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I am a man who likes his routine. I’m proud of it, and I have grown used to it. I make make changes in my life, but on a daily basis things run pretty much to plan. I get up, make coffee, feed the dog, empty out the dishwasher, open a diet Coke, take my 47 sinus medicines, and read my email. Then it’s a shower and off to school.
I also have rituals for writing as well. I get something to drink, some nibble food, and sit down at my desk. I open a file and start to write. Now I wish I hadn’t started some of these habits. The nibble food is going to be my downfall. I wrote 3000 words the other day on a new biography and ate an entire can of roasted peanuts. Not exactly the best thing in the world. 3 hours of sedentary activity and 2500 calories. I’m trying to break this habit, but it’s difficult when I’m trying to fit in writing with a number of other activities.
What are some of your rituals for writing? I’d love to hear.
Currently reading:: The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. The first one was excellent, and I’m just starting the new one. Enjoyable so far.
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I too have some rituals. Some occur everyday…some annually.
One of my annual rituals is coming up, “Opening Day for the Cleveland Indians”. I’ve done this one of and on for a very long time. Rain or snow or cold or, well, nornal baseball weather, it happens every spring. Now, this one is more on than off because of my daughter. She is an absolute baseball junkie. I’m mostly to fault for this because I took her to baseball games from the time she was a very little girl. Why she even was exposed to the game before her birth on Oct 3rd 1979….Ask Casey about that game.
Then her grandfather, Casey’s dad, he had a lot to do with her addiction too.
One other annual ritual….U of M vs ND. Best college football game of the year….every year. One day, I’ll get to attend the game at ND or at the BigHouse….one day soon, I hope!
Zz
by Zorro
on March 28th, 2008 at 6:20 am
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Writing rituals…hmmm…I always start the day (after getting my kids off to school) by checking e-mail and the blog, and then I jump into writing. I don’t have a set schedule, like Casey’s 45 minutes on, 15 minutes off, but just yesterday she and I were talking about production and it seems my disorganized schedule works for me. : ) At least on my good days.
by Judy
on March 28th, 2008 at 6:23 am
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Let’s see, I get my coffee, check my email, read our blog, scream at the dogs, read the Drudge Report to see what the conservatives are yangling about, Huffington Post to see what liberals are yangling about, read Ohio.com (the akron Beacon Journal’s website), Cleveland.com (the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s website) and then if it isn’t bedtime yet, get down to writing.
The strangest thing I do is not so much a ritual as a psychological ploy. Years ago I wanted to see my words in a book so badly, I reformated my manuscript to look like a book: single space, justified margins four inches wide. Now I always write that way. So as I write, I see my words exactly as a reader would see them in a book. Of course when I send it off to the publisher I have to reformat it, double space, ragged right, etc.
by C.R.
on March 28th, 2008 at 6:40 am
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I guess if my rituals change, they’re really not rituals, huh? I used to have to drink tea while I wrote. I’ve cut way back on that. Sometimes I light candles and incense, just for a little atmosphere. Sometimes (but very seldomly) I listen to music, but I usually find that distracting. Like everyone else, I check email first thing, then a couple other interesting sites (like a daily knitting one), then get to work.
by Casey
on March 28th, 2008 at 6:53 am
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Jeff, I’m just the opposite. I get home from work, eat dinner, take a 5 mile walk with the wife, then sit and write.
It’s the walking that gives me inspiration and starts my brain moving. It also energizes me. The cold, wet weather puts a damper on that.
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I light a candle when I write. Which is very idyllic until the cat tries to sit on it. Cat butt as candle snuffer is not good.
And, Zorro, opening day for the REDS is Monday! We’re already well stocked with peanuts, hot dogs and beer. Go Reds!
by Sharon
on March 28th, 2008 at 8:22 am
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And for the Indians opener on Monday, we’re praying there isn’t a snow storm, like last year! This year, I’ll be prepared. Taking plenty of blankets, ponchos, etc. And won’t be schmoozed like I was last year when I was told we’d go downtown and watch the game from a nice, warm bar. The next thing I knew, there I was in the freezing cold stadium with the snow coming down. As God is my witness (she said, fist raised to heaven), that won’t happen again!
by Casey
on March 28th, 2008 at 8:32 am
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I’m adopting Casey’s writing schedule — fifteen minutes on, forty-five off. That’s it, right?
by C.R.
on March 28th, 2008 at 8:43 am
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CR….she may actually get more done with that formula!
by Zorro
on March 28th, 2008 at 8:55 am
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Music, or the television going. I need background noise.
Dog chewing on something loud.
Tea.
And enough caffeine flowing through my blood to send a rhino to the moon.
by Marissa
on March 28th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
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Hi, Jeff,
My husband describes me as obsessive in regard to my writing. I suppose he is right. I have my little rituals each morning for getting into the right groove for writing. I usually don’t eat or drink anything until I first peruse my e-mail. I’m the kind of wired person who doesn’t need caffeine in the morning. I get up early and go directly to my computer. I work usually for one or two hours before breakfast.
Jacqueline Seewald
THE INFERNO COLLECTION, Five Star/Gale
by Jacqueline Seewald
on March 29th, 2008 at 4:46 am
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