Routines and Location Can Help Creative Writers
How the Right Choices Help Inspire Imaginative Writing
Jun 27, 2009
Want to write a short story or maybe a poem? How about the great American novel? Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. If a writer feels inspired to write and he thinks he has good ideas but still can’t get started, habits and location are two areas he should take a good look at. Below are some reasons why these things shouldn’t be dismissed and why every writer should examine her habits and location.
Rituals
Many writers have “rituals” or “routines” that help them get in the mood to write (think Paul Sheldon in Stephen King's Misery). Just as a writer needs to exercise his writing muscles, he should also look at his writing habits. Are his habits sloppy, lazy, or haphazard? Some writers can simply pick up a notebook and start writing, and they can write anywhere—lying on the couch with the TV blaring in the background, on a bus, or in a noisy café.
Location and Routine
But some writers need solitude and routine. For any writer who has discovered she needs rituals to make her mind and body “realize” it’s writing time and needs solitude to do it, here are some ideas that might help her (or any writer) set up her ideal writing space:
- Find a quiet room at home; if a quiet room is not available, find the quietest corner with the least amount of traffic.
- Make sure the desk or table faces a place as free of distraction as possible. For example, if it faces a window that reveals a busy street, either draw the shades or choose another spot. If the desk is in a high-traffic living area, make sure the desk faces the wall.
- In direct opposition, the writer who is inspired by people watching might do well to look out a window at a busy playground. For writers who aren’t sure which would work best, a little experimentation might be in order.
- Check the time in relation to your location. Sometimes 4:00 pm is a busy time at home, but what about 6:00 am? Maybe 10:30 pm is a perfect time. A writer should also think about his “peak” writing times (do ideas seem to flow more freely early or late in the day?) Whatever the case, choose a time and stick with it—write at the same time every day at least five days a week (more if possible) and keep writing for the same amount of time every day (whether it’s twenty minutes or two hours). If inspiration hits hard, there is nothing wrong with writing for longer periods of time than one originally planned for.
- If possible, play some music quietly. Everyone’s musical preferences are different, but a writer should choose music that is easy for him to “tune out.” Think “white noise” here. Sometimes just a little music is all it takes for a writer to tune out the “real” world and tap into the imagination.
- Write the same way: if a notebook and pen lead to the easiest, most prolific work for a writer, why should she change that habit? If another writer just touches a keyboard and starts tapping on the keys, he would be wise to continue the practice. But writers who aren’t sure what would best inspire their writing might want to experiment with several different methods until they find something that works.
Old Habits Die Hard
“Old habits die hard” because human beings—in their minds and bodies—prefer the routine. Writing habits are no different: When a writer finds what works for her, she needs to do it every day—consistently, in the same location, at the same time, and in the same manner. When she begins writing page after inspired page, she’ll be glad she did.
Related article:
Creative Writing-Revision Matters: Techniques to Polish a Novel or Short Story
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