising is so important and a cuppa certainly settles the mind, doesn't it?

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  7. Hi Cassandra. I've always found music and songs distracting but recently discovered if the room is dimmed with blinds parly drawn (day) or softly candlelit with no harsh bright light (night) and a scent drifts from a scented candle, then music and songs played softly do take me into my story. Love that it brings out the emotions too.
    Great post discovering how others write.

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    1. I think its great that you are trying new things out and if they improve your creativity then how great is that?

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  8. Hi Cassandra, very interesting post. I always love to hear how other writers do things. I lock myself in my study and put earplugs in so I'm not distracted by kids, TV's, dogs barking etc, and read over my last few pages and then get into it. I like Enisa's idea of the scented candle and romantic music. I might have to try that.

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    1. Hi Karen. I have a ringing ear so earplugs would annoy me but I can see how it would work. I think experimenting with other creative stimulants like candles and music is a great idea.

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  9. Sue Gerhardt Griffiths22 October 2016 at 14:56

    Hi Cassie, that was such an interesting blog post. It's fascinating reading about the authors writing habits. Might have to adopt some of them when I start writing again. When I was writing yrs ago I found the flow helped when listening to John Williamson or any other Aussie country artist.

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  10. Ah John Williamson a gentleman, poet, songwriter and true blue Aussie. I think he has inspired a lot of people. Are you thinking of writing again Sue? With all your travel experience I can see you doing something Aussie outback/small town. I do recommend joining RWAustralia as you can get a lot of support and workshops that can really help.

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    1. Sue Gerhardt Griffiths28 October 2016 at 15:44

      I'm thinking of teaming up with April. April is keen on adding more words to the two sisters story I started years ago. It's very hard making a time to get together, though. Yes, I've been told RWAustralia is great and very helpful, trying to persuade April to join as she has started writing again.

      Lol, Cassie on the Aussie Outback/small town comment, not quite sure about writing a country town book but I've always had thoughts about setting one on Gooseberry Island. We'll see!

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    2. I think teaming up with April is a great idea. Collaborations can work really well.You can work independantly and then meet to put it all together. I'm pretty sure PC Cast are a mother daughter duo. In any case it would be fun to try it.

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    3. I think teaming up with April is a great idea. Collaborations can work really well.You can work independantly and then meet to put it all together. I'm pretty sure PC Cast are a mother daughter duo. In any case it would be fun to try it.

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