— Zora Neale Hurston
“ There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you .”
— Zora Neale Hurston
You might be one of those writers who wears the same shirt turned inside-out and won ’ t wash it until the project is finished . Whatever it takes to get the job done . Just do it . ( Be sure to warn visitors though , if you tend to write in the nude or skip showers while writing ). However , if you require solitude and there ’ s no one else to consider , you ’ re good .
Writers ’ routines and rituals are as varied as the writers who adopt them , as well they should be . Writer , AC Arthur , goes to bed early evening and rises around 3 a . m . to begin her writing session . Sometimes we must do something a little differently to yield the best results or as the saying goes , “ If it ain ’ t broke , don ’ t fix it .” For a night owl like me , this would never work , but it has worked for her very well . If quirky little behaviors and unusual patterns compliment your writing , by all means , get as crazy and peculiar as your heart desires and your pen requires .
Happy writing from Zora ’ s Den !
“ My main ritual is to write daily unless I ’ m taking a writing sabbatical . Even on an unmotivated day I can write something . The sabbaticals are usually a week to ten days in which I allow my muses to rest . I also write well to certain musicians , Anthony Hamilton , Leela James and Jaguar Write being three of my faves . I can write most places .” -- Angelia Vernon Menchan
“ My rituals involve a specific caffeinated beverage ( Coca-Cola to be exact ), SweetTarts , and a soundtrack that includes a mix of Dirty South HipHop , Jay-Z , and a West Coast swagger to keep me in the flow . I do my best to write daily , usually at the same time every day , when I ’ m in my best floetry .” --Shakir Rashaan
“ Post-It Notes along the side of the desktop to remember new ideas or as a reminder to insert / take away something . The computer starts off as a framed cork board and the closer I get to completion , the less Post-Its there are .” -- London St . Charles
“ Pen and paper to start , then I move to the computer . I keep the iPad and phone close by for research . I play random music from gospel , jazz , R & B , dance hall , classical and country will writing . I also keep whatever I ’ m drinking and snacking on close by , so I don ’ t get distracted .” -- Anita L . Roseboro
“ I always carry a pad and pen . Ideas hit at any time . My characters seem to bug me while I ’ m at work . Not good . Lol . Evening writing most times consist of wine , going over the notes I ’ ve written . Sometimes in quiet or old school R & B playing softly with my headset on . Honestly , there ’ s no clear direction at first . Eventually , it comes together . It ’ s like an outer body experience .” --Christine Pauls
“ I always make a playlist for the book and let it play while I write . The songs are very specific to the storyline or the characters .” -- Portia Cosby
Victoria Kennedy writes fiction . She contributed to The Dating Game anthology and wrote a short story collection titled , Where Love Goes . She is also the founder of Zora ’ s Den , an online writers ’ group . Her latest book is a novel , Sometimes Love , published by Brown Girls Books . www . victoriaadamskennedy . com
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