Finding a quiet place to write
(This is copy of the blog I put on the Amberquill Heat authors blog today)
As I hopped in the shower, my mind was buzzing. Call about setting up new committee next week! Call about breakfast meeting at Rotary Club next week! Book cabins for next summer! Run over to merchant for prize donation! Oh, and of course, blog today! Arrgghh!! (and ‘talk like a pirate day’ is long past!)
How does one write amongst all this chaos? The simple fact is – sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t. The simple reality is – I promised AQ a story at the end of October, and I have to get it done! (can you hear a second Arrgghh gurgling in my throat?)
A writer friend of mine once said ‘you have to find a quiet place from which to write’. I thought it was one of those really cool truisms but I really had no idea what it meant. I’m rapidly finding out, as the cacophony of my life is making it difficult to write. I am finding that when I clear the junk out of my life, and it’s not constantly buzzing in my head, words and phrases and descriptions and plot twists bubble to the surface. When my head’s full of other things the noise tends to drown out the writing. I can still write in this state (most of the time) but it tends to come out stilted (she went downstairs, he went outside) and needs massive editing (she glided down the massive oak staircase, careful not to step on the train of her blue chiffon gown, blah blah).
How does one find this quiet place, so that the muse can whisper sweet nothings into your ear? I don’t really have any magic wand to wipe the rest of the world away. But I do have a number of ‘de-stressers’ that can create some space and peace in your life, or give you the illusion of it for short periods of time, so you can steal a few hours in the midst of your latest life crisis (right now I’m trying to put on a poker fundraiser at the same time as trying to get this story done!) and accomplish current writing goals (and keep any promises made to Trace in a moment of madness!)
So, here’s my latest top ten list, in no particular order, of ways to create a quiet place to write from, even if it’s only for a few hours:
1. Music. We’re not talking Metallica here (although I have a fondness for Whiskey In the Jar.) What is it with being in your mid-forties – I am having the worst time sleeping, and letting go of the day. I’ve discovered ‘sleep music’ - particularly David and Steve Gordon, and an album called “Pillow Music’. It’s a wonderful combo of soft music and nature sounds that’s very relaxing. Someone at my church told me they work at their computer to it – I actually haven’t tried that yet. But I do love to play romantic music when I’m writing romance – Billy Joel’s “You’re My Home’, kick ass stuff when I’m writing a crazy heroine - ‘We built this city’ by Jefferson Starship.
2. Make lists and use them. Nothing is worse than stuff swirling in your mind that you have to do and you’re afraid you’re going to forget. Instead of repeating it every 10 minutes like a mantra, start a to-do list and write it down, and get to it when you have time. I like to use the software “Lifebalance” for my Palm pilot, but there’s lots of software out there. And of course, good old paper and pencil (just don’t lose it!)
3. Schedule your day and protect your writing time. How come common sense just isn’t ‘common’? Take five minutes to look at your week. When is the best time to write, when is the best time to run errands, when is the best time to cook, etc. The put your writing time on your schedule in ‘permanent ink’, turn off the phone and the email, and try not to schedule anything else during that time.
4. Sign up for Flylady. I found this years ago. It really is magic – a supportive, non-judgmental, really practical on-line group that helps you declutter your life. It’s amazing how much less stress you have, and your family has, when there’s less junk in every corner. www.Flylady.net.
5. Exercise or take a walk: Exercise is a natural de-stresser – something about endorphins and all those other good chemicals. I like to do it in the morning - I seem to feel less stress when I start my day at the computer feeling like I’ve already accomplished something. As far as walking – sometimes it’s great to get away from the computer when the plot or the characters are a mess, pace the neighborhood and let your mind race. The muse that was hiding in the closet will sometimes decide the scenery looks better and come along for a stroll.
6. Go on a retreat. One of my critique groups goes on an annual retreat to a place with large houses way out in the woods. There are no TVs, no phones, no kids or husbands, lots of amazing food and camaraderie. Sometimes I fly in half dressed, half packed, babbling incoherently, and haven’t submitted anything for critiquing in months. Sometimes we write short stories. Sometimes we do relaxation exercises. But I always leave refreshed, relaxed, and with a fresh determination to write.
