How do you Nano?

What do you write on/with? I type on my PC and occassionally will write long hand. It hurts to do so a lot of the time so I type mostly.
Where do you like to write? The computer desk.
What does your writing space look like? My living room is where the desk is so its done in blue, green and yellow with white trim. It has my puppy in her bed or on the couch. Sometimes Maab will lie across the black finger chair looking out the window while I write.
What do you listen to when you write? TV, the trains passing by. We live about 150 feet from a railroad track that services the north south freight lines and Amtrak out of Charlotte and Miami.
Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write? Coffee, duh. Coke cola, yum and occassionally ice tea.
Do you use any other tools or totems? I don't think I am suppose to be around tools LOL no not really.
Do you have any unusual writing rituals? I hum when I am on a roll and click my tongue when I get stuck. To make it flow I often will dance in my head...mostly disco and the peabody.
Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what? I keep thinking about my royalty check and the book tour. All I want out of the book tour is to meet Sean Connery before I die. As for the royality check I'll take whatever God sends.

What do you write on/with? I vary between my baby - my laptop, and yellow standard sized legal pads. I don't know what it is about the yellow, but it works much better than white. I can't write with blue pens, I tend to be a black pen type of girl, but a purple one is currently doing nicely.

Where do you like to write? At work between customers on a tray table. At home in front of the TV, or on my bed, or my roommates bed... At a coffee shop chatting with friends.

What does your writing space look like? Cluttered and crazy, like my mind :)

What do you listen to when you write? People talking

Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write? Coffee

Do you use any other tools or totems?/ Do you have any unusual writing rituals? I am notorious for twirling my hair while writing - or tapping my nose with my index finger - both help me write.

Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what? I play Yahoo Gin when I am stuck, or switch from one medium to the other - like laptop to the yellow note pad or vise virsa

Michelle

I'm still in high school, so my answers will be a little... odd. ^^;;;

~What do you write on/with?
Erm... see, I write at school usually, since that's where most of my day is spent, so I sometimes write in a little notebook, sometimes on loose-leaf and, in Computer Applications, on the computer, once I finish my assignment. I use whatever pen or pencil I have at the time that isn't dead. ^^;;;; At home, I'll write on this, my wonderful desktop, but for this NaNoWriMo I'm using my "new" secondhand laptop.

~Where do you like to write?
Well, it's a lot easier to write in English, Computer Apps and Creative Writing. ^^;;; I can write in Latin (did so this morning, in fact!), but I have to pretend I'm working on stuff for class, so it's pretty hard. Plus, if I get caught, I might be forced to translate. x-x;;; In art, I'm usually joyfully immersed in my artwork, so I usually don't interrupt for writing. ^^;; At home, I set up my laptop (<3) at the kitchen table in front of the TV.

~What does your writing space look like?
English - 2 person desks, bright lights, uncomfortable chairs
Latin - small classroom with 5 of us in there (not counting the teacher), on one of those ridiculously small desks (As in, it's a challenge to spread out a sheet of NB paper on it) COLD!
Computer Apps - Long table, with my friend looking over my shoulder. Cold, usually, but now that they turned the heat on, it's ridiculously hot.
Creative Writing - Small desks, but so easy! After all, we're supposed to write in there, so I just write once I'm done with the assignment. ^3^
My kitchen - Well, the unusually tall table and chairs are in front of the blue cabinet that holds the TV. Under that cabinet are the cat food and water bowls. I sit with my back to the gigantic storage container that my mom converted into a litter box. Up next to the ceiling are shelves and hooks holding my dad's 200+ mug collection.

~What do you listen to when you write?
When I'm at home, it varies. Linkin Park, HIM, Hairspray, anime music, Jpop, Jrock, Aqua, Cascada, A*Teens, Fort Minor, Julien K, Bowling For Soup... just about anything. I'll also watch/listen to anime while writing.
At school, I listen to the teacher (I actually pay attention to class while writing ^^;;; ) and my classmates.

~Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write?
At home, I adore meh candy. Reese's, usually, but sometimes Gobstoppers, Nerds... often, whatever's on sale at the gas station near school, at Harris Teeter, or at Target. It helps if I've gotten Starbucks after school, but I don't usually drink it *while* writing. I hate soda. xP
At school, I'll usually only eat what my friends are sneaking that I can beg off of them. ^^;;;

~Do you use any other tools or totems?
Textbooks to hide what I'm doing! ^^;;

~Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
I write from class to class. I've learned to plan a scene as I write, and remember the important parts perfectly. For example, once I committed a single exchange of dialogue (2 or 3 lines) that randomly popped into my head to memory for three days until I thought of the story to go with it. In the evening, I watch TV and type up that day's work, and then sit there writing a bit more. I write individual scenes at school, so a lot of the time at home, I'm trying to write the transitions between my little oneshots from school.
Oh, my friend Lizzie has a Dana (Super AlphaSmart, kinda), so during classes that we share I can sometimes steal it from her, write on it, and have her email me the stuff later.

~Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what?
Watching anime music videos can make me see a character in a new way that'll help my writing. (Remember, I write mostly fanfiction.) The same thing goes for reading really well done fanfiction. I also draw random pictures that make me want to write a story about why it looks the way it looks.
One thing I do from time to time is to sit there with iTunes and Word open. I'll listen to songs on shuffle, and write. Every time the song changes, I start a new paragraph (Each paragraph being a stand-alone fragment) and eventually I'll hit something that I keep on writing.

^^;;; Did I mention that I tend to ramble way too much?

For this event, I write on a MacBook (whoever thought white was a great idea for a computer must be a neat freak); otherwise, it's longhand.

I like writing in bed, on the couch, or at a quiet coffee shop-- can't handle noise.

Space? See above; it'is pretty cozy.

Optimally, I listen to nothing when I write; loud music and overheard conversations are especially anathema. Night sounds are best.

No snacking-- maybe tea.

No tools/totems.

No rituals, other than higher-than-usual frequency of e-mail checking.

I've been doing The Artist's Way lately-- closest thing to writing exercises I do-- pretty helpful, and that recommendation is coming from a huge cynic.

What do you write on/with?
I write on my huge but beautiful Dell named SkyNet.
Where do you like to write?
Bookstores and places with a warm, cozy atmosphere.
What does your writing space look like?
I have to have an extremely neat, organized place to write with warm colors and interesting knick knacks and photos placed around my computer.
What do you listen to when you write?
Silence. Sometimes ambient/techno.
Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write?
Avoid snacks, but tea is delicious.
Do you use any other tools or totems?
Not really.
Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
I clean my room.
Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what?
I like to outline ideas on paper and write up character profiles.

What do you write on/with? I write longhand, since I'm at school, plus I can't concentrate when typing it out.

Where do you like to write? Anywhere that isn't home. I get distracted at home.

What does your writing space look like? Well...my desk is a mess, lots of soda bottles and candy boxes lying around. Gotta clean up.

What do you listen to when you write? Anything that gives me the mood of what I'm writing at the moment (ex. techno, trance, or J-Pop for happy scenes, Boards of Canada for more somber scenes).

Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write? I'm living on Gobstoppers, sunflower seeds, Frosted Flakes, and tea right now.

Do you use any other tools or totems? Nope

Do you have any unusual writing rituals? No

Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what? No

What do you write on/with? Laptop because desktop has WoW -- too distracting.
Where do you like to write? A desk with a chair, preferrably.
What does your writing space look like? A mess.
What do you listen to when you write? Music. At home, I put iTunes on shuffle. Elsewhere, the iPod is on shuffle. Unless I decide on a particular cd or group to listen to.
Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write? Not really. I wouldn't say they help me write, but I enjoy coffee and Dr. Pepper. A caffeinated mind is a working mind.
Do you use any other tools or totems? Not really, unless you count my jump drives and my incessant email back ups.
Do you have any unusual writing rituals? Most people I know think that writing itself is unusual enough. I don't really need any idiosyncracies to freak them out any further. Although I admit that that might be fun.
Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what? Nope. But I keep my characters and the story going in my head so that when I sit down to write, I don't have to wait for Muse to get going.

I usually clean up the house, which is pretty boring. Then I can sit down without nagging thoughts to dust or do the laundry. I like to forget it all and just write with a coke nearby. Sometimes I read and it is surprising how much a simple gesture made by someone will effect one of my characters.

I'm behind this year, but I'm not going to worry. The main task is to keep going. I often go back and expand as I go. Perhaps add
further characteristics to my protagonist. Today I changed a teacher into a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette, if any of you are old enough to know who they were.

I always work on my laptop for at least a three hour stretch and then stop to read or eat or fix dinner. When I'm doing other tasks I often think of my characters so I'm always working on the story.

I thought of quitting yesterday but another Nanoite talked me out of it as he did two years ago also.

I'll show up Thursday night at Border's in Raleigh down near Wake Forest Road.Gotta catch up. pattipen

What do you write on/with? I'm usually on caffeine induced by a steady supply of diet cokes with a straw?

Where do you like to write? In my bathtub, but it usually turns into a shocking experience.

What does your writing space look like? Much like normal space, cold, deathly silent, with paces motes of space particles.

What do you listen to when you write? The sound of my breathing, sort of like Darth Vader with asthma.

Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write? Diet coke. (are you not paying attention) and M&Ms squezzed from a vacuum tube.

Do you use any other tools or totems? Not really, but there is a tall pole in the yard with figurines on it.

Do you have any unusual writing rituals? I bow the times to the northeast in the general direction of Shakespeare every four hours.

Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what? I answer a lot online surveys, but have yet to win a Hummer.

What do you write on/with? Either my laptop or a standard sized yellow legal pad. I've spoken with numerous Wrimos and the majority who write longhand, use a yellow legal pad. Apparently there's just something about the yellow.

Where do you like to write?In public. While the people there can be a distraction at times, it's still fewer distractions than being at home where there's the cat, the phone, the internet, tv, books, chores, etc.

