In order to make me write, I randomly selected a song on my computer and put it on repeat-- until I hit my goal for tonight.
Ironically, the random song was "Edit" by Regina Spektor, which contains the lyrics "you can write, but you can't edit" in the chorus.
Does anyone have a less painful method? If so, please share.
Please note that as Lit Fic writer, I refuse to destroy my novel in order to make word count. My MCs OWN ME!
----------
51,490 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 10 10
Annie Dillard said that seasons do not deterimine inspiration, but autumnal colors seem to make me feel more like doing creative/artsy things. So I've decorated my living room with browns and deep reds/oranges.
As for picking up my word count, I refused to eat until I got at least the minimum (I wrote in the morning), and I rewarded myself with a drink if I finished a scene after that. Okay, that's probably bad, but whatever. My characters aren't ever hungry, you know. They have more important things to think about.
50,166 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 10 23
I have a pattern that I engage in- a select number of actions that I go through before I start to write.
This isn't some sort of OC thing where I have to check the bathroom to make sure the toilet isn't running exactly 12 times. It's more like prep work. I make sure I have a tall glass of water, I read through certain message boards, and so on. All with the idea that once I completed certain tasks I would start writing. It's all done to guard agaisnt writers block. Since it never shows up at the beginning when I'm inspired by the project it's easy to build that habit. Then, when I start to flag out in the middle, I used the process to get in there and keep writing.
so, I have something like that but it's more of a whole process.
and it's not painful.
62,474 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 12 11
Whatever works for you, works for you. Don't believe people who say 'there is no process to turn on the creativity'. There is, if you have one. Never doubt the power of belief in your own idiosyncrasies and superstitions. They make life possible.
Personally, I have to play music, I always have to start with a Beatles song (usually Hey Jude) and it helps if I'm talking to someone. I need to be semi-distracted so I don't think too hard.
----------Matthew
http://literaryrockstar.blogspot.com
"A Man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery." Stephen Dedalus, James Joyce, Ulysses
53,769 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2007 - 21 09
I love hearing about other writers' creative processes. I don't torture myself with a randomly chosen song, the mere thought of that is scary, but I am a big proponent of trying to figure out what amongst the many, many techniques, tips, etc. works for you as a writer. I absolutely have to listen to music, and I almost always have to have it through headphones, although I'd really like to break myself of that habit. I do try to create some sort of listening environment that has to do with the scene I'm writing and I feel that it becomes sort of trance like if I can do that. For those of you with itunes, you know how it tells you how many times you've played a certain track? I was writing a sex scene and obviously had to put myself in a very particular frame of mind and found that one particular song does that for me. So whenever I write about sex, or an intense emotional scene between two characters who are in love or really attracted to each other, I play that song on repeat. It's a gorgeous song called "Temple" by someone named Beverly Klass and if anyone knows where I can find ANYTHING else by her, please email me b/c I can't find anything. Oh, and I've played that song 463 times. But through writing several novels, not just this year's Nano.
Lisa:-))
With Anticipation
2005 “Two Truths and a Lie” literary fiction
----------2006 “Slipping the Tracks” literary fiction (Winner)
2006 “Exit, Pursued by Bear” literary fiction (Non Nano novel)
2007 “The Dream of Safety” literary fiction (Winner)
With Anticipation
2005 "Two Truths and a Lie" literary fiction
2006 "Slipping the Tracks" literary fiction (Winner)
2006 "Exit, Pursued by Bear" literary fiction (Non Nano novel)
2007 "The Dream of Safety" literary fiction
55,686 / 50,000
Nov 27, 2007 - 00 04
Like pretty much everyone else, music helps. I've found that I should have music playing VERY LOUD on earphones, stuff like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Le Tigre, something loud.
It's funny, I happen to LOVE Regina Spektor. I listen to "That Time" and of course "Fidelity" A lot when I write. "On the Radio" is good too. :)
----------38,962 / 50,000
Feb 22, 2008 - 18 52
I've tried a lot of things, visualisation, meditation, feng shui but the thing that really works for me is writing every day, and the Beatles. [of course.]
----------07 Nano: Cafe X: 38,962
0 / 50,000
Feb 24, 2008 - 20 04
I honestly don't ever force myself to write. That seems to be the surest way to write badly. I try to write when I can't help but write. When I have a story to tell, that won't sit tight and keeps repeating itself in my head. I have a hit my midterm block right now, so there is pretty much nothing I can do to force myself to write anything except term papers.
50,713 / 50,000
Mar 15, 2008 - 09 39
Whoa... that's weird; I use something like repeat song torture myself. I thought I was the only one! Once I was playing the Theme music from Jaws over and over... I find that the music I listen to really affects how I'm writing at the time, it was terribly tense. :)
And by the way, I really like WithAnticipation's Nano title "Exit, Pursued by Bear." I'd actually really like to read that.
You gotta love "A Winter's Tale"!!
----------Writing is like the evolution of some weird octupus. It starts out great, some cool camoflauge, then suddenly it's got eight legs and has stolen your pen and started writing. I wanted to write seriously, but the Plotpus took over and Then There Were Ninja