I am very specific about how I write. I need a strong cup of tea, preferrably TyPhoo (the British Red Rose), with just enough milk to change the colour and a scant teaspoon of sugar. I have certain mugs from which I drink. They are all stoneware. I light a candle (sometimes scented), and I find some soft music, no lyrics, to play in the background. Then I journal. It’s very important for me to journal before I get down to work. The act of journalling helps me to separate from my “outside” world to my “inside” world. When I am writing well, I am writing in the “inside” world, very unaware of what is going on around me, only aware of my characters, their actions, etc.
I am easily distracted. Probably the most distracting thing for me since writing this latest book has been wireless internet. When I was writing my last book, we were living in England and we only had dial-up or maybe Broadband internet. Either way, you had to plug into a router to get online and download emails. I was very strict about not checking my email until I had finished my writing session. Now, when the writing is going well, this rule is easy to stick to. When it’s not, I have more difficulties.
I believe in routine, the safety of it, and the comfort. All the little things I do before I write help me to build the right environment for me to explore creatively. I’m getting ready to do that right now. About to fill my mug, light my candle, and turn the internet off.
