Settling Down to Write

Penski wrote:

Inquiring minds want to know...

When is your favorite time to write?
Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?

Enquiring minds, huh? Okay...

Favorite time to write: Anytime, although favorite is probably late at night when the distractions of the day have pretty much settled down.

Favorite place to write: Anywhere I happen to be when the mood strikes, although it's mostly in front of the computer, wherever it happens to be.

Handwrite or use a laptop or desktop: Yes. Have done both paper or computer, but mostly use laptop.

Special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write: Umm, not really. Mood can strike anywhere, anytime, and I find food or drink a distraction to the process.

When is your favorite time to write?

After work. My job is quite stressful and it's a great escape from real life.

Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?

Sitting feet up, in the living room on my comfy settee.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?

Laptop, most definitely. I write on my favourite seat

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?

A large, mug of tea is always gratefully received.

_________________

When is your favorite time to write?

Really when an idea strikes, but mainly that's weekend mornings or late in the evening after dinner. Sometimes when I'm trying to work out a tricky argument for a brief or such at work, I'll put that aside and turn to fanfic writing -- letting my mind figure out the other issue on its own, without conscious thought.

Do you have a favorite place, and if so, where is it?

Sitting on my bed.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?

Laptop almost always, otherwise the desktop.

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?

No.

I suppose my best time to write is in the afternoon and evenings when work and other committments for the day have been taken care of. I don't really have any set time other than that as I tend to get down to it whenever I'm not busy with R/L.
I used to use my pc but now I have a laptop and am finally getting used to it. The real challange was learning how to turn off the touch pad (that thing was a nuisence!) Even the tech where I bought it didn't know how, he had to ask his boss. Of course once we figured it out it was very simple!!
I usually write in my studio, but now that I have the laptop and the olympics are on, I will be moving into the living room occasionally. That way I can watch the events that I want to and then go back to writing when they jump to stuff I'm not interested in. The equestrian events will of course have priority!
I don't really need any stimulantes to get writing; I just sit at the computer and my imagination takes over. A glass of wine always sounds nice, but it makes me tired and then I can't write so I generally stay away from that. In the evenings, maybe a cup of coffee or two but that's about it and they really arn't essential to the creative process.
Happy writing everyone!

When is your favorite time to write?
On the weekend. I need a long stretch of uninterrrupted time to concentrate.
Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
My mad-room, the den or the dining-room table.
Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
laptop
Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?
Drinks but no food. No specific type of drink.Alcohol is always nice, but I am a light-weight and have to be careful about that. The fingers are easily confused and can type the strangest things.

Favorite time to write - I can at any time, but prefer to at night.

Place to write - Reclined on the couch, himmy cat beside me, tv on, and maybe some music that matches the mood of the story

Usually use a laptop or tablet, sometimes write on paper. All my plot ideas are on paper.

A nice cold coke usually accompanies me :)

When is your favorite time to write?
I guess a nice, rainy weekend afternoon...
Or evenings when work has not left me a wrung out rag...


Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
Sofa, telly on for background.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
Always a laptop.
Back in days when I did proper plots might do a pencil flow line - but that's been a while, huh?

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?
Plenty of tea.
Encouragement from the other half.

What is your favorite time to write?
Evenings, when there's peace and quiet.

Do you have a favorite place?
The not-so-comfy desk chair, where I am right now. But the comfy chair in the living room is better. It has wide arms and a wide back, and sometimes the calico cat lays there, next to me, and purrs away while I type.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop?
I compose on the laptop. I'm visually oriented, so I tend to print out the whole story and edit it that way. Sometimes I read the whole thing out loud. That helps me catch phrases or words that may pass muster on the page, but don't sound right, or are maybe too repetitive. I find I eliminate lots of nods and smiles that way.

Any other special touches of food or drink?
Nothing special. Definitely nothing alcoholic. I usually have something nearby, though, so I don't have to get up for a drink when I'm on a roll. Right now I've got a big thermos of water nearby.

When is your favorite time to write?
I tend to have writing days - usually when the horrids are at school. Find it difficult to write in the evenings and am usually too tired at night, although I often work through an idea in my head as I'm trying to go to sleep but often forget what it is by the time morning comes!
Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
Either in my bed - especially on cold winter days or on the sofa in my kitchen which overlooks the garden when the weather's nice.
Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
I mainly use my beloved laptop but also have a writing book which I use when haven't got my laptop with me. Have been known to write on scraps of paper when at work when bored and suddenly have a flash of inspiration!
Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?
Beware the perils of having drinks by your laptop - very stressful when you knock it over into the keyboard! I find too much wine makes for some interesting spelling and a lot of editing the next day! Generally I just need peace and quiet and inspiration to write - not too much chance for that during school holidays.

Great questions, Penski! I am overwhelmed by the number of interesting responses already!

