Does anyone have any interesting writing habits? What kind of routines do you guys get into for that marathon writing / drafting session?

For me, I like to start early, get about three cups of coffee down so I'm bursting with figidty energy, put my iPod on flat out and get going for about three hours, then I might have breakfast, watch a bit of news24 and take a shower before going back to read over what I've done.

Anyone take long walks before sitting down to get to it? Or perhaps, as Stephen King and Ian McEwan do, take a walk in between writing sessions? Or do press-ups, or Yoga? Or write late at night with a bottle of red and pack of Camels?

curious to know...
L

Hi L,

You do all that BEFORE breakfast?!!

My only thing of routine regarding writing is that i have ABSOLUTE SILENCE and i often end up wearing earplugs for the first draft. I've tried to fight this, but get easily distracted, even a clock ticking would stop the flow for me.

Casey

well...maybe I should call it brunch then!
but I do prefer to write early, feels better, like I'm more in touch with the creative unconscious

L

I have to completely clear/clean the house, and especially my study, make sure there aren't any little admin-y jobs that should be done (otherwise known as prevarication), have fresh fizzy water and some nice fruit and ah hour in, a really nice cup of coffee. Not terribly routine-y, but I don't feel quite right if these things aren't in place. Oh, and I have to have checked all my emails and dealt with anything that needs replying to before I can write, or I worry.

Maybe writers should become more like rockstars and have outrageous riders. Bottles of Cristal, etc..

Unlimited quantities of very strong tea, and a reasonably clear desk. It helps if the rest of the study is tidy, preferably the rest of the house, but if I waited to write until that day, I'd never get anywhere.

All my other habits (like checking WW, email, google) are definitely procrastination.

Emma

I suspect a lot of writers develop routines that become a kind of superstition. Who is it has to have a certain sort of book to do his preparatory notes in? I forget now.

My own habit is that I have to put something down every weekday, or my ability to write will vanish. As soon as one project is finished I'm casting about for the next; I have a real fear of taking a break, in case I'm unable to start up again.

I can totally relate to this, Lammi. If i miss one weekday i have this irrational fear that i'll never finish my novel.

Casey

I find I can only write after I've attended a wild party, consumed lots of alcohol and drugs and met many interesting people. I rush home, run to my lappy, leave all my make up on and drink strong black coffee. After six or seven hours, I wake, wipe the drool off my keyboard and marvel at all the clever, deep and meaningful thousands of words I've written.

Oh, how I wish that were true, as it would mean I had a life. In reality, I write whenever my one year old sleeps. Not very often, then.

A

Best at writing when around me others are also writing, i.e., it helps keep me sitting down long enough to do something!

I went freelance specifically so I could have whole days off to write - thinking that I'd get loads done each morning (I was aiming for 5000 words before lunch). Then I figured I'd go to the gym for a bit and then spend the rest of the day doing admin/housework.

But it hasn't worked out at all! I end up spending the whole morning emailing, reading BBC News, doing my online banking and generally faffing about. Then I have some lunch and watch a bit of TV (the shame of it). FINALLY!, by about 3.30pm, I somehow find the ability to write. I end up doing my 5000 wds in one big rush without stopping (I only wish there were tea fairies because i'm always parched but can't tear myself away to get to the kitchen) before my better half comes back from work at about 7pm and interrupts me.

I'm very disappointed with myself but for some reason mornings just don't 'do it' for me! And going to the gym has gone completely out of the window.

My bad habits are that I tend to write a page, have a fag, read the page, edit and then sit for about an hour doubting it all. Repeat per page.

JB

I find the fag breaks are the biggest problem. I can't type with one in my hand so every time I have one I come on here, have a scout about, read the forum posts e.t.c. The other day I spent 3 hours having googled for "procrastination" (during a fag break) going through the results and doing the tests on the websites! I scored

very

highly as a procrastinator - in the top 10%. A proud moment for me but I could probably have written a few thousand words in that time.

My writing ritual involves late nights, black coffee and unplugging the modem. Oh, and my favourite tunes downloaded from Limewire (another addiction) blasting in the background.

<Added>

very - that should have been a bold not a quote - see, too much caffeine and nicotine will be my undoing.

Yeah Waxy and Eve - I find cigarette smoking essential as a kind of a reflective tool. I need things to be reasonably in order, need a bottle of still mineral water at hand (or tea) and after an hour or so of typing (or if I hit a snag) it's outside, light-up and just think. That's about it, I think. Sadly nothing too off the wall.

Nik.

I think smoking as a cogitive tool is very helpful, but sadly, not when you try to give up. I found it so much harder to concentrate on writing when I couldn't spark up, and now I live in fear of the fact that the continuing health of my art may depend on the diminsihing health of my heart.

JB

I agree Waxy. But what we write is an extension of what we are. When the time's right we'll be able to give up without it having any effect on our creative output. It's all to do with balance and timing I think.

Nik.