W.J. Lennox
Hmm... some days are easier than others. I usually find that even when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about a scene, a particular character or I'm spending time researching ideas for places, names, mythical creatures and ancient mythologies. I often wonder if anyone was to look at my search history, they might think I've got more than a few screws loose.
I'm a very visual person and need the story to form images in my mind while I write. I see writing much like painting but with words, carefully building a foundation layer by layer until the story is brought together to form a complete picture. I have developed a bad Pinterest addiction, but I find certain images do help me flesh out ideas. I also love people-watching as I'm nosy by nature, and just can't stop myself eavesdropping on random strangers conversations or making up their life story in my head.
Also, allowing ideas to percolate for a day or so before puts me in a good head space to get into a flow state from which the rest of a scene or chapter just unfolds organically, sometimes taking me in a direction that I didn't originally plan or expect.
Of course, there are days when I'm either not feeling physically well, in a bad mood, or suffering from bouts of crippling anxiety and self doubt as most new authors do. On those days, it can be hard to get in the right head space, so I either force myself past it by disconnecting myself from other distractions, social media being the worst culprit and carry on regardless.
When that doesn't work, I step away from the keyboard and focus on something else for a bit. The only problem with that is I'm usually plagued by guilt as my writing time is already squeezed by keeping my kids and the house in order. That said, I often find that when I'm not thinking about writing a difficult scene, I'll have a eureka moment when I least expect it, such as hovering or cleaning the bathroom!
Most importantly, as long as I have a cup of tea in my hand, a comfy place to work and sweet silence, then my fingers are itching to start tapping away.
I'm a very visual person and need the story to form images in my mind while I write. I see writing much like painting but with words, carefully building a foundation layer by layer until the story is brought together to form a complete picture. I have developed a bad Pinterest addiction, but I find certain images do help me flesh out ideas. I also love people-watching as I'm nosy by nature, and just can't stop myself eavesdropping on random strangers conversations or making up their life story in my head.
Also, allowing ideas to percolate for a day or so before puts me in a good head space to get into a flow state from which the rest of a scene or chapter just unfolds organically, sometimes taking me in a direction that I didn't originally plan or expect.
Of course, there are days when I'm either not feeling physically well, in a bad mood, or suffering from bouts of crippling anxiety and self doubt as most new authors do. On those days, it can be hard to get in the right head space, so I either force myself past it by disconnecting myself from other distractions, social media being the worst culprit and carry on regardless.
When that doesn't work, I step away from the keyboard and focus on something else for a bit. The only problem with that is I'm usually plagued by guilt as my writing time is already squeezed by keeping my kids and the house in order. That said, I often find that when I'm not thinking about writing a difficult scene, I'll have a eureka moment when I least expect it, such as hovering or cleaning the bathroom!
Most importantly, as long as I have a cup of tea in my hand, a comfy place to work and sweet silence, then my fingers are itching to start tapping away.
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