Few beginning writers realize that how you write can affect what you write and the caliber of your writing. Before putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, read this!
Seasoned writers know what works for them. Some get up early write while the rest of the house sleeps; while others only sit down to create once chores and necessities are taken care of. Good writers prepare to write in their own unique way, and that can make all the difference between struggling to find the right words and watching the story pour out like water from a jar.
Since you need to find out what environment instills you with creativity, you will need to do some experimenting. This may take a while, so I suggest that as you try different scenarios on for size, you make a note to the side of whatever piece of writing you are working on, so that later you can see what situation lead to that quality of writing.
When You Write – Are you a morning person or a night-dweller? Do you feel your best after you’ve been up for a few hours, but by day’s end you are completely drained again? Knowing your shining hour will go a long way to helping you pick the best time to write. But don’t assume that you know this—actually writing at different times of the day is the only way to know for sure. Personally, I abhor mornings and have found that my best writing is done by the light of the moon.
How You Write – When I first started writing seriously, my preferred method was longhand, with a decent pen and legal pads. Somewhere along the way, I have lost the ability to write anything longhand. I just sit there and stare at the blank paper. If I am to create, it must be at the keyboard. Most of the time, I don’t have a clue what I’m going to write until my fingers start whacking away at the keys. So try it both ways, first on paper, then directly onto the computer, and see which way allows the words to flow freely.
Where You Write – Write sitting on the sofa, laptop heating your legs. Or pushed up to an antique desk, or sitting at the kitchen table with chaos all around. Try out a variety of different places, and see which one feels the best. Are you comfortable? Is the lighting good? Everything thing about your writing space should be conductive to your craft. This is one reason why I love my laptop; I can write where it feels the best, even if that seems to change every few days or weeks. My Muse and I are mobile!
While You Write – Do you need complete silence? Do you like the sultry tones of jazz playing? Do you need to sip on a double-mocha-cappuccino? All of these things create your writing environment so you’d better pay attention to what works for you versus what is just plain distracting.
In addition to helping you find your creative prime, considering all the When, How, Where and While can also become part of your creative process, helping your brain make the switch from normal to creative much faster. Like Pavlov’s dogs, training the muse within isn’t that difficult, if you know which bell to ring!
