I’ll do a longer piece on this soon, but first, I want to hear from you all. What kinds of rituals or routines do you have in your writing life? Do you light a special candle or have an outfit you only wear to write or a special writing playlist? (I read an interview where R. O Kwon talked about having a playlist for writing and actually leaving a party (briefly) when one of those songs came on because she needed to preserve it for writing, which honestly makes total sense to me.)
another writing ritual: going for a little walk to clear my brain
A side note, but related: I love it when writers share playlists they’ve curated for their book or the music they listened to when writing, but I won’t be doing that because a) my musical taste is not good enough or interesting enough to share and b) my own little weird ritual around writing and music is that when I start a new project or new chapter, I pick a song I like and listen to it in a one-hour loop over and over until the draft is finished. I picked Florence and the Machine’s Mermaids for the Winnicott chapter of The Good Mother Myth (which, btw, you can pre-order TODAY, August 21, for 25% off at Barnes & Noble with the code PREORDER25), and I’ve listened to it an actual million times and it still works to hypnotize me into writing, so I’ll offer that here:
So, now over to you: what rituals or routines or magic do you use to get yourself into a writing session?
ooh, I'll share one more! I think a lot about how bad writers are at giving ourselves time to warm up, and I think a walk can do that, but I also sometimes like a little journaling ritual. The openness of Morning Pages doesn't always work for me, but I really like the journaling questions Molly Wizenberg describes in this post, and I keep a little post-it with the prompts on it in my notebook:
I have also used these prompts a few times recently! I have also adopted a journaling practice where, whenever I start to get distracted by something that is more of a to do list item, I write it in the margin in all caps and tell myself I can come back to that later, after I finish my journaling time.
Okay I will check those out! I've poked around a little with ambience videos but I don't think I've found the right one. I'm definitely ready for some autumn vibes, though.
I am mostly here to learn other people's magic tricks! So far, my writing ritual seems to be: wait until the last possible minute and let the sense of crushing time pressure force productivity. I do not recommend it! Walking helps me, too, though.
ha, aren't we all looking for magic! one more little tip: I like to leave myself notes about what I'm going to be working on, so I don't have to figure it out *and* write on the same day, if that makes sense. so if it's a longer project, I try to finish a writing session with a note about what comes next. and if it's something shorter, I just write myself a note the night before about where to start. it helps if it's really concrete--like, read x article and define y concept or write z scene or whatever.
this!! i just did this with a meaty article I'm working on but can't get back to until next week. I left myself (hopefully) clear notes about how to get back into it (what to read, and some easy busy work, like plugging in some quotes). Working in pieces is such a skill of its own. I am trying to learn it.
When I'm writing at home, I like to listen to background music, usually movie scores. A few of my favorites are "Under the Tuscan Sun," "Julie & Julia," and "Something's Gotta Give." When I write with pen and paper, I always write with the same pen - one I bought at Barnes and Noble about 15ish years ago. It's expensive to maintain (I buy the ink refills from Office Depot), but this is the pen I use for taking notes during a webinar, for working on a 5-minute writing exercise, or when attending an in-person event. When I take myself out to write (like to a favorite indie cafe), I tend to start with a bit of reading time and then begin my writing. At home, for some reason, I go straight to my writing.
Ooh thanks for this! It makes sense that movie scores would be good background music. And I love the phrasing of “taking myself out to write” — such a good reminder that this work can also be a source of pleasure.
When I was in the final six months of my PhD, I would play The Police's Synchronicity II on repeat in the car on the way home after dropping off my children at school - that became my "do the writing" song. These days, I take myself down to the cafe at work, and settle in with some reading and my notebook for the first hour or so of the day.
