Comments on: Odd Writing Rituals (That, Alas, Don’t Involve Urine)

By: Jovial Historian

Jovial Historian — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:58:00 +0000

I have to have some sort of soundtrack to my work.Nothing with lyrics, just music or background noise.Usually Gublerland.

By: Rose Jermusyk

Rose Jermusyk — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:37:00 +0000

I have to have some sort of soundtrack to my work.
Nothing with lyrics, just music or background noise.
Usually Gublerland.

By: S. S. Post

S. S. Post — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:21:36 +0000

I have a few weird rituals.

1- No music while I work on poetry.

2- I associate specific moods with various works. When I plan to work on my poetry, I need either utter silence or total chaos. In either case, my mind doesn’t get the chance to focus on a distracting sound.

3- I have exactly 500 songs that I shuffle when working on my pet project- a comedy trilogy about death. I have to listen to at least 5 of them before I can get started.

By: Mike W

Mike W — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:31:08 +0000

There is a beer bell curve (or perhaps a blood-alcohol bell curve) – a couple gets the juices flowing, a couple more and you hit the sweet spot, a couple more and you get flabby and distracted. I wrote my first book while doing night shifts as a reporter. I’d start at about 2 a.m. with a six pack and half a pack of cigarettes, finish between 4 and 5, tipsy and coughing.

By: R. D. Allen

R. D. Allen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:47:00 +0000

I have to listen to certain music in order to write. Always. If I’m not listening to music, writing is like trudging through several feet of snow. And it has to be a certain kind of music. My characters are very picky, even making me listen to a certain range of songs before they’ll work for me. The same rule applies to writing AND editing.

And, it just so happens, the characters that are the pickiest, are the ones that give me the best writing. Isn’t that ironic?

I seem to have the same habits as Kyra: music matching the mood and drinking more while writing. I love finding other writers that are kindred spirits!

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:08:05 +0000

I’m not an author, but I can certainly see how a particular scent or certain music could help to create mood and memories to enhance writing.

By: Poetry News For January 6, 2010 | Poetry Hut Blog

Poetry News For January 6, 2010 | Poetry Hut Blog — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:06:46 +0000

[...] Odd Writing Rituals (That, Alas, Don’t Involve Urine) [...]

By: Kyra

Kyra — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:27:20 +0000

This isn’t so strange. I drink more when I write, and often match some music with whatever I’m writing. Poetry demands softer, easier listening, while stories require the tone of the event I’m currently writing (if it is suspenseful, quick and dangerous music).

By: Don

Don — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:26:42 +0000

John Cheever used to dress in full 1950′s era suit and tie, get in the elevator with all the rest of the 9 to 5 boys similarly attired, all of whom got off at the first floor. He would continue on to the basement of his apt. building, where he had an office, strip down to his skivvies, right until 5, then dress back up in time to catch the elevator back up with all the returning workers.

By: Heather S. Ingemar

Heather S. Ingemar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:01:57 +0000

Nothing particularly weird; I do like to have tea or coffee while I write, sometimes a snack, and sometimes the work demands a particular type of music. I wrote one story once, where the only thing I could stand to listen to during the process was raga music…