tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post8586085939477551828..comments2024-03-27T18:06:04.484-04:00Comments on Murder by 4: Rituals: I Haz DemMarta Stephenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-3296600858624224122009-02-06T14:01:00.000-05:002009-02-06T14:01:00.000-05:00My family has this crazy idea that I'm obsessive/c...My family has this crazy idea that I'm obsessive/compulsive, and that I'm completely routine-oriented. Well, I took note of how I spent just one day, and oh, dear, they were right. But, with my writing? Couldn't be. Creativity flows free, right? Yeah, sure.<BR/><BR/>I sit down with the laptop in the same spot in the same way every time. I open my email, check my writing groups (always in the same order), check my blog, then shut the computer down. I go have my coffee (always with my vanilla creamer), then come back and turn the laptop on and begin writing.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like not a big deal, but if I'm thrown off for some reason, like there's no creamer (I completely understand about your coffee thing), I will go to the market to get some. If they don't have the right kind, I go to another store. <BR/><BR/>Things DO have to be right, or the words will not come. Is it 'ritual obsessive', is it 'obsessive-compulsive? Can't we just call it 'creative genius eccentricity' and let it go at that? JoyceJoycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03275503653927579472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-35479119726240221642009-02-05T17:09:00.000-05:002009-02-05T17:09:00.000-05:00I'm worried. I don't have any rituals...What am I ...I'm worried. I don't have any rituals...<BR/><BR/>What am I saying! I write the opening. Work on it a bit. Print it out. Pace while I read it aloud. Edit. Edit some more. And when I'm modestly happy, I sit down and write the second chapter, the third, the fourth, until I stop dead, usually around 15,000 words. <BR/><BR/>That's when I print the entire thing out, write the outline of what I already have, and guess at where the story goes next. I already know the ending. Edit. Nitpick. Edit. <BR/><BR/>Then I send it to my best-friend, who reads it, calls to say she's so excited that I'm writing again. And this WIP is my best ever. And ... when can she read more!Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6001825743960552008.post-82718705485639603852009-02-05T09:52:00.000-05:002009-02-05T09:52:00.000-05:00Hmmm interesting question. I'm not aware of any bu...Hmmm interesting question. I'm not aware of any but now that I've read this post, I'm going to start paying attention.<BR/><BR/>I get terribly distracted by e-mails so when I sit down to seriously start writing, I close my e-mail account. I do need to clear off my desk too. Hmmm I guess I do have a ritual or two, huh? :()Marta Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14126647102399666578noreply@blogger.com