What does your writing space look like?Cozy (tho some might say messy). Notes strewn about, a cup of coffee (or can of diet mt dew) nearby, a dictionary, several pens, post it notes, etc. Everything is within arm's reach.

What do you listen to when you write?Preferably music. As far as a playlist, I don't have one yet for this novel. My MC hasn't answered that question yet as she's a tad squirrelly.

Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write?Coffee and/or diet mt dew (I believe someone in our region dubbed this 'Writer's Juice'), sometimes water. No real snacks, although the first of the month usually involves leftover Halloween candy.

Do you use any other tools or totems?My cell phone to text people random questions that I can't find the answer to or am too comfortable (aka lazy) to go look it up.

Do you have any unusual writing rituals?Other than mocking Parerclip's nose tapping or hair twirling? None that come to mind.

Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what?Hmm not really. I mean I do tend to become wordier in my emails the closer to November it gets. I guess that could be a writing exercise, tho mostly I think of it as a mental one.

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"I am idealistic, but I'm not a fool. And yes, I do think our ideals get us into trouble, but that's fair enough. You don't do something because you know you can win, you do something because it's worth doing." - The Edge

What do you write on/with?
In the past I've started off stories on paper before transferring them to a computer. Lately I just start typing using the Notepad application that comes with Windows. I like it a lot more than the complicated word processors for writing a first draft, since there's no temptation to change the margins, colors, boldface or italicize... it doesn't do any of that. Also it is quite stable under normal circumstances.

I've also thought about using the online Google word processor thing. It can do a word count (Notepad doesn't do that, so I have to use MS Word to count words), and you can access the google word processor from any net connection, and it allows you to set the document viewable, so other people can read it or even edit it... >End of Advertisement< :D

Where do you like to write?
I've tried writing everywhere.... In a cafe, at a bookstore, in a library... even outdoors. I don't know how people write outdoors, it's the most inconvenient thing in the world. There's bugs, the wind is constantly blowing everything around. The sun usually finds just the right angle to always be in my eyes, or else it clouds up and rains! Total disaster there! :(

Anyway, I'm very distractable, so I tend to write at home in my room.

What does your writing space look like?
It looks like my room! Didn't I just tell you that! Sheesh! >.>

Really? It's quite messy and cluttered. But I have books around, and the internet.

What do you listen to when you write?
I can hear the fan on my computer, it's very loud. That's if I have my hearing aids in, otherwise it's total silence! If there were sheep around, it would be like ... the Silence of the Lambs. But then people would be getting weird ideas about why I have sheep in my room. o.O

Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write?
I drink a lot of diet soda. Especially Diet Mt. Dew. I drink it compulsively, I think. Usually I take lots of snack breaks, but only as an excuse to go downstairs and get more diet soda...

Actually, I tried drinking beer once, and a couple of other times I mixed some liquor in with my soda to see if that would help inspire me... I ended up falling asleep. :(

Do you use any other tools or totems?
Yes. I can't write at all without a Black and Decker DS321A Belt Sander, my Moose totem stone, and a figurine of the anime character, Ayanami Rei.

Actually, I used to keep a dictionary around and check it compulsively, but with the internet, I just keep dictionary.com open in the background. :D

Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
Well, that would depend what you call unusual.... ^^;;;

Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what?
Hmm... I just spent 30 minutes dancing around my room and waving a bokken around while listening to Jimi Hendrix. I hoped it would inspire me, but I'm still at a loss for words. It was pretty good exercize, though.

Actually, I think I just need more Mt. Dew.

- Davian

What do you write on/with? For nano, it has all been on my home computer, though I do write things on occasion in a spiral notebook
Where do you like to write? well, since my computer is at home, I'd have to say there ;) but on the occasions I've gone it, it tends to be the neighborhood park where I take my kids (they play while I write)
What does your writing space look like? cluttered!
What do you listen to when you write? it varies widely and I chose whatever I may feel like at the time. That can be anything from classic rock to country to metal.
Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write?nothing special though I tend to drink hardly anything outside of water or coffee anyway, so I guess it would be those.
Do you use any other tools or totems?outside of the green, semi-worn spiral notebook and a pen, not really
Do you have any unusual writing rituals?I don't think so - though I like to write after the kids have gone to bed - less distractions that way. And I also bribe my muse with chocolate *snerk*
Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what?no

What do you write on/with?
Depends on whether I'm at home or the office. At home it's on the computer for the most part. At the office it's longhand on a note pad.

Where do you like to write?
Just about anywhere. Whenever the mood takes me.

What does your writing space look like?
A mess but I've always heard a clean desk is a sign of an insane mind.

What do you listen to when you write?
Differs depending on my mood....right now it's Native American war chants.

Are there any special drinks or snacks that help you write?
DIET PEPSI and heaven help North Carolina (and the world) if I run out.

Do you use any other tools or totems?
I have a Kepi and a pair of plot bunnies that someone gave me recently

Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
Nope not a one

Do you use writing exercises to get yourself thinking? if so what?
Thinking??? What's that? Most of the time my hands are taken over by a character and the writing just appears without my brain even knowing it's happening.