When you write, what do you also surround yourself with?

1. 60

   ytsenohposted 12 years ago

   When you write, what do you also surround yourself with?
   
   For example, do you have music on in the background, the television, and do you make sure your favorite snack is with you?  Do you drink coffee or tea?  And do you write from handwritten notes, or do you start typing away?

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2. 0

   jasper420posted 12 years ago

   I make sure I have a drink and a snack I perfur to be in isolation and quite when I write I dont like to be bugged or inturupted because I dont want to loose focus

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3. 87

   tsmogposted 12 years ago

   I sit at my study/office window overlooking the native plant garden. I usually have tea or coffee (half a pot on the cooker). I always listen to music when writing. I choose the music based on the type of hub. I have notes, but on MS Word.

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4. 0

   The Writers Dogposted 12 years ago

   I make sure that I have coffee, potato crisps, and tobacco in the house. Then I load up my five disc CD player and head for my study to write.

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5. 61

   MyGirlThursdayposted 12 years ago

   I usually like to sit in a coffee shop or a place that isn't my house where I would get distracted. Other than that, I don't have any other requirements!

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6. 0

   msorenssonposted 12 years ago

   My writing is mechanical. I sit to write, same place all the time. My thinking takes a while but the writing itself is fast, so I do it as I would, make coffee or make a toast.

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7. 59

   Max2deMAXXposted 12 years ago

   I for example surround my self with nothing, NO DISTRUCTIONS like T.V. or Radio or anything like that, I like to be able to fully concentrate and be able to hear my self (my thoughts).
   
   No coffee, no tea, you are either watching t.v. or dinning out or, you are writing, yes I soupose you could do both, it's called multitasking, but no matter what you do, you always get best result if you concentrate on one task at the time.
   
   When you are multitasking or being distructed by some kind of distruction you can never put 100% into what you are doing and the results often speak for them selves.
   
   You can write from hand written notes or just start typing anyway, you should channel your higher self or subcontious mind as some call it, then the words should just appear on the paper or computer screen written by you.
   When that happens you want be able to stop until you finish, you want even think about a tea or a snack.

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8. 61

   Deborah Brooksposted 12 years ago

   I love to write to music but sometimes the TV is on. I like to drink my coffee. I get an idea and i start typing. I do carry notebooks with me when i get an idea I can jog it down and type later.
   My favorite music to write to is Italian piano romantic sad music.. Or Adele..

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9. 80

   joanwzposted 12 years ago

   I drink coffee in the AM and water in the afternoon. I surround myself with my books, artwork, my college diplomas, a soft wrap to keep me warm in the winter and a fan to keep me cool in the summer. I also have a multi-CD stereo, on which I change the music out periodically. I only listen to instrumental when I'm writing. The words in vocal music get in the way when I'm writing. Same reason I can't have the TV on. Sometimes I open the blinds on my office window. Usually I leave them closed. If the weather is beautiful I find an open window a distraction. Makes me want to be outside playing instead of writing.

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10. 68

    J Burgraffposted 12 years ago

    It depends upon what I am writing.  I frequently write my first draft on the computer, but sometimes I will have notes that I have written at work and stuffed in a pocket and then I work from those.  I have coffee in the morning and I have the photos of my loved ones sitting in front of me, a favorite print on the wall, and an orchid that is doing particularly well sitting on the table.  And I never, ever, ever, ever start to write without my two favorite dictionaries at hand.

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11. 75

    healthwriterbobposted 12 years ago

    I write from my home office with a desk in front of a window that overlooks the back yard. I usually have quiet conditions, and there is always a pad and pen in front of me. Often, I have a cup of coffee available. At some points during the writing, I can type right into the template. This is usually for the part of the article that has content that does not require a lot of research. When I get to the portions of the article that need research, I will first hand write what I want to say, make changes and then type into the template.

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12. 60

    Camila14posted 12 years ago

    I sit on my fuzzy rug and listen to music. What I write depends on the music I'm listening to. My angry stuff normally comes out of my bad moods, and my techno, dubstep music. Sometimes throughout the day I'll jot things down in my planner and then later type it up, but most times I just start it on my laptop, unless I thought of it somewhere else where I didn't have my computer on me.

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13. 60

    MojoDawgposted 12 years ago

    I like quiet, i write in my office and normally I always have some coffee and a dozen or so tabs open on my pc for keeping up with my other stuff.

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14. 60

    KimDaphneposted 12 years ago

    It usually depends on what kind of article I write. When I write research papers it must be silent as a barren den. When I write any article that inspires me, I listen to different music that I love but never rock (heavy metal). Food is not usually around when I write as I usually spend time researching and writing than eating. And when it comes to doing handwritten notes, I do that when my computer is not around, usually with my freelance jobs, I type all the way. It makes me more efficient. But it still can't beat the old fashioned handwritten scrawls I make in my journal. As Natalie Goldberg says, "your hands are connected straight from your heart." I make truly inspired write-ups in this way.

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15. 61

    Charity Banksposted 12 years ago

    My surroundings are based on what I need. I can write at the drop of a dime but writing good content sometimes takes an extra surge of creativity. When I need that extra I play music, I watch videos, or I may just sit in silence and meditate on the topic for a while with the intention being to "flow like water." My ideal writing ambiance would be dim light, candles burning, music playing lightly, some hot chocolate or green tea, and my comfy chair and slippers... Great Question with a lot of Great Answers=)

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16. 72

    Born2care2001posted 12 years ago

    I enjoy a spot of tea, music from every genre imaginable, then nature, people and  a computer, although I often write by hand, especially notes! Aren't we just nuts about this site and community. I imagine the light that streams upward every moment as the creative genius of these writers ignites with questions and ideas! OMG, does it get any better than this???
    Peace be with you!

