Friday, July 6, 2012

What Do You Do to Focus?

Writers always seem to have particular methods of helping them tune into their writing minds. Ideas come at odd times—usually when you're doing something repetitive when your mind can meander—like taking a shower or ironing or washing dishes (those last two may not apply any more since almost no one irons or washes dishes by hand these days. Did anyone think about THAT when they invented wrinkle-resistant fabric and the dishwasher??)

But how does it work for you when you've got the idea and want to write it? Not just jot it down, but actually make it part of your book?

I've posted here on writer's yoga and on creative visualization meditation(click on Creative Energy in the Pages Bar above), two of my favorite methods. A long brisk walk is another I like, and then there's playing the piano for a while. All seem to help with jump-starting the disciplined writing process. I'm always interested in what other writers find useful. So, what works for you? Do you do something particular each day to warm up for your writing time?

11 comments:

  1. Funny you should mention this. I posted this morning on coping with a distracted mind.

    Going for a brisk walk usually works best for me, but sometimes I need to do more.

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    1. Yes, Angelina, brisk walk--I'm headed out to do that shortly. It's a great one, but you're so right, sometimes more is needed. Meditation?

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  2. Water works for me. Be it a shower, bath, or a swim. Something about water gets my creative energy moving.

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    1. That's really interesting, Heather. Don't they say water is symbolic of feelings? Maybe it lets your feelings flow when you're around it.

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  3. Linda, excellent question. To get warmed up... yoga, shower, walk, workout... all get the juices flowing. But to focus on the writing, I have to write. To focus on on the writing I get up early, set a cup of coffee to the right of my desk, turn on the music, and close the door. Early means no phone ringing. No distractions.
    Oh... and I use to like drinking an energy drink in the morning. Not so much for the physical energy...but mental clarity. But I have recently replaced it with something natural. L-Glutamine powder supplement in my water.

    Thanks for a great post!

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    1. Love that process Karlene. Question: does L-Glutamine boost mental acuity? It's an essential amino acid, right?

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  4. A walk, bath and doing dishes (yep, I still do them by hand), usually work for me to have something hit me. Also, when I'm in bed, and usually when I'm rather exhausted and just want to fall asleep,[like last night], something will hit me. Sometimes its a line. Sometimes dialogue, and rarely a whole scene.

    For the past few weeks I've wanted to write this one flashback for one of my main characters (a vampire who lived in the first century). I knew sort of what I wanted to cover, but it would not come. Even while I had those two weeks off. So, naturally, once I'm back to work doing the bus driving (which isn't meanial, but it uses a different part of the brain), I get some of it. But I need a first line to get me going. When I'm stuck like this, I pick up a paperback--whichever, and open it up to any page. Like magic, there's a line--it might be a few words of description. It inspires me to write something down and ta-da! That's usually all it takes for me to pull out of "writing constipation".

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    1. Wow, that's great, Lorelei. All of it. I can totally see how driving the bus (absolutely not menial) would be what would make things start to happen for you. It's familiar, something you have done a thousand times so part of your brain is freed up while another part handles the driving action, and that's what releases the thought. Love the tip about opening any book when you're stuck for a start line!

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    2. Sure. Try it sometime. It might amaze you (the book thing).

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  5. I still do dishes by hand and sometimes I do get ideas while I'm in the middle of the dishes..or while I'm out running errands or exercising...and btw, that writer's yoga is AWESOME! Usually when I do have an idea I need to make a note of it pretty quickly or I'll forget it...I never want to make anything a part of my book, because I've never written a book, but I have journals filled with odds and ends type things going back years. It just seems to be something I've always done.

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    1. How wonderful, Eve. A great creative process that sounds so satisfying for you. I'm so glad you like the writer's yoga. It is amazing. :-)

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