7. Go write away from home. Last year I had two months to write “Cooking With K.C.” and one life crisis after another. I almost had a panic attack when I went to Pittsburgh to help with a dying uncle, knowing I had the February deadline and not sure how I was going to meet it. My 11 year old kept wanting to go to Games Workshop and play for a few hours. The last thing I wanted to do was leave my computer at home and drive him around. So I started packing up the story onto my NEC mobilepro (mini-laptop) and writing there. Magic! No one knew me there. No one bothered me. I told Montana to keep playing. And I dedicated the story to him.
8. Stop procrastinating and write. One of my critique friends wrote the other day ‘Why does it always seem harder before you begin and then when you're into it you wonder ... what the heck was the problem.’ Exactly. Much more stressful to worry about what you haven’t written and have to write than to actually … write!
9. Learn to say no. This is another common sense ‘duh’ that I’m not good at but trying. My kids want to send me to ‘volunteers anonymous’. It’s the curse of the stay-at-home mom. I told someone I was trying to declutter my schedule and dropping one of the boards I’m on and she said ‘so, you’ll have more time to join my committee’. Arrgghh! No!
10. Turn off the TV. It is a big time suck. I tune in for five minutes and two hours are gone. And then I’m surprised when I can’t sleep because I wasted the only two writing hours I had all day. Hide the remotes!
So, that’s my list. What’s on yours? I’m begging you – I’m always looking for good ideas. Help. De-stressers.
(and if anyone wants to buy tickets to a poker fundraiser, let me know!)
-Kelsey Lewis
Stories that are romantic ... and erotic
www.kelsey-lewis.com
Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kelseylewiserotica/
Stories available: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/bio_Lewis.html
Reunion "The passion between the characters was so intense that you felt heartache when they couldn't be together." ~ Aline de Chevigny, In the Library Reviews
Desirable Enemy - The plot throws the reader into the story immediately and continues to be fast paced throughout. ~ Jean, Fallen Angel Reviews
Cooking with K.C. - A wonderful romance that will put a smile on your face. ~ Wateena, Coffee Time Romance
As I hopped in the shower, my mind was buzzing. Call about setting up new committee next week! Call about breakfast meeting at Rotary Club next week! Book cabins for next summer! Run over to merchant for prize donation! Oh, and of course, blog today! Arrgghh!! (and ‘talk like a pirate day’ is long past!)
How does one write amongst all this chaos? The simple fact is – sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t. The simple reality is – I promised AQ a story at the end of October, and I have to get it done! (can you hear a second Arrgghh gurgling in my throat?)
A writer friend of mine once said ‘you have to find a quiet place from which to write’. I thought it was one of those really cool truisms but I really had no idea what it meant. I’m rapidly finding out, as the cacophony of my life is making it difficult to write. I am finding that when I clear the junk out of my life, and it’s not constantly buzzing in my head, words and phrases and descriptions and plot twists bubble to the surface. When my head’s full of other things the noise tends to drown out the writing. I can still write in this state (most of the time) but it tends to come out stilted (she went downstairs, he went outside) and needs massive editing (she glided down the massive oak staircase, careful not to step on the train of her blue chiffon gown, blah blah).
How does one find this quiet place, so that the muse can whisper sweet nothings into your ear? I don’t really have any magic wand to wipe the rest of the world away. But I do have a number of ‘de-stressers’ that can create some space and peace in your life, or give you the illusion of it for short periods of time, so you can steal a few hours in the midst of your latest life crisis (right now I’m trying to put on a poker fundraiser at the same time as trying to get this story done!) and accomplish current writing goals (and keep any promises made to Trace in a moment of madness!)
So, here’s my latest top ten list, in no particular order, of ways to create a quiet place to write from, even if it’s only for a few hours:
1. Music. We’re not talking Metallica here (although I have a fondness for Whiskey In the Jar.) What is it with being in your mid-forties – I am having the worst time sleeping, and letting go of the day. I’ve discovered ‘sleep music’ - particularly David and Steve Gordon, and an album called “Pillow Music’. It’s a wonderful combo of soft music and nature sounds that’s very relaxing. Someone at my church told me they work at their computer to it – I actually haven’t tried that yet. But I do love to play romantic music when I’m writing romance – Billy Joel’s “You’re My Home’, kick ass stuff when I’m writing a crazy heroine - ‘We built this city’ by Jefferson Starship.
