I am tooting my own horn right now, but I am working
on a draft for my novel, A Lost Lady, and I have reached One Hundred and One Thousand
words (101,000 looks so much better spelled out right?) and 115 pages of New
Times Roman 10 point font. I looked down at my word could and did a little
dance. I imagine that I have a least another 50,000 words until the end of the
novel. It will officially be my longest work yet. I have a hard time believing
I have come so far.
I get in a grove and just start going. It helps that I have a rough outline of certain
scenes to keep me on track. Thank you note cards! I even outline the last scene
in more detail as it is rather pivotal to the development of my characters
romantic relationship.
Here are ten things I need to get the writing
rolling.
1) Quiet. I know that a lot of people like to
listen to music while writing, and occasionally I will, but I get distracted by
a song I like and stop to sing along. Once out of my own headspace it can be
hard to get back to the point of writing nirvana.
2) Water. Any beverage will do but more often than
not it is water. Ice water being the most preferable. Having something on hand
helps went I hit a bump, I can take a drink, think a moment and switch gears. Super
refreshing!
3) A dictionary/thesaurus. I pinterest things like
lists with the title of "100 ways to say look." Weather it is the
Merriam-Webster website or a traditional quick reference paperback I usually
have both on hand. Recently I realized that Word Doc has a dictionary as well
as a thesaurus and that has saved me a lot of back and forth, but truthfully,
no one can beat Merriam-Webster. Not even close!
4) My Notes! From scribbled ideas on a piece of
scratch paper to my 3x4 inch note cards outlining my story arch I keep them
handy in case I need a refresher on what happens next.
5) Character list. This isn't grouped into the notes
section because I have a tendency to look at it a lot more than anything else.
Mostly to remember how is related to home and how to spell their names. In a medieval-esque
novel it is hard to remember everyone in the novel and who they are and where
they are from. Seriously, why did I need so many characters? Not that I'm not
attached to each one, but I lose track of whose who all the time. Without the
master list I would be lost. I try to keep it brief. Attached is a screen
capture of the excel doc. It's just a very brief list with basic physical
descriptions, age, a blurb about who they are and what they did or didn't do,
and in most cases one word that I thought best describes them.
6) Chap stick. Technically mine is not that brand but
an Orange Blossom Honey lip balm by The Naked Bee. I think I nabbed this from my
sister and refused to give it back, but I find that I feel calmer when I put it
on and am less likely to chew on my bottom lip when frustrated.
7) A foot rest. Currently I am using the paper
shredder I store under my desk as a foot rest but I've found that it is a just
the right height for me and no, I don't worry about harming it. Though now that
I said that I will probably start to worry about that.
8) Light. I have a fan with a light on it and hate it on unless I am cleaning my room.
Instead I have a clamp light from IKEA that moved to be my desk light. I don't
have enough room on my desk for a traditional light so the clamp works wonders.
I had to replace the energy saving with a low watt traditional bulb because it
took too long to get to full strength.
9) Gum or a snack of some kind. I like sweet mint
gum and mints but more of a subtle flavor than the bad breath eradicating
things my sister favors. Gum is better than any other snack as I won't consume
large quantities mindlessly as I sit in front of my computer screen. Plus,
chewing helps relieve some of my frustration when things are really going as
planned.
10) Motivation, usually in the form of a picture or
saying. It hangs just above my screen so that when I lean back and put my feet
up I see it clearly. I have a sentimental card my sister gave me. A cute
picture, a fortune from a cookie and a few other things I've tacked or taped up
to keep me inspired. I don't know where
I found this quote, or how Napoleon Hill is, but he said "What the mind
can conceive, it can achieve." I wrote it down on a sticky note and placed
it were I could see it. Even if I don't read it every day, even if I don't
really see it. It is still a bright spot at my computer.
So here is my question to you. What keeps you
motivated to write through writer's block, computer backups and emotional breakdowns?
Are you like me and find a happy escape in writing? Maybe what you put on digital
paper is something cathartic, but what keeps you going when the words won't
come willingly?
Looking around I realize two things. While I
surround myself with stuff, the real motivation comes from within and no amount
of sticky notes and knick-knack life hacks are going to make things perfect.
Secondly, I really need to clean off my desk! It's time to take a cleaning
break.
To those of you who read this, please comment if
only to say hi. I really would like to hear from you. Even if it is to suggest
I do something different.
As ever, Write On!
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