Writers are a ritualistic and persnickety lot.

Over at No Rules. Just Write, inspirational romance novelist Brenda Coulter discusses various methods, rituals, and/or vices different writers need in order to get started. It's an interesting list, and I can totally relate to the shower thing. And to the chocolate, except for the part about no longer enjoying it, but I always thought Douglas Coupland was mildly whack anyway.

My methods are pretty straightforward and boring (but does that prevent me from blogging about them? OF COURSE NOT!), and largely dependent upon the location and time of day I get my writing done. Currently, writing in the early mornings in my work cubicle, I must have some mellow, non-intrusive music, a big mug of strong coffee, and about forty-five minutes of uninterrupted staring into space to let my mind wander and give the story a chance to take shape in my head. After forty-five minutes, usually, and as long as curious or clueless co-workers don't bug me, I'm good to go, and can get my novel output for the day done before anybody needs me for anything job-related.

If I were writing at home in the evenings, as I used to do a lot back before my computer died and I brought home a husband who can't stand to be in the same room with me for more than five minutes without talking to me, it would probably be much the same, except I might forgo the music for night noises outside an open window, and trade the coffee for a glass of wine. I remember a brief period back in my fanfic days when I couldn't possibly write without a cherry Diet Coke from Sonic; I think the time in my car driving to and from Sonic did more for triggering my imagination than the actual drink did. I think that habit ended with a bought of crappy weather, and never got taken up again. I guess the commonality here is that I need something to sip while I write, be it hot or cold, alcoholic or non.

Quiet's good, too, even better than music when I can get it, but that's pretty rare in my life. Maybe I should check into getting me some of those earplugs.