Hey everyone! Sorry that this post was a few hours later than normal. I didn’t have time to post it at my usual time this morning because of work but I’m glad I was still able to post this on a Saturday. Remember, today’s post and the rest of the posts in March will be stand-alone posts and then April will be a break and I will be back sometimes in May. So, without further ado…
My Writing Rituals
Every writer has their own unique way of writing. You can see it in the type of things they focus on, the themes they emphasize, their unique writing style and voice, and other things. Every writer has a specific publisher they like to publish with or a specific type of cover they might request. But one things that is unique to each writer that readers might never see is each writers own unique writing ritual.
For this post I’m not going to write about all the different types of writing rituals that you can do – there are so may that it would take too much time. Most writers who are famous enough may have explained their writing process and related writing rituals to their readers, families, or publishers at some point. Some of them are easy to find if you just google them. So for this post, instead of discussing the writing rituals of all famous writers and which ones might apply the best to you I am simply going to share my own writing rituals.
For me, the writing ritual may change depending on the location or time when I am writing. So I will share my most common writing rituals which occur if I write outside of my home at the library or if I am writing in the evening at my home.
I spend about half of my writing time writing at home and half of my writing time writing at a library. Sometimes this is my University library and sometimes this is my local public library. Either way, writing in a library is usually a relaxing and calming way for me to write. If I am intending to write when I set out to the library (which is only the case about 75% of the time) I usually pack multiple things, my writing bible (the book that contains all my notes on characters, story points, settings, and outlines), my computer, snacks, and water bottle.
After I reach the library I typically try to find a comfortable place, usually with a table so I can spread some of my papers out, and make sure I have my snack ready, within reach but not within sight (so I don’t just eat it to eat it), and make sure my water bottle is out on the table. Then I turn on my rain/forest sound noises with headphones in and set a short timer – usually anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour – and simply begin writing. Every time my timer goes off I take a short break and reward myself for writing during the timer by eating a part of my snack or reading a chapter in the book I’m reading and then I go back to writing again. I repeat this until I meet my writing session goal.
My writing ritual at home is very similar. I first gather all the things I will need such as my current writing bible, my computer, a snack, my water bottle etc. but with the exception that at home I also change into more comfortable clothing and grab my blanket. I set up my desk in a very similar way to how I would at the library except my desk is smaller so usually everything is closer. I follow the same ritual as I would at the library (rain/forest sounds – sometimes music – with timer and writing with breaks). The one thing that is different is that usually during this time I take a short break for a meal. Usually based on my writing time it’s a dinner break but occasionally its lunch or breakfast.
Those are my most common writing rituals. They’re not too crazy, not to strict, but they work for me. Every writer’s writing rituals are unique but they can be the difference between as aspiring author and a published author. What are your writing rituals? Or what are you writing issues that you might need a writing ritual for? Feel free to share/discuss them below!
That’s all I have for this week’s stand-alone post. Two more posts left before our short break and then my return with a new series. Stick around to see what it is! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, become a blog page member, share, and follow me on social media at the link on the bottom of the page. And remember,
Get Up, Get Writing, and Get Published. See you next week!
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