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17. 0

    Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

    There use to be a show featuring stories by Ray Bradbury which would show him in  room filled with all kinds of objects and he would browse the room, focus on an object and then begin to write.
    
    I have no rituals. Everything I write is on the computer. Use to be on the typewriter in my younger days. I write when I have time or if something hits me. I seldom jump up and say I need to write this. I have made lists of things I want to write about, but seldom follow the list.
    
    So simply give me a keyboard, a fairly comfortable chair, a large monitor and keep the ambient temperature on the cool side and I am ready to write, if I have anything to write about.
    
    As a newspaper reporter, I wrote a twice weekly column sitting in a newsroom with six other people, ringing telephones, numerous interruptions and other distractions. Never missed a deadline. Sometimes you just have to tune everything else out and write.
    
    That is what works for me.

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18. 64

    lilyflyposted 12 years ago

    it doesn't matter. I broke my CD player, so there is no music. I'm usually @ my rikitty red table, tapping away.. lily

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19. 84

    Rosie writesposted 12 years ago

    I usually don't have a choice in the matter.  I write during the moments I can, which are few.  On the rare occassion, I have a cup of coffee, fireplace going, and complete quiet.  But usually I am surrounded by all kinds of noise and distraction, and I still write.

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20. 57

    wim99posted 12 years ago

    It depends on where I decide to write, and what kind of writing I am doing. Sometimes, I write at the library or in my study at home, but also like to find a picnic table in the woods, the backseat of a car, or a familiar place, such as a coffee shop. Regardless of where I write, I always have my laptop, or any variety of norebooks to fill with my thoughts. Quiet and peaceful, preferably with a gentle breeze, such as a portable fan.

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21. 67

    WretchedRaptureposted 12 years ago

    I'd agree with some of the other hubbers, that my writing is pretty mechanical, at least in the later stages. My writing process, more often than not, starts with an outline of some sort. Nothing too formal, just a few notes and points that I'd like to touch on and expand off of. Once I get past that initial stage, I like so sit down at my desk, start up my itunes, and get to typing. But above all else, I can never break my number one rule: Don't write on an empty stomach! :]

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22. 60

    gotseoposted 12 years ago

    It's rather inspiring to have a cat on your lap for some time, but not walking around the table))
    
    Seriously, when I have a strike of inspiration, I can find myself writing almost everywhere - sitting on the floor, going somewhere by bus/train, walking along the river bank, etc.
    
    It's necessary to have something where I can put my content ideas into. It can be a paper notebook, a smartphone, or an online app that helps keep notes organized.
    
    And when I think of the structure, I definitely use my whiteboard to draw the parts and logical links between them!

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23. 70

    buckleupdorothyposted 12 years ago

    Coffee, tea or very cold water - pitchers of it, whatever it is.
    Quiet music, or silence, depending on the sort of writing.
    If I'm on my computer, it's best if I hide the time.
    Notes are useful for technical writing and in preparation for academic writing, but otherwise I find that I just use them to procrastinate.

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24. 64

    Jynzlyposted 12 years ago

    Whether I hub or not, music is my constant companion, just can't live without it, even when I sleep, music is continuously playing. Most of my music are classical, tenor, soprano, Beethoven, Mozart, and more. Oldies but goodies of my favorite singers like Shirley Bassey, Tome Jones,
    Coffee is part of my existence and it's 8 big mugs a day...with cream of course.
    My bedroom is also my "office"...everything is the expression of me in my bedroom, my laptop is on my headboard, so I sit on my bed when I hub. My bedroom has a porch where I sit overlooking the rooftops and windows and doors and porches too of the neighbors across, my house is taller than the houses around and is securely fenced, even my porch is surrounded with grills...I can see the view from a distant but others won't see me. My location is conducive for writing, it's like I am living n a tower.
    I am not a "food" person and that contributes to my fit look; but cigarette smoking is my only  vice; I cannot let go of it especially when I hub...ow, double the number I smoke when I hub...I go deep into my soul and my lungs.

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25. 59

    Alex Powersposted 12 years ago

    I like to have a clean work space, turn off all radios, phone, tv etc to keep it as quiet as possible. I have bottled water or coffee to drink, and usually work off a handwritten outline.

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26. 79

    jacqui2011posted 12 years ago

    When I write, I surround myself with lots of things:
    
    pen, notebook, coffee, cookies, laptop and emergency bar of chocolate!
    
    I prefer to write when it is quiet, with no music or television on, as I get easily distracted! My cat Foxy usually comes and sits beside me when I write. I write from my handwritten notes and then type them up on my laptop.

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27. 67

    Joyfreakposted 12 years ago

    A cup of coffee for me and my cellphone. I hate listening music or eating when I write it distracts me so much. Also sometimes I take note on notepad but mostly I type without any plans.

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28. 0

    Kathleen Kerswigposted 12 years ago

    I almost always have the TV on in the background. If it is too quiet I find I get too distracted. That seems weird to me but that is the truth. I always have something to drink as well - usually diet soda but sometimes a cup of hot tea. I always just start typing - it's much more exciting that way.
    
    Good question - I love the variety of answers.

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29. 89

    alifeofdesignposted 12 years ago

    tea, lots of paper, research notes, my portfolio that has some of my past works and I work in front of an office window that has a community of cardinals which makes me smile.

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30. 60

    Evylyn Roseposted 12 years ago

    When we write, we don't write in some undefined space; we often have an environment that can be changed. One aspect of an environment may be better than another and we can all a little consideration into what we surround ourselves with. To maximize your writing potential, find which of these suggestions will work best for you. read more

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31. 79

    raciniwaposted 12 years ago

    I can write anywhere, even when i am having my class...an inspiration for me is like a light, guiding me through...I can't write without one...So i do not dare write anything if  I am not up to it...

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