Writing Totems

Although this has nothing to do with its being NaNoWriMo and is pretty standard for me all the time, I'm generally always holding a pen when I'm writing - even when I'm on the computer, where I usually do the actual writing.

was thinking about this today. I think I'm going to make a wand (like Harry Potter) and keep it with me when I write. You know, remind me to be magical...maybe it's a little dorky, but who cares?

I have a writing totem, and it brings me much mockery.

A stuffed cat. The beanie baby 'Silver' - I have had it for years. It goes around in my backpack and sits next to me on my desk.

The reason for the mockery? I'm a 27-year-old guy.

Well I have my stuffed elephant, Duck, who I always love to have around when I'm writing for NaNoWriMo. And I also usually go to Earth, Wind, and Bead and buy a magical stone for the story. And I'll probably also get a bracelet or something. I'm awfully superstitious for someone who's been writing stories since the ripe old age of 6....

I have a squishy ball (stress ball) that looks like the Earth. It was a free gift from a geomantics school that visited mine to promote their courses. It's such an awesome souvenir; people usually just give pens.

I also have a baseball. Baseball sits on my desk all day. The squishy Earth ball joins the baseball when I'm at home, and goes in my backpack when I go out.

I have a stuff bear my mom got me two years ago. She sent it to me in a care package during Nanowrimo so it's become my totem in November. He's a great bear to hug and to throw if I need it to.

I usually have my blankie wrapped around my shoulders...and yes, I DO still have a blankie. His name is Blankie. He's very encouraging. *pets him*

Buying a magical stone is a GREAT idea! I already have symbols for my story that I write everywhere as shorthand for the titles, and some even have little patches like the ones for the space missions, but it's a sweet idea to have a specific gemstone for a story and buy bracelets, necklaces, etc. with it on. lessee. Body and Soul would be opal, Starchildren would be tiger's-eye, this year's NaNo would be emerald...

And it's weird how easily that came XD Like, no thinking about it, just "opal. tiger's-eye. emerald."

The possibilities are endless, actually! Flowers representing stories! Birds representing stories! Flags! Bugs! Sports! Colours! Occupations! Patterns!

Oh, and now that I remember it, I'm ALWAYS eating apples. Always. Like, apple after apple. I chew on the cores and the seeds and the stems, even.

OMG, I was just thinking about this today. :)

I don't have any writing totems and I think this may be part of my problem. So, while I am out and about this weekend with the kiddos, I will be on the lookout for a plot bunny. It doesn't necessarily have to be an actualy bunny, but something quirky is a must.

I plan to have at least one more by the time nano starts. Maybe something symbolic of me locking away my self doubt for the month? Then, maybe I could lock it up at other times of the year.....

Don't feel bad. I have a Blankie, too. XD I'll always have a blankie. I can't get away from it.

Sometimes I have a picture of someone that resembles my FMC or MMC. Last year it was a picture of a hottie from the RenFaire who resembled my MMC (my story was set in a RenFaire).

I've got a small stuffed moose I like to keep around and a bobblehead cow that sits on the same desk as my computer.

I have my slippers, fingerless gloves, blankets and hats; I CANNOT write when I'm cold.

Also, I have a (fairly large) pile of stuffed animals on my desk (or where ever I'm writing). They are my plot_________ (insert animal here)s. I also have a stack of papers next to my lap top for crumpling up and throwing about. It's quite theraputic.

I have my stuffed bear, who does not actually have a name as of yet other than "Mr. Bear". But he's soft and cuddly and glares at me when I'm not writing and am supposed to be. I also have my lucky bamboo plant. Mr Bear and Bamboo Plant both live on my desk. They have a harmonious relationship the majority of the time.

I've got my uber warm Nirvana sweatshirt that I leave on my computer chair just for writing, it's like magic or something

Countless stuffed animals, scattered all around my writing station: two black cats, a pug, a red panda, a snow leopard, a Halloween cat (orange with jack o'lanterns all over it), and my newest buddy, Miga the Sea Bear (one of the mascots for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics) - he might be coming with me to write-ins and such. Also, at least one Moleskine notebook and a pen sitting beside the keyboard.

