Weird PR writing rituals

By on August 9th, 2010 In Writing

IMG00280 writing rituals 8-10I thought I had strange rituals I went through when I sit down to write, but I guess it’s not so unusual.   A post earlier this year started a whole string of comments on www.myragan.com.   At least I write with my shoes on. 

Here are my professional office (as in you’re employed at someone else’s headquarters) and home office rituals – makes me look kind of normal, doesn’t it?

Professional office — cup of coffee and a donut every morning to respond to e-mails. Wrote most of my documents in the afternoon, when I was less likely to be interrupted.

Home office — if I have something really critical to write, I drive to the local AJ’s mid-day and get a cup of coffee or iced tea, depending on the season, and a pistachio or cinnamon muffin.   Something about the 2-mile roundtrip gives me a mental break, and I come back knowing I have a treat to consume while I plunge the depths of my brain for creative and technical ideas.

I never write barefoot, and usually have to write standing up at my computer, as I am now, wearing a headset. I can write in comfortable clothes or suits, and never have to wear a cowboy hat, like one of the folks who commented at www.myragan.com.   Music is OK sometimes, but not always.

Comments

Aly Says:
August 10th, 2010 at 9:25 am

This is funny. I write in the afternoon or night, when I’m less likely to be interrupted. But here’s what’s weird. I have to turn all the sounds on my phone and computer OFF but the TV is ON. It doesn’t make a lick of sense but it works.

Linda Capcara Says:
August 10th, 2010 at 9:52 am

I’m with ya on everything but the donuts and muffins. I don’t know how you get away with that – I sure can’t! Standing up is a great tip – I’ll have to give it a try.

Linda VandeVrede Says:
August 10th, 2010 at 12:37 pm

Believe me, Linda, I would rather sit at a computer than stand, but the piriformis issues make sitting impossible.
http://www.lindavandevrede.com/advice/that-pain-in-your-butt-and-leg-may-be-piriformis-syndrome/

I’m at the gym almost every day to stretch out walk on the treadmill, or go to yoga classes, so that lets me enjoy the muffins without too much guilt!

Tony Felice Says:
August 14th, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Writing is like a birthing process for me for sure. First I’m surprise and excited, then the reality hits in and I’m freaked about whether or not I’ll be a good parent, then there is the labor of days of writing and carrying around ideas with bloated belly, then I’m convinced I’ll be a failure, then the labor pains hit and the story is brought into the world, screaming, eyes blinking, demanding attention. Then I’m excited for the baby to be seen and hope everyone likes it and doesn’t think its ugly or push it around on the playground. And I need complete silence for most of the process. Distractions are like cold water splashed on my face on purpose.

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