Writing Rituals

This week we’re talking about writing rituals in the blog challenge. The thing is… I don’t think I have one I use consistently. I don’t rub a statue or blow kisses to the writing gods or open things in a certain order. I don’t have lucky socks or have to talk to my mom before I start or anything like that.

What I do have are tricks and habits. I have tons that I call on in different phases of the process, and not always the same way, or the same time in the process. Most frequently used are:

Nicole–Sprinting

Especially during the first draft process, getting an hour a day to sprint with my BFF guarantees I get words on paper regularly.

The Treadmill Desk

Best invention ever for someone with ADD because I can multitask in a way that doesn’t detract from either activity. I walk and write at the same time. I do this for at least 1 hour (often when sprinting with Nic). It helps me stay on target.

The Reference & Prompts Books

Sometimes these come out before I start, sometimes while writing the first draft, and sometimes on the second draft. THese are my brain teasers and reminders and “did you think to add this” prompters. The ones I use most are:

• Verbalize by Damon Suede
• Various Writing Thesauruses by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
• Sixteen Master Archetypes by Cowden, LaFever, & Viders

The 2nd Draft

I live for the second draft when I get to make the story good. My first draft is simply to get the bare bones of the story on paper. Typically, I don’t go back and second draft it–fix and fluff–until first draft is completely done. Lately, though I’ve been second drafting a scene at a time, which is giving me a more complete book when I’m done. We’ll see if I stick to that. Lol.

The Moment

There is at least one (usually several) guaranteed moments where I decide that what I’m writing is pure drivel, all my readers will definitely figure out that I am NOT a writer, and this it it. The end. Usually this comes mid-way through 1st draft.

Beyond that, ever book is different. I will be really curious to see what writing rituals my fellow authors in the blog challenge share. Other authors, do you have any?

I am participating in MFRW’s 52-week blog challenge, and it’s a blog hop! If you want to see how other authors approach this topic, stroll on over to the other authors participating and find out how they deal with character profiles. Each author does it differently.