...yeah, I'm pretty much hopeless.

My totems aren't with me when I write, but if I need inspiration, there easy to find. They're Wade England figurines. I just thought they were kind of neat, so I started collecting, and now they help me write.

I have this Beanie Baby frog that I got last year. This time around his name is Edgar (his name changes every year apparently). Last year it was The Frog Formerly Known as Prince (lame, ya?).

i have a st francis de salles medal that i keep handy. i'm not catholic, but he is the patron saint of teachers and authors. other than that, i keep a hot pot of tea brewed in my Mr Coffee.

I love your dorky idea. Perhaps you could find a neat stick somewhere in the woods or in a hobby store and varnish it for a refined look. Also, tie a string on the end, dirty it up with a brown marker, and attach a charm to it to remind you of your book.

jade

Mine is a voodoo doll (Not of the magical kind, merely a doll made kind of like a twine ball XD ) named 'Hiro'. He looks like a ninja, is on a keychain and is always in a box on my desk.

I haven't found one yet...I'm thinking of getting a writing-themed necklace charm. I wear several necklaces every day, and I have one necklace with about eight different things strung on it, all of which have a particular meaning to me. If I add a writing-themed charm to the necklace, then I'll always have it with me, empowering me with the knowledge that I am a writer! ...Or, at least, that's what I would hope it would do. xD Of course I still have to find the right one.

I don't have one yet either, but I would like to make myself a plot bunny to sit next to me while I type (I do alot of sewing) If I don't get around to it, maybe i'll just pop over to the card store and pick up one of those little Russ stuffed animals (hopefully a bunny) ^_^

Oh my goodness, I have several!

There's my labcoat that I bought just for my Mad Scientist tendencies. >:3
There's my One Ring that I bought at Dragon Con this year, which fits on my left middle finger.
Also there's my Aes Sedai ring that I wear on my right middle finger.
My wolf plushie, who is yet to be named.

I'm also thinking of making a charm bracelet of sorts for my story, stones or whatever that symbolize important stuff about it.

I'm not really sure if I do have a writing totem. The only thing I always have around me when I am writing is music. But I do find it hard to write in notebooks and such. I get something jotted down and immediately get excited, so I have to rush to the computer and type it up.

Perhaps the computer is my writing totem?

Please excuse my ignorance...Is a writing totem similar to a muse and vice-versa?

Could someone really explain a muse in simple terms like for someone who is six?

I always have a notebook near me. Luv my notebooks. ^_^

a muse is simply put "the source of inspiration"

(if you want to talk greek mythology there are nine Muses, they are the daughters of Zues and each one presides over a different art or science)

if explaining to a six year old i would say a muse is " the magic that makes you want to make something special"

the totems are objects you would keep around you for inspiration, to help you focus, to comfort you so you can really enjoy the experience, and to indicate to others that you are in nano mode. last year my nano totem was a pair of blue fuzzy slippers. the people in my house knew if i was wearing them i was in nano mode and not to be disturbed. a totem can be any object you designate to have these supreme powers of super nano-osity.

hope that helps and good luck with your nano this year.

I have a Blanky too. He is also a he. His name is Blanky, with a y. He sits on my pillows behind me when I write.

I also have a fleece Canucks blanket I have to have on my lap, and if I'm cold, a fleece comfa bag around me too.

What I've always wanted (well not always, but I can't remember not wanting it, now) is a writing dragon. Just a small little figurine of a dragon to help me write.

Sadly, I have yet to find my little writing dragon. I've perhaps seen a couple of small dragon figurines but they were cheap, and didn't look altogether very inspiring or totem-like!

-Lissa (I'm quite sad thinking about my lack of writing dragon now)

I have a giraffe that sits on my desk but not at the computer. At the computer I consult my alternate self (LOL not really. Just really good at having conversations with myself)

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