Finally getting to read this as I go through my emails, I'm so glad you brought this up! I'm loving the responses. I don't listen to music, but I like the idea of an ambient track. Walking helps but only after I 'have written.' If I walk first, I'm anxious to not be writing, if that makes sense. Walking after helps me clarify what the piece is 'really about.' And I do have a scented candle for when I journal first thing in the morning. I love this idea of taking care of our practice with rituals and routines. Thanks!
you're so right about walking *after* writing, too! I can't tell you how many times I've been totally stuck, gone for a walk (sometimes by choice, sometimes bc my time was just up and I had to pick my kids up from school etc) and unlocked what I'd been struggling with while seated for a long time!
ooh, I'll share one more! I think a lot about how bad writers are at giving ourselves time to warm up, and I think a walk can do that, but I also sometimes like a little journaling ritual. The openness of Morning Pages doesn't always work for me, but I really like the journaling questions Molly Wizenberg describes in this post, and I keep a little post-it with the prompts on it in my notebook:
GREAT MOMENTS YESTERDAY (3 things)
YESTERDAY I LEARNED (3)
I AM GRATEFUL FOR (3)
WHAT WOULD MAKE TODAY GREAT (3)
I AFFIRM (2)
I MIGHT FEEL BETTER IF (2)
https://mollywizenberg.substack.com/p/fishing-the-minds-lake?utm_source=publication-search
(the answer to "I might feel better if" is almost always some variety of more water/less phone ;)
I have also used these prompts a few times recently! I have also adopted a journaling practice where, whenever I start to get distracted by something that is more of a to do list item, I write it in the margin in all caps and tell myself I can come back to that later, after I finish my journaling time.
Oh that's so smart — such a good idea to note it but not let yourself get sidetracked!
Any of the 8-hour ambience videos from the AutumnCozy youtube channel get me in the zone for reading and writing!
Okay I will check those out! I've poked around a little with ambience videos but I don't think I've found the right one. I'm definitely ready for some autumn vibes, though.
This one is my favorite! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loOWXdmxOCA&list=PL2ebID4KDfAmCW_MJSfWF4cu_V5M57ouA&index=20
thank you!!! (and I just saw your newsletter's title--so great!)
thank you so much :')
I am mostly here to learn other people's magic tricks! So far, my writing ritual seems to be: wait until the last possible minute and let the sense of crushing time pressure force productivity. I do not recommend it! Walking helps me, too, though.
ha, aren't we all looking for magic! one more little tip: I like to leave myself notes about what I'm going to be working on, so I don't have to figure it out *and* write on the same day, if that makes sense. so if it's a longer project, I try to finish a writing session with a note about what comes next. and if it's something shorter, I just write myself a note the night before about where to start. it helps if it's really concrete--like, read x article and define y concept or write z scene or whatever.
this!! i just did this with a meaty article I'm working on but can't get back to until next week. I left myself (hopefully) clear notes about how to get back into it (what to read, and some easy busy work, like plugging in some quotes). Working in pieces is such a skill of its own. I am trying to learn it.
When I'm writing at home, I like to listen to background music, usually movie scores. A few of my favorites are "Under the Tuscan Sun," "Julie & Julia," and "Something's Gotta Give." When I write with pen and paper, I always write with the same pen - one I bought at Barnes and Noble about 15ish years ago. It's expensive to maintain (I buy the ink refills from Office Depot), but this is the pen I use for taking notes during a webinar, for working on a 5-minute writing exercise, or when attending an in-person event. When I take myself out to write (like to a favorite indie cafe), I tend to start with a bit of reading time and then begin my writing. At home, for some reason, I go straight to my writing.
Ooh thanks for this! It makes sense that movie scores would be good background music. And I love the phrasing of “taking myself out to write” — such a good reminder that this work can also be a source of pleasure.
When I was in the final six months of my PhD, I would play The Police's Synchronicity II on repeat in the car on the way home after dropping off my children at school - that became my "do the writing" song. These days, I take myself down to the cafe at work, and settle in with some reading and my notebook for the first hour or so of the day.
Ahh I love that--psyching yourself up for the transition from kids to writing! Do you have anything in particular you read as you move into writing?
Finally getting to read this as I go through my emails, I'm so glad you brought this up! I'm loving the responses. I don't listen to music, but I like the idea of an ambient track. Walking helps but only after I 'have written.' If I walk first, I'm anxious to not be writing, if that makes sense. Walking after helps me clarify what the piece is 'really about.' And I do have a scented candle for when I journal first thing in the morning. I love this idea of taking care of our practice with rituals and routines. Thanks!
you're so right about walking *after* writing, too! I can't tell you how many times I've been totally stuck, gone for a walk (sometimes by choice, sometimes bc my time was just up and I had to pick my kids up from school etc) and unlocked what I'd been struggling with while seated for a long time!