Got Muse? A Writer-To-Writer Meme.
Shamelessly reposted from Lefty In My Write Mind.
I’ve always found it interesting to read about how other writers write. What motivates you to the page, and what keeps you away? How does creativity strike — do you write when inspired, or stick to a daily word count?
Many of us are interested in those behind-the-scenes peeks at the creative process and the unique way it unfolds for each writer. The Meme I cooked up below is quick, easy, and fun. I hope you’ll share your writing process with us.
Got Muse? A Writer-to-Writer Meme:
1) Where do you write?
2) When do you write?
3) Planner or Pantser?
4) Coffee or tea?
5) Pen and paper, or computer?
6) What gets you in the writing mood?
7) What pulls you out of the writing mood?
8 What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever read/heard/received?
9) Got muse?
10) Who is the biggest supporter of your writing?
11) Sound or Silence?
Instructions: Please answer the Meme with a post on your blog, and reference the original link: Got Muse? A Writer-To-Writer Meme. Leave the link to your Meme in my comments section, so we can go read it!
I’m hoping for a collection of writers and their processes, all in one place, that writers can connect with and draw inspiration from as we toil alone in worlds of our own making. I plan to post a link (here in this post) to a new page that will list all participating writers and their blog addresses alphabetically.
My answers are below.
1) Where do you write?
Usually I write at the kitchen table, the bar type, although I also write on the porch in the rocking chair, overlooking the horses and the wild beauty of the desert.
2) When do you write?
I write whenever I can, in between animals, chores and errands, especially if I’m in the middle of a novel. But mostly, I write at night; the coolness and quiet allow me to get deeper into flow.
3) Planner or Pantser?
Pantser with a capital P. I may have a story overview in mind, but where it takes me, it takes me.
In my experience, writing is the art of letting go and allowing the story to breathe and develop through me. It’s why I feel as if I channel stories as opposed to writing them.
4) Coffee or tea?
Coffee most definitely, when I’m writing.
5) Pen and paper, or computer?
My laptop is like a third arm; I’ve worn the finish off where my hands rest as I write. Computer all the way, although my first three novels of yesteryear were written out in notebooks. The only ink I’d use was black, and only one pen: a Pentel EnerGel .7mm gel pen. It’s still the only pen I use. (I find it interesting that it matters so much.)
6) What gets you in the writing mood?
Good books, good movies, lightbulb moments. I do more writing when life isn’t one big emergency after another, and there’s nothing like someone else’s work-on-fire to spark the fire of creativity within me.
7) What pulls you out of the writing mood?
Sadness. Stress. Anger. Tiredness.
8 What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever been given/read/heard?
Just write. (Two simple words that say it all.)
9) Got muse?
Definitely. I credit the universe and nature for being my biggest inspirational benefactors.
10) Who is the biggest supporter of your writing?
My husband, although I also have friends and writer friends who have encouraged me along the way, and still do. For them, I am forever grateful.
11) Sound or silence?
Sound. When I’m writing drafts, I listen to all kinds of music: our FM stations, various cds, and XM music such as reggae, classical, 40’s, 80’s, 90’s. I also love nature music cds, with the sounds of thunderstorms, birds, rainfall, water lapping against lake shores, etc.
I prefer music without words when I’m editing, so it’s mostly classical music during those times.
What Exactly Is A Meme, Anyway?
—————————————–And now, my answers——————————————————————————-
1) Where do you write?
70% of the time at my computer, the other 30% either outside in my garden or at the lake (Bay Village, Ohio has some incredible parks, including one area at the edge of a cliff overlooking Lake Erie.
2) When do you write?
Whenever I get the chance, typically at night, after 8:00ish.
3) Planner or Pantser?
Planner. I have an exceptional memory for things like that, and can actually draft an entire short story/chapter in my head while running erands. Plus, I have 12 novels and 7 short stories, plus blog topics and essays being written concurrently, so sitting down and just, writing really isn’t an option right now. Maybe when I finish the others.
Oh, I have a planning fetish, too. I love making big lists of characters and institutions and writing 3-6 dialog exchanges in advance, modifying them when I finally get to that particular subject
4) Coffee or tea?
Coffee during the day, sherry at night, beer when blogging/chatting, vodka as a cure for writers block. I figured out years ago that my best writing is done when slightly inebriated, and I don’t smoke pot yet.
5) Pen and paper, or computer?
CPU. And I’m a desktop fan. Never really liked laptops for writing. Pencil and paper when I don’t have my PC, because I tend to amend my writing quite a bit, and pens just aren’t amenable to that.
6) What gets you in the writing mood?
Movies, HBO series, Countdown With Keith Olbermann/Rachel Maddow/Daily Show With Jon Stewart, debates and arguments I have with friends, working long hours with nothing of significance occurring.
7) What pulls you out of the writing mood?
My bladder, and my dog. Once he asks to go for a walk, I just cannot refuse, and typically find something around the house that needs to be done.
8 What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever been given/read/heard?
The first good writing class was one I took at Lorain County Community College a few years back, in which the teacher broke rank and invited us to disregard the suffocatingly oppressive writing structure I had previously been subjected to. Breaking with structure really allowed me to explore my ability to write, and I went from retaking that particular course for the third time to Honor’s English the next semester. I don’t even remember her name, but she really was the best teach I have ever had.
9) Got muse?
My ambition. I am highly creative, and long ago discovered that the English language is my media of choice; not being able to express my feelings or opinions is the second worst thing that can happen to me; not breathing is number one.
10) Who is the biggest supporter of your writing?
No one right now. My Ex was the one who really pushed me to start, but we broke up before I really got going.
11) Sound or silence?
Sound. The breeze blowing through my window and the sound of kids/dogs playing outside is more focusing than any music or silence I have encountered.
When editing, blogging, chatting, or having an email/forum exchange, I like music. Any music, so long as I like it. Just in the course of answered these questions I have listened to Sia Furler’s “The Girl You Lost To Cocaine”, Godsmacks “Serentity”, The Black Keys “Stack Shot Billy”, and Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity”.
Michael, via Emily Murdoch’s Blog
Found you through Em/Emily’s meme. So, the trick to better writing is slight inebriation? That must be why my prose is so serious. I need alcohol… I am glad people are doing these because it’s interesting how we all have different motivations and styles.
My experience has taught me that I am less restrained and more free flowing with my writing when buzzed. It may have something to do with feeling more confident in yourself and your writing, and also a greater acceptance of making mistakes. I wouldn’t reccomend getting too drunk though, and I typically avoid hard liquor; sherry and beer seem to work best for me.
Michael