Props for a Poet

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Merry meet all,

Through the centuries, many authors have used a quill pen or regular pen and a notebook or a typewriter to write down their inspirational musings. Today we have laptops- and pens and notebooks, but the laptop seems the most popular choice. Today I decided to share with you what else I use to help me write. As I type, I am seated at a desktop computer at the library. I would do this stuff at home.

I like the dark side. I like to write dark stuff as you all know. I write poetry and I try to write dark fiction. I have some objects that do help me get to  a dark place. I have a human skull that isn’t real but is very realistic looking. I love it but its eyes creep me out. That is probably because no one likes to be reminded of their mortality.

I burn candles as I write. Who can deny the magical power of a flame? You can burn a black or red candle as you write if you also aspire to scribe dark verse. A purple candle works too. Don’t ignore a white candle. Every candle has its’ own power. Remember to cleanse, consecrate and charge every candle you use in your life. I also use oil burners and incense that correspond to working on the latest fantasy or horror story. The scents could be mandrake (be careful-toxic), patchouli, parsley, mint, mugwort, clary sage, myrrh, sage, black pepper or clove. You could blend these or invent your own signature blend. They help release your tension and get you in a writerly state of mind. I own a smaller skull statue with a raven on the head. I find reading the works of other writers helps me to write better. That is why I have so  many books to study and learn from. I don’t just read for enjoyment.

If you are like me, you could make your own candles and incense cones. I could include more information here on how I made them. You could come up with another signature blend. Cinnamon is sacred to Hekate. She might enjoy the aroma and offering of a cinnamon incense cone. Incense cones are easy to make and cheap. I used cinnamon that was ground and gum arabic- easy to get and make. 

I sometimes use a quill pen and I sometimes still write in a journal before putting it on a folder on a laptop. Quill pens convey a more slower, romantic time when they were used more often. If you wish to write on a typewriter, go ahead. I think the quality of writing was better when we used typewriters than laptops because it took more effort. Now we print something off and think it is complete. Nope. I still edit with a red pen on paper.

Have you ever considered using bat wing clothespins to store your fantabulous musings? I mean, paperclips work too, but for all those who are goths at heart, that might be fun. I also use cool mugs and organizers to hold my pens, pencils, Cds and other markers. You could use color coded ( and I am not referring to computer folders here), but actual file folders. They are a great way to store your stories or poems. If you do print out and review and edit what you wrote and it’s on paper, your writing will be stronger.

If you like to have a magickal or artistic looking notebook, but you bought it at Altars R Us (the dollar store), and it’s plain as shit, consider this idea. Peruse through your tarot deck. Find an image you like. Scan it in and print it out in color and then glue it to your notebook or on the inside. Go ahead, scribble and draw on the plain pages some spiders, pentacles, bats, or moon crescents, whatever speaks to you, and before you know it, it will be as magickal as a tome from your witch shop- and half the price.

Another suggestion is to meditate indoors or outdoors, utter a prayer to a special deity, god/ goddess you follow or cast a circle every time you sit down to write. I have read these tips and believe them to be beneficial. Your writing space can be as sacred as your altar space. Even Writers Digest magazine mentions these tips. Only  I knew all this beforehand. 

Now when you do sit at your desk, keep your health in mind. Make sure your desk and computer are ergonomic and that you are comfortable. Take breaks and go for a walk to relax your body. Don’t believe you have to an opium addict to write like Byron. Don’t burn your apartment down from the candles. Take care of your health. Drink water and get lots of exercise. Be sure to eat healthy. I once spent a few days in bed in serious pain due to sitting too long at a computer. It is important to practice self-care. There’s nothing cool about being unable to move due to severely seized up muscle pain in your neck. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t get too depressed. Gone are the days when it was believed writers heavily engaged in substance abuse. Well I do enjoy some wine but I am not going to drink it nonstop for 72 hours. Ain’t gonna happen.

It is important to protect your health from computers. They give off blue lights that can be harmful to your health. Staring at your ipod five secs before bedtime can seriously affect your health. I believe computer mouses cause excema. It is said in feng shui that computers shouldn’t be in bedrooms. Well I can’t help that. But we could use cool cover cloths on laptops for night time. I decorated my black  laptop with moon phase stickers. It looks witchy cool. 

I sometimes use tarot cards to help me come up with writing ideas. I own a ghost tarot deck and it was perfect for when I wrote my novel. The images were spooky and eerily beautiful. A tarot card could sometimes spark an idea for a story or poem. You could use a plant in your apartment or den, a pen holder, an open window for inspiration, a leaf, a bud, a letter opener. You never what will strike your fancy. There are books to help you use tarot cards to write.

I hope these ideas help you in your own creative projects. They work for me. They may have worked for other writers too. !!!

Blessings, Spiderwitch