2. Make lists and use them. Nothing is worse than stuff swirling in your mind that you have to do and you’re afraid you’re going to forget. Instead of repeating it every 10 minutes like a mantra, start a to-do list and write it down, and get to it when you have time. I like to use the software “Lifebalance” for my Palm pilot, but there’s lots of software out there. And of course, good old paper and pencil (just don’t lose it!)
3. Schedule your day and protect your writing time. How come common sense just isn’t ‘common’? Take five minutes to look at your week. When is the best time to write, when is the best time to run errands, when is the best time to cook, etc. The put your writing time on your schedule in ‘permanent ink’, turn off the phone and the email, and try not to schedule anything else during that time.
4. Sign up for Flylady. I found this years ago. It really is magic – a supportive, non-judgmental, really practical on-line group that helps you declutter your life. It’s amazing how much less stress you have, and your family has, when there’s less junk in every corner. www.Flylady.net.
5. Exercise or take a walk: Exercise is a natural de-stresser – something about endorphins and all those other good chemicals. I like to do it in the morning - I seem to feel less stress when I start my day at the computer feeling like I’ve already accomplished something. As far as walking – sometimes it’s great to get away from the computer when the plot or the characters are a mess, pace the neighborhood and let your mind race. The muse that was hiding in the closet will sometimes decide the scenery looks better and come along for a stroll.
6. Go on a retreat. One of my critique groups goes on an annual retreat to a place with large houses way out in the woods. There are no TVs, no phones, no kids or husbands, lots of amazing food and camaraderie. Sometimes I fly in half dressed, half packed, babbling incoherently, and haven’t submitted anything for critiquing in months. Sometimes we write short stories. Sometimes we do relaxation exercises. But I always leave refreshed, relaxed, and with a fresh determination to write.
7. Go write away from home. Last year I had two months to write “Cooking With K.C.” and one life crisis after another. I almost had a panic attack when I went to Pittsburgh to help with a dying uncle, knowing I had the February deadline and not sure how I was going to meet it. My 11 year old kept wanting to go to Games Workshop and play for a few hours. The last thing I wanted to do was leave my computer at home and drive him around. So I started packing up the story onto my NEC mobilepro (mini-laptop) and writing there. Magic! No one knew me there. No one bothered me. I told Montana to keep playing. And I dedicated the story to him.
8. Stop procrastinating and write. One of my critique friends wrote the other day ‘Why does it always seem harder before you begin and then when you're into it you wonder ... what the heck was the problem.’ Exactly. Much more stressful to worry about what you haven’t written and have to write than to actually … write!
9. Learn to say no. This is another common sense ‘duh’ that I’m not good at but trying. My kids want to send me to ‘volunteers anonymous’. It’s the curse of the stay-at-home mom. I told someone I was trying to declutter my schedule and dropping one of the boards I’m on and she said ‘so, you’ll have more time to join my committee’. Arrgghh! No!
10. Turn off the TV. It is a big time suck. I tune in for five minutes and two hours are gone. And then I’m surprised when I can’t sleep because I wasted the only two writing hours I had all day. Hide the remotes!
So, that’s my list. What’s on yours? I’m begging you – I’m always looking for good ideas. Help. De-stressers.
(and if anyone wants to buy tickets to a poker fundraiser, let me know!)
-Kelsey Lewis
Stories that are romantic ... and erotic
www.kelsey-lewis.com
Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kelseylewiserotica/
Stories available: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/bio_Lewis.html
Reunion "The passion between the characters was so intense that you felt heartache when they couldn't be together." ~ Aline de Chevigny, In the Library Reviews
Desirable Enemy - The plot throws the reader into the story immediately and continues to be fast paced throughout. ~ Jean, Fallen Angel Reviews
Cooking with K.C. - A wonderful romance that will put a smile on your face. ~ Wateena, Coffee Time Romance
posted by Kelsey Lewis | 9:51 AM
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