Friday Writing Essential—We’re All the Same (Only Different)—November 6th, 2009

Sitting on the couch, coffee mug in hand, I’m looking out the window at half-bare tree branches that still sport shocks of yellow, orange, and red leaves. While I hate to see the colors fade into the browns and grays of late fall/early winter, I am somewhat anxious to be done with the raking of those fallen bits of nature that seem to always end up firmly entangled my bushes and plants where it takes patience and dedication to release them.

Why do I bother?

Besides the fact that I enjoy a well-groomed yard, I have mold allergies that make waiting until spring to clean them up a real disaster for my sinuses. We also have clay soil that keeps the top layer of ground too soft in early spring to work outside without damaging the lawn.

The reason I’m sharing this is to illustrate that although this seasonal chore that seems to last for too many weeks often prevents me from spending time on other more enjoyable activities, in the end, it saves me time and hassle to take care of it now. I do get a great sense of satisfaction from a job well done, even if no one else appreciates my efforts, and it’s one more thing to cross off my “to do” list. It may not work for everyone, but it works for me.

When it comes to writing, I’ve found it helps to prepare a similar rationale to my approach.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that some people can write among noisy crowds of people in coffee shops. I picture myself sitting at a corner table with my laptop, wearing a herringbone sport coat with leather-patched elbows, a dark turtleneck underneath, (and possibly have a small, neat goatee to complete the image) sipping dark, Colombian coffee. Absorbed in my work, I turn out page after page of compelling prose amidst the boisterous conversation of strangers and delicious aromas.

There are only a few small problems with this scenario:  I’m not a man, so the goatee is definitely out, I prefer sweetened tea, and I absolutely cannot focus on reading or writing while people talk and walk about in close proximity to me.

I spent considerable time trying to discover my own best writing habits, and for the most part, I think I have discovered what works best for me: early morning or late at night, when the house is dark and quiet, sometimes soft music (instrumental only) playing in the background, at my desk in my home office or in the family room in winter in front of a fire, laptop only (I never write more than notes longhand), and a cup of hot tea close at hand.  I cannot work among disarray, so everything is organized before I begin, and I like to have familiar and pleasing objects around me: family photos, favorite books, flowers or plants.

I’ve always envied those that can work anywhere under any conditions, but being easily distracted by those around me, my limitations are real, and I must respect them if I wish to be productive.

Still, I’m always fascinated to read or hear about how other writers work. I’m always open to new ideas, and there remains the possibility that my needs might change or evolve over time.

This morning I came across an interesting article on the Wall Street Journal online titled “How To Write A Great Novel ”.  It contains personal methodology from 11 top authors on how they accomplish the daily task of getting their books written.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703740004574513463106012106.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook

Most writers face the same challenges: managing time constraints, distractions, procrastination (my personal “favorite”), writer’s block, and the fear of failure, but since we’re all individuals, what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. Still, I find it somewhat comforting to know that even the most successful writers have to deal with many of the issues that the rest of us face, and maybe they have tips that we can learn from—or just enjoy peeking into their personal habits.

For many of us, winter is once again drawing near. Since I’m not a big fan of cold weather, I do spend much more time indoors at this time of year, and accordingly, I tend to get more reading and writing accomplished. This is a good time for me to replenish any needed office supplies, and I try to prepare my writing spaces for a long stretch of closed windows and grayer days. I make an effort to bring color into my home year round, but I make an extra effort now, as there will soon be little color to see out the windows. Even something as small as a brightly colored pen or picture frame on my desk can really lift my spirits— especially if I’m feeling blocked. I even buy scented tea candles to provide subtle mood enhancement when I am working.

For those of you who can write anywhere, anytime, I am truly envious. For those of you who have routines you must follow in order to write, I empathize.  And for anyone who’s just curious about what other writers do, check out the article linked above.

For today’s prompt, write something, prose or poetry, that at least hints at your personal habits as a writer. Or, if you struggle with trying to identify what works best for you, feel free to post questions that might elicit useful suggestions for you to try.

Tag these submissions with “FWE”. These will be featured today on the group home page.

As always, I look forward to your submissions.