Rituals to Help You Write
A simple walk can inspire awe and creativity.
Many athletes perform rituals when they’re on a winning streak. For example, some refuse to shave, wear the same socks for each game, or fuel up on the same pre-game snack. While it’s doubtful that these quirky habits play any part in the outcome of a game, these rituals may help an athlete mentally prepare.
Writers also need to put on their "game day" mindset quickly when planning to write. Although professional writers can generate inspiration out of thin air, most of us need to prime the pump to get our heads ready.
Here are a few pre-writing rituals to kickstart your creative process.
1. Take a walk.
Before writing, consider a long walk to cleanse your mind and create awe, a phenomenon that sparks excitement and serenity. Absorbing the sights and sounds around you can feed your imagination.
Is that a single tree growing in the meadow? Or is it a giant fortress, housing feathered warriors that protect the scarlet-clover and goldenrod field from burrowing creatures?
2. Read content from your favorite author.
Nothing elevates writing like surrounding yourself with the greats. If you enjoy simple language used to express complex ideas, consider reading Vonnegut. If you want to master straightforward narration, study Steinbeck. William S. Burroughs is a must-read if you enjoy disjointed, dream-like narratives. Read Hemingway and J. D. Salinger if you prefer realistic dialogue. Who is your favorite?
The goal is not to copy prominent writers. A photocopy will never be as crisp as the original. Instead, read to understand, Why do I find this writing so captivating? Then bring some of those elements into your writing while retaining your own style and authenticity.
3. Establish and follow your own rituals.
What did Michael Scott The Office say? “I’m not superstitious, but I’m—I’m a little stitious.” As am I.
Establishing your own rituals before you start writing can help you each time you sit down at your computer or journal. Before I sit to write, here are some other rituals I follow:
Exercise. My mind functions better after I’ve gotten my heart rate up and the “crazy” out of my system. This can be a two-mile run, long walk, or trip to the gym.
Drink. Yes, I’m sure caffeine helps, but that’s not why I drink coffee when I’m writing. I started drinking coffee when I was 12. For me, the beverage evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, something I find helpful when writing.
Choose a Place. I wrote my first half-dozen books sitting in the same room, on the same chair, with the same window view, computer, and desk. Collectively, I started referring to those trappings as my “writing cave,” which got shortened to “cave.” In my cave, I lose awareness of my pets, wife, or children. I look through people and things. The internet becomes a work tool instead of an ADHD playground where I’m prone to indulge thoughts about why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has failed to induct either Styx or REO Speedwagon. Nothing exists but my writing.
Step Away. When some writers get on a roll, they keep writing until the page is full and their brains are empty. If this works for you, keep it up! But I prefer to take a stretch break when my creativity reaches a new high. I don’t worry that walking away will interrupt my flow. Taking a walk with a fresh thought on my mind allows me to play out multiple scenarios about how the scene might play out. Your “stepping away” might look different—like a visit with a friend or a few minutes in your garden.
Schedule. Amateurs jump into their hobbies as time allows. That’s not the case for professional writers. Pros don’t rely on inspiration, time, or moods to write. If you want to be a writer, schedule your time to write. I’m up by 4 a.m. most days. After a lemon/ginger/honey shot, I catch up on the latest news, and then I exercise. After making coffee, I retire to my cave to write. From 6:30a.m. to 11:30 a.m., I schedule writing activities that require my most creative and deepest concentration. If you’re a night owl, switch out p.m. for a.m.. It doesn’t matter when you write; it matters only that you schedule a time to write so you don’t make it your lowest priority. Other authors commit to producing a certain word count per day, which is also a great strategy, especially when working on a book with a finite (but large) number of words.
What would you add?
Happy writing!
