1. CH878

    CH878 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    Messages:
    252
    Likes Received:
    11
    Location:
    England

    Writing Peculiarities

    Discussion in 'General Writing' started by CH878, Aug 17, 2011.

    Just wondering, do any of you have anything strange you do when writing?

    For example, I have a rule that the first word of my finished manuscript has to be the same as the first word of the first draft, that one word is not allowed to change. Stupid, I know.
     
  2. Youniquee

    Youniquee (◡‿◡✿) Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2010
    Messages:
    729
    Likes Received:
    38
    Location:
    Under your bed.
    I can't move on from a scene unless it's finished. Unless I figure out that scene (How to write it) then I'll even put the whole novel on hold. I guess I have a pet peeve for unfinished stuffs~
     
  3. cruciFICTION

    cruciFICTION Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,232
    Likes Received:
    50
    Location:
    Brisbane, Australia
    I do my best writing when I'm enraged, but there's two kinds of enraged. There's stressed out and high blood pressure enraged. And there's broken, depressed, and entirely hopeless enraged.

    The second one is the one when I do my best writing. I practically feed on anger.
     
  4. VM80

    VM80 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2010
    Messages:
    1,209
    Likes Received:
    46
    Nothing too peculiar, I don't think.

    I like it to be quiet. I used to write a lot in my parents' conservatory, overlooking our garden.

    For some reason I like to have tea with lemon when I write. I don't really have that combination any other time.
     
  5. lostinwebspace

    lostinwebspace Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2011
    Messages:
    466
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    Canada
    Nothing, really. I know my document has to look a certain way, but I don't know if that's really strange or just what I'm used to.
     
  6. AveryWhite

    AveryWhite Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2011
    Messages:
    170
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    UK
    i sometimes like to make the title of the story into a style. like change the font and colour and size to suite the style of the story to start me off writing :p i also sometimes draw scenes or lanscapes or creatures from my mind if its a fantasy, or collect pictures that have any similarity to the story including characters.
     
  7. AveryWhite

    AveryWhite Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2011
    Messages:
    170
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    UK
    yeah and usually the document has to look a certain way :p
     
  8. spklvr

    spklvr Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2010
    Messages:
    734
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    Sarpsborg, Norway
    I do my best work sitting in my massage chair. Because moving is impossible, I have to sit straight and then I focus better. If I sit in my office chair or in the sofa, I move all over the place and end up doing something else.

    Now something about my actual writing that bothers me is how many filler words I use. When I post of forums too. I always write lots of kind of, barely, hardly, totally, etc... when there is no use for them and they just clutter whatever I'm writing. It's weird, because I don't speak that way.
     
  9. Rassidan

    Rassidan New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    Messages:
    114
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Erlanger, KY , United States
    The only odd thing I must have is a title page for my stories. I don't even care if it is a blank page it just has to be there or it annoys me to no end.
     
  10. Peerie Pict

    Peerie Pict Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2009
    Messages:
    722
    Likes Received:
    29
    Location:
    Scotland
    I have to be holding a spatula between my teeth and have a banana skin under each foot. Only THEN will I get into the zone.

    Seriously though. I have tried to get rid of ritualistic habits because they're ultimately unrewarding. I used to compulsively clean before I wrote and all it does is eat into writing time. You have to be ruthless with that kind of thing and be able to write anywhere.
     
  11. diluvian

    diluvian New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    I tend to write late at night, and only on my laptop. If I listen to music, It can't have words. I have to go in order-- I can't write a scene I know I'm going to do before I get there. I have to edit in order, too, which is a pain because if I walk away from a project for a while (like two months, let's say), I have to re-edit everything I've already edited because I can't pick up where I left off.
     
  12. Clumsywordsmith

    Clumsywordsmith Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2010
    Messages:
    136
    Likes Received:
    4
    I don't read much -- if any -- fiction when I'm heavily invested in a writing project. I don't like the thought of someone else's work bleeding too much into my own, as I feel is quite apt to happen when I'm working on reading some novel while also writing my own. I usually switch to nonfiction for the duration.
     
  13. VM80

    VM80 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2010
    Messages:
    1,209
    Likes Received:
    46
    ^
    That's interesting. I find that I continue to read, less perhaps, but it helps me.
     
  14. Tesoro

    Tesoro Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2011
    Messages:
    2,818
    Likes Received:
    300
    Location:
    A place with no future
    I do that too, but then I clean up the ms from those when I edit or try to rephrase it in order to make it clear even without them.
     
  15. Tesoro

    Tesoro Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2011
    Messages:
    2,818
    Likes Received:
    300
    Location:
    A place with no future
    funny, I do that too. I just don't feel very interested in reading others work when writing on my own, but it's not for the fear of getting influenced, rather the opposite, when I feel I start repeating myself and feel restricted vocabularywise I WANT to read someone elses novel to get some new ideas (on how to express myself) or activate different parts of my vocabulary.
     
  16. J.P.Clyde

    J.P.Clyde Prince of Melancholy Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Messages:
    971
    Likes Received:
    44
    Location:
    Underground
    Same thing here for me as well.
     
  17. jpeter03

    jpeter03 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    2
    I wear a sport coat. Weird, I know, but something about the formality of it makes me more focused and separates that time from the rest of the day.

    I draw the line at corduroy and elbow patches, however.
     
  18. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    10,742
    Likes Received:
    9,991
    Location:
    Near Sedro Woolley, Washington
    Over the past couple of years, I've found it soothing to have golf tournaments on TV while I'm writing. As sports go, they're very quiet and respectful, the commentators speak in low voices, the applause is limited and rather gentlemanly, and when I need a character name, I can just glance up and see a leader board and pick first and last names from that.

    I never used to be a fan of golf. But for some reason, it seems to help me write.
     
  19. frostedfields

    frostedfields Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    5
    I, also, do not read that much while in my "writing" mood. I can't concentrate on both, so I don't.

    My writing stops dead if a character's name isn't working, and I can't move past it until the right name has been found. It's frustrating but very rewarding when I know the name is appropriate to the character.

    I like to keep a visual representation of the setting I'm using in the next program window for quick reference. My writing is most productive at night and I tend to listen to ambient "space" music to set the mood.
     
  20. Shaezy

    Shaezy New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    I don't have any rituals as such, except having some chocolate next to me!

    But I do bite my nails when I write. I don't bite them any other time. On Wednesday I had an amazing 8 hours of peaceful writing (on vacation, kids were at daycare and hubby at work - house to myself ALL day! Laid down 5100 great words too, I was thrilled!) and when I finished, my nails were bitten to the quick and so sore! Half the time I don't even realise I am doing it. :redface:
     
  21. Pea

    Pea super pea!

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2011
    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    20
    Location:
    in the garden
    I like writing outside on a sunny day... or in the pub, or late at night in bed (with notepad). When I'm writing with a pen instead of typing the words seem to flow easier. But I don't 'have to'...
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice