If anything, a mental giving-in and saying "the heck with it" to all the non-writing things I really ought to be be doing. (Well, okay - either that, or logging off a writing forum )
I usually listen to a lot of music before I wite. I like writing one shot fiction that is based on a concept or has a moral... something like that. I feel that music has a lot of hidden meanings and the listener can make up their own meanings of the song. It's always nice to see someone else's perspective on your favourite song or even a song that you don't like. I feel that I've gone a little off topic... xD I tend to walk around a lot too... get a snack or a drink and jot things down. I also open and close Word a lot, like Frost said. xD
I listen to really depressing music, or read really depressing news stories while listening to depressing music. The depressing music continues until I'm done. Its rather depressing.
I stand on one leg and read out loud passages from the bible... No, I don;t really! Erm, not sure I do anything much...but I can't write unless it's quiet.
Indeed! I like the rain( and not because it's supposedly depressing) it's quite sooting, there was a sound file on a program I used, storybook weaver when I was younger,
wow.. i also listen to music b4 i write.. the mellow ones will do the trick.. ive read a book that says about different authors doing their own ritual before writing..
Music, coffee, and given that I do all my 'real' writing on the computer, my pen and notebook. Before I can get into the mood to write, I first have to grab those last two items and just start letting the words flow out. Sometimes it's a journal entry, sometimes it's a mixtape list... whatever the case, I eventually hit upon a setting, scene, character, or possible plotline that's either related to a story I'm currently working on, or a new one entirely. Then I run with it. Whatever 'it' is will be no more than a page in length. Sometimes I will rewrite 4 or 5 times until it all 'clicks' and I finally find my voice. That's when I head to the computer and get started on the 'real' writing.
See, I find it absolutely amazing that some of you folks can write whilst listening to music. How do you hear your story if there's sound around you anyway? I get irritated if I can hear a lawnmower in the next street while I write, no way I could cope with music or TV or anything!
It would depend upon the day I've had. Recently my days have been nothing but Dull nothing important. I'm waiting for a tranfare to come through but then I haven't written a story in a while. Most of my inpsiration comes from actual experiences that have been through it helps with the writing a hell of a lot. But it would depend on the day.
I generally ignore the music completely. Unless I focus on it, I have no idea what song is playing, or how many times its repeated itself. But when I stop writing, the music there to keep me in the right mood. It works for me.
I sit outside for an hour and relax with a nice hot cup of coffee and watch the world go by, then I grab my not pad and get to it.
It certainly has to fit the mood. A common choice recently is Rocky Votolato who is a folk-acoustic artist on Barsuk records (of Death Cab For Cutie fame); very mellow, very easy to ignore when in the midst of intense writing, but a nice automatic interlude for introspective breaks.
