Wednesday, March 01, 2006
RitualsI've heard that some writers have rituals. That they have lucky charms, or superstitions, or some sort of pattern they follow before they sit down to right. That makes me think of a dog circling three time before lying down, but...hey! If it works it works!
I don't have rituals. At least, I don't think I do. I have habits. I have tricks to keep me going. But they're not rituals. I don't do them in any sort of order, and if I skip one, I don't fear my writing will be bad that day. Usually, I sit down, go over the last few pages of what I'd last written, and get started.
I believe this stems from the fact I haven't had the luxury of a lot of writing time for many years. I started seriously writing when my daughter was an infant. I squeezed it in during naps and after bed time. In those spare, brief moments, I didn't have time for rituals or time to worry if my lucky charm was hanging by the computer. I had to sit, write and write some more.
Now that I do have more time, I have maintained the habit of sitting down and getting to work. Yes, I do my share of procastination, usually involving email, the internet, blogging or cleaning off my desk. But hey, I tell myself, if my desk isn't clean, I can't work.
Bull-oney. I work plenty when my desk is dirty.
But I do like it better when it's clean. :)
I like to listen to music when I write. I like to sit at the same table in the coffee shop. I like to drink Coca Cola Zero, if I'm at home, or tea, or coffee if I'm out. I like to work on my Alfie because he keeps me in line, with no internet access to distract me. But those are all things I like to do, not have to do.
I've written in the library, in a parked car, on a park bench, at the lake, the hotel pool, at an indoor playground with dozens of screaming children running around me. I've written early in the morning, late late at night, so late at night it's really early in the morning, on a plane, in a car, at my kitchen table, while talking on the phone.
I just...write. Whenever and wherever I can manage.
I guess that's my ritual.
M
