Writing Rituals

February 14th, 2010Blog0 comments

I was recently asked to write a response to the following: Do you have any writing routines or rituals?

I have a ton of them. I’m not superstitious — I don’t need these things in order to write. Instead, my rituals/routines are designed to augment the job and make it easier. Anyway, I gave a truncated reply (this response was for a newsletter), but I thought I’d give an expanded response here:

- I get up every morning at 7 AM and go for a 6-8 mile run. This gives me time to think about what I’m working on, and I’m more willing to experiment and not second-guess things when my brain is swimming in endorphins. I do my best thinking when I’m running, and it keeps me focused. I also tend to come up with my best ideas during these sessions.

But the best thing that running has taught me is how to always keep moving forward. Often in writing it’s easy to get distracted or to keep turning a problem over and over in your head without pushing for a solution; running helps me keep up my mental momentum. Writing is mostly a solitary activity — the writer’s success can only be determined by his/her attitude and actions, and no one else’s. Every run reminds me of this fact, and it keeps me disciplined.

Also it lets me indulge in one of my favorite hobbies: Looking at cars. I love looking at cars! Lots of great ones around here — I’ve seen everything from Bugattis to a Tesla Roadster to an actual Mini-E.

- I’m very specific about my equipment — my computer, the pens and notebooks I use, etc.. It helps if everything is organized and in order. I always have a pen and a piece of paper on me so I can write down ideas as they appear. I carry a hipster pda and a Fisher space pen at all times so that I can capture ideas anywhere.

I have one simple rule: Capture everything right away. If I get an idea or a thought, I write it down right away. Same goes for if I have to schedule an event — I put it into my calendar immediately. Then I process and file everything important in my computer at the end of the day.

This ensures that I can trust myself to record every good idea I get; it also subconsciously lets my mind know that it should keep coming up with good ideas because none of them will ever be wasted.

- As far as places to write in, all I need is a table, a chair, and a space to get up and pace if need be. A window to look out of is nice too, because sometimes I like to stare outside and look at people going about their business.

It doesn’t need to be quiet — I like to have activity going on around me. Food courts at malls are good places to work. I really like working in airports as well.

- Music is great. It allows me to return to the specific emotional space of a story as I’m working on it. I create a playlist in iTunes for every project I’m working on.

For a project right now I’m listening to Tegan and Sara, the XX, and a lot of Deerhoof. Their music really fits the tone of the story.