NaNoInspo — Writing Warm-up
Let me start this out with a few questions for you to ask yourself. How do you prepare to write? What do you do to signal to yourself that it’s time to focus and work on your story? Do you have a routine?
Whether you have children or not, I’m sure you’re aware that children respond best to having routines. Let me give you an example. When putting a child to bed, you don’t usually toss them in bed and they go straight to sleep. There’s a routine that starts before that point. It may start with a bath, putting pajamas on, followed by brushing their teeth, reading them a book, tucking them in, and kissing them goodnight. All of these things are cues to the child that we’re winding down for the night and preparing to go to sleep.
So I ask you again. What do you do to prepare yourself to write? Do you plop down and start writing? Chances are, there’s more to your routine. Or, if you’re struggling to get yourself to write, a routine might work for you.
Here are some ideas for creating a writing warm-up that cues your mind that you’re getting ready to write.
- Select your location on where you’re going to write. Is it easier for you to focus in a coffee shop where household members or household chores aren’t vying for your attention? Do you have a desk where you write? Is there a comfy chair that you can designate for writing? Pick a place that immediately when you’re there, you know it’s time to write.
- Select a beverage. I like to make myself a special coffee, a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or water with raspberries and blueberries in it. Anything that I find a little special, I’ve provided myself a reward for sitting down to write. It also prevents me from having an excuse 20 minutes into writing to get up to get something to drink.
- Set the mood. Get the right lighting. Open curtains, or turn on lamps. Or, if you prefer, turn on twinkling lights or get a scented candle. Sit close to a window in the coffee shop. Close the door. Put in earphones. Turn on music that fits the atmosphere of the scene you’re writing.
These are simple subtle cues to get your mind prepared for the task ahead. It’s a way to ease yourself into your writing. Perhaps reading something motivational is what you need to get excited about writing. Find what works for you, but have it be a series of things that lead you to sit and write.
If your participating in National Novel Writing month, get a daily dose of inspiration throughout November by signing up to the NaNoInspo mailing list. A group of authors have joined together to create motivational posts to help you reach 50,000 words. On top of that, everyone who completes NaNoWriMo and is on the mailing list will be eligible for prizes. Random drawings will determine the winners. Martin McConnell has organized the NaNoInspo team and has more information on his website at Write, Farm, Live.
Now that you have some ideas for a routine, or have focused in on what your routine is, get to it. Happy writing!
As soon as I logged on and saw your post on top of my reader, it made me smile.
I don’t have any special routine. Whenever I sit (or stand) I write. My bed is my favorite place to write and then my work desk. I don’t really drink anything while writing, but I always have water nearby. When I take a break from writing, I make coffee.
Your comment is so sweet, and made my day!
I can relate to writing whenever and wherever. If I have the intent to sit and write, I do a little preparation up to sitting and getting down to business. But if I have something come to me that I have to get down, I’ll grab whatever is closest to me and get the words on paper. The other day I wrote three poems throughout the day. One was written on my computer at my desk. One was written in a journal. And the last was written in a notepad app on my phone.
It’s funny that although I write a lot of poetry, I rarely sit with the intent to write it. There’s usually something that inspires me and comes on suddenly. Writing fiction is a different process. I have the story firmly held in my mind, so there’s no urgency to get it on paper before I forget. The urgency sometimes comes when I sit down though. It’s like turning on the water hose. Since I’m there to write, it usually comes quickly.
I’ve heard that some people are small chuck writers while others are large chunk. By that I mean that some write in little spurts throughout the day. Several small writing sessions. While others have to sit and write in large, blocked off periods of time. I do both. One requires me to prepare to sit there for a long period of time, while the other takes no preparation because it won’t take very long.
Thank you for sharing your process. 😃
That’s the beauty of writing! We have no intention of writing X, Y, & Z, but we do it anyway because of inspiration like you said. I also do both depending on how inspiration hit during the day. Normally, when I write in little spurts throughout the day are ideas for the story I’m working on.
Have a great weekend, Mandie! 😄💙
I do a lot of my writing when I’m away from home. So, I don’t have a set routine. However, I’m happiest typing in bed all covered up with my blanket over my head.
Oh, I enjoyed reading that. Not every writer can write in different settings. Although, I have personally found at times when I find myself easily distracted at home, it is best to go somewhere else to write. There’s no use thinking about laundry at the coffee shop, because I can’t do anything about it. But If I’m thinking of it while sitting at my desk, I feel compelled to do that instead.
On a side note, I’m feeling really happy. I managed to hit the 10,000 mark in my NaNoWriMo story!
That’s wonderful! Thank you for sharing your progress, and keep up the great work. My favorite thing about NaNoWriMo is that it inspires people to write. 🙂
You’re totally welcome!
I’m having a lot of fun writing it. This story is so different from my Ambrose and Elsie story. It’s a split point of view like Ambrose and Elsie, but it’s a very rigid split. The two groups of characters aren’t going to intermingle until much later. So, right now its divided into Lord Deama’s story and Jack jilhouse’s story and it’s slowly building up to the moment when they finally converge.
I love hearing the enthusiasm you have for your story. That excitement is what I love about writing.
Thank you so much! 😀
I’m typing this to a chorus of whining dogs wanting their mum not me. But they want my lap. I’m stuck at home in a wheelchair. When the dogs calm down, the great-grand-kids vie for my attention. My novel emerges in gaps in the chaos of life – but it creeps forward. How did I hit 28k? Writing rubbish as usual.
Haha I actually laughed out loud about the “writing rubbish as usual” comment. I am quite familiar with that feeling. Well done on the word count. It sounds like you’ve figured out how to work around all the distractions. I’m much better at ignoring distractions in public places than I am at home. Although, to be fair, I have yet to have a stranger walk up to my table at a coffee shop and stare at me until I pay attention to them. On the other hand, at home, I have many such experiences. Even my dog will come and stare at me until I acknowledge her.
Keep up the great work, Roland!
Many thanks, Mandie. I forgot my worst distraction – myself. My messed up brain gets tied in moments of struggling for words. Dysarthria.