When is your favorite time to write?

I usually like to set aside time in a large block, like a writing day, starting early in the morning when no one else is going to be around other than the cat and I can be creative in blissful, uninterrupted silence.

Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?

Kitchen table, looking out the back window. Lots and lots of trees and wildlife.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?

I prefer the laptop, but have been known to resort to paper and pencil in emergencies, like extended power outages or for sudden bursts of inspiration at times when a laptop is not available.

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?

My "special touch" would be the inspirational bandana which was a gift from a member of this forum. THANKS! I don't actually wear it while writing, but as long as it is touching me, it seems to work. I don't usually eat or drink anything while writing because I tend to get absorbed in what I'm doing and forget to stop and eat.

When is your favorite time to write?
It used to be in the evenings/nights. When I wrote fanfic I still lived with my parents and when everything had settled down and everything was quiet, it was the best time for me to concentrate and write.

Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
Back against the wall, sitting on the bed. That used to be my spot. I couldn't write while sitting at a desk. I had to sit as relaxed as possible.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
Ideas pop up at the craziest of times and then I tried to jot them down on whatever was within reach while they were still fresh in my head.
I used a laptop but it broke down. Am tempted to buy a new one, but I don't think my neck and shoulder are too keen on the idea.

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?
Lucky Luke comics! They served twice as inspiration for my stories - or rather 2,5 times as the third story was never finished.
I do recall having music on while I was writing but other times I didn't have music on.

When is your favorite time to write?
Any time really. Sometimes I get the feeling or urge that I "have" to write and other times I either get an idea or the my muse has found the key to unlock the writer's block which has temporarily kept me a prisoner of my own thoughts... FYI, there is a real writer's condition called "Hypergraphia" (Van Gogh had it) but most of us do not go to that extreme

Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
Again...any place will do. BUT...if I get the chance to sit near water where I can "hear" it, I would take that in a heartbeat! I don't need peace and quiet (unless I am trying to think like Heyes - then I could use a padded cell! )

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
Definitely handwritten most of the time and then transferred into a laptop. I can take a notebook anywhere and everywhere, so it is easy to put down my thoughts no matter if there is internet or not.
Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?

Yes - CHOCOLATE - and the darker the better! I already mentioned being near running water (fountains, rivers, waterfalls) and IF possible, I love to put on my fav music in the background - just open another window on the comp and put one of my YouTube playlists on and I'm good to go! I will even open another window and add "Rainy Mood" to play along with my music to get the sound of rain/water

Enjoyed reading all the responses they are as varied as the tales I read from the many authors.

When is your favorite time to write?

Owning my own company. . . I cannot write until all my work is caught up. So when it is and so is life, I will write. Consequently it could be anytime at all. I have been known to write all day and late, late into the nights or get up way too early to write. Basically if the logical (adult side) of my mind will let me play, I will write.

Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?

I migrate from location to location about my home.

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?

If I am in my truck waiting for a client and inspiration strikes I will dictate to my iPhone draft pad. But for writing I use my laptop although the tale "One Left Behind" was handwritten on paper. Wow oh Wow I haven't done that since the early 90's it felt rather novel.

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?

If I have the opportunity I love three fingers of American Honey but that depends on the time of day. I always have liquid of some sort nearby no food though. In fact, writing days are basically good for my waistline :0)
I also have speakers throughout my house so I will have my favorite instrumentals playing on shuffle...sometimes the music has to be changed to fit the mood of my writing. But I find American Outlaws, Last Confederate, Last of the Mohicans, Gladiator, Dances with Wolves, Quiggly Down Under, Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron, 1800 and Civil War music keep my ideas flowing nicely.

When is your favorite time to write?
My mind is constantly going over potential scenes, dialogue, and research. Because my time spent actually writing is limited, by the time I get to putting it down on paper or the computer it has to need very little re-writing. Evenings are best for getting it down because the house is quieter.

Do you have a favorite place and, if so, where is it?
The best ideas usually come when I'm really busy with something else so can't write them down!

Do you handwrite or use a laptop or desktop?
Both: I carry notebooks around with me everywhere, but what goes in the notebook is usually just the dialogue and the who-said-what, not necessarily in the order that they'll eventually end up. When I go to typing it on the computer I put in the descriptions and put the scenes in the order that I want them.

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?
The music of the Mills Brothers keeps the keyboard clicking, and if I get writer's block a Snickers bar helps.

Claybank wrote:

Any other special touches or food or drink that get you in the mood to write?
The music of the Mills Brothers keeps the keyboard clicking.

Claybank, ever since I read this, "Cab Driver," one of my all-time faves, has been playing on continuous loop in my head, and it really does go so well with the the clickety-click on the keyboard. Thanks for the reminder of the tune.