What things must be present when your writing? I almost always listen to music, which is always either Coheed and Cambria or Tool. I also frequently chew gum while writing and drink coffee, although I may have to convert to decaf because I have sleeping difficulty even 12 hrs after I had a cup. Besides these things, I have the obvious items like my laptop and a notepad. What about you?
Composition book/s, pens, iced tea or coffee (or sangria, if I'm working on a particularly wrenching scene), a flat surface, and an active coffee shop/pub/cafe. Edited to add the most important thing: my glasses.
Poptarts! They're amazing. I haven't had one of them in ages. All I need is my laptop, some good music and a motivated brain.
I never really thought about Poptarts while writing but they might but good because, when I'm writing, I tend to not go and get food. Hmm...I might have to try that out.
Food and writing don't mix for me because you need hands to eat, and hands to write. (Food is also classed in the list of things that distract me from writing. It is under the subcategory "Everything.") I love pop tarts though.
What I need? A comfy chair, the computer, my ideas, and a program to write with, preferably Word. I think thats about it. The temperature being cool is preferable but not essential.
my computer and/or a notepad, some good music (preferably music that matches the feeling of the story), and something to work on in case I hit writer's block, like art or something.
All I really need is some kind of background noise. Absolute silence is absolutely distracting for me.
The opposite, actually I need silence, privacy, and no temptations of food and drink if I use a notebook. Typing on the computer, I can eat or drink and type at the same time-- but not when I'm using my notebook because I write flopped on my belly in bed (desk-writing on my notebook eventually makes me crane my neck down until it hurts.) It can help sometimes to use metallic or color-changing gel pens, or even just one that feels good to write with, since that way I'm more eager to get the words out than to make sure it's good.
i must have a pen/pencil and a writing surface...i find writing on a computer makes me tired much faster but funny enough i do my best work just before my eyes slam shut
Good ideas, lolz. But seriously, I like some music (I love Tool and maybe some Stones, Police) and my notepad with things that I've jotted down from the week.
With me, it's not so much the presence of things as a location and atmosphere. I have to be sitting in my bed with my laptop. The fan must be running in the background to drown out household noise (and because I like the hypnotic sound). I can't have a bright overhead light on. Needs to be the dim yellow light of my bedside lamp. Pretty much, that's it. Also, there can't be anyone else in the room.
Honestly, all I need is the story I'm working on open on the computer and I'm set. Everything else is just frosting. I think too often people use "things they need" when writing as an excuse to avoid writing should the conditions not be ideal. If one doesn't have their music CD or some such on hand, does that mean they absolutely can't write?
Just the computer and a Diet Coke is all I need. Music seems to distract me because I want to sing along with it. I'll have the TV on sometimes, but it doesn't bother me. I like the idea of having a notepad next to me too, but haven't done that yet. You guys gave me the idea. I will be buying a notepad soon.
I can write by hand but I absolutely hate to. So in order for me to do any kind of writing at all I have to have my trusty Open Office word processor. Oh and a comfortable chair as well. I need a new one . :/
Me too. I don't mind jotting down notes, but I've got OCD tendencies and the messy handwriting drives me crazy (it sounds stupid, but it really does annoy me ) Plus, I'm a very fast typer and I feel like I can get more done in less time when I'm using a computer.
Juice of some kind. Cranberry just now actually. I hate the stuff. And my laptop, but also a either music or the tv on in the background.
- My laptop and USB drive to back up copies to. - Something to drink. Coffee shops are a kind of favorite lately. - Music. Comes with the laptop. I have to be listening to something. - Thesaurus. I have a few extra tools I keep handy too, depending on what I have to write, including a Field Commanders guide for the US Marines.
