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| Jennifer Ann at home, one of her ideal writing conditions |
What are your ideal writing conditions?
Here are a few of mine.
EMOTIONS; Sometimes when I am a little on the melancholy side I feel as though my creative juices are really flowing. I will then write and write and in order to keep up with the ideas that are needing to be expressed. Because the writing has all come so quick and easily to me I naturally assume it must be good. Fortunately, I have learn't to never share that sort of writing until I have read it in the cold light of day. And guess what it tends to not be that great at all, lucky I don't show anyone but on the other hand it was cathartic for my emotions at the time.
I do write when I'm happy also but it just doesn't seem to have the same creativity attached to it, for for me anyway. Of course the best writing has been mulled over, again and again until the sentence and wording is exactly what you feel fits the essence of what you are trying to communicate. But how about you, which emotion when you write makes you feel at your most creative?
TIME; What time of day works best for you? I love the mornings, where my brain has not become tired and jaded with work and home activities. I am not an evening person but I know others who find that at 0:00p.m. till 2:00a.m. thay are doing their most creative work. Definitely NOT me but perhaps that is you?
PLACE; I have to write in a quiet place. Or at least be able to shut a door and only hear muffled noises. I know of others who cannot write if there is no noise at all and they need to have the radio switched on and loudly. I heard of a poet who sits down at the kitchen table and amidst all the hustle and bustle of children having breakfast and getting ready for school , he is able to write, no problems. What about you? Do like a quiet or noisy surround?
HOME; I have also discovered that I write best when at home, where all that surrounds me is familiar. I have taken writing work away on holidays with me and I become so distracted by the scenery or activities or the restaurants that I can't possibly think of putting pen to paper. Can you write when you are on holidays or away?
I do sometimes wonder that if I had no chance of writing under my ideal conditions, would I be able to write in the evening surrounded by noise, facing a heavy work schedule, if that was my only choice, could I write then? I think I would definitely attempt to but I'm not sure of how successful I would be.
So that brings me to my last point and that is how fortunate we are that we are able to at sometime during any given year have the ideal writing conditions that suit us because I am sure there are many aspiring writers in the world who write anyway knowing the ideal conditions will probably never present themselves. So as we are privileged by God to write at least sometimes under our ideal conditions let us keep writing the truths that God lays on our hearts.
Jennifer Ann is the author of "Broken Pottery the Life of an African Girl available at;
Amazon kindle; Amazon books
She has her own website at JenniferAnn.info
and her own blog, JenniferAnn/aroma of life
Thanks for that thoughtful post Jennifer. Do you think our ideal writing conditions can also change over time? When I was a Uni student 30 years ago, I always had some music playing when I was working. Now I need to have things as quiet as possible. I am probably most productive at home, but when the creative juices are running low, I love to get out in some nice scenery to spark the imagination. It's also interesting that you mentioned writing your best work when feeling a little melancholy. I think that might be because an honesty or vulnerability comes through at those times. I find that's when we can really touch people with God's love. Hope you get lots of ideal writing days this month :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Nola, yes I agree that our ideal writing conditions can change over time. I love your idea that when we are a little more melancholy perhaps we are writing the most honestly, good point. All the best for your writing also.
DeleteThat was a lovely post Jennifer-Ann. Thank you. I like quiet and being at home alone in order to write best. Alas - those ideal writing conditions rarely present themselves. And no - writing on holiday is rather difficult. I too found it interesting that your best writing seems to come when you feel melancholy. Sounds like my best poetry - I used to be a good poet when I was unhappy since poetry seemed to flow out of me at such times. In fact I was so happy after I got married that I seemed to have stopped my poetry writing for many moons! :) Thanks for the post and your interesting thoughts Jennifer Ann.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anusha. I know my days are really full with work and family and so its only in the holidays that I get that quiet time. But at least I do get long holidays over Christmas. Good on you fro writing poetry I think that is a really hard medium to get right. Usually when I read my poetry back,it only makes sense to me. All the best with your writing I hope we both can carve out more ideal days for writing.
DeleteI think if we waited for those ideal conditions, we'd probably never write anything much! I wrote my first five novels sitting at the end of our kitchen table right in the middle of things, because there was nowhere else to go in our small house. But when I did get my own study/spare room at last, it took a while to adjust. In some ways, the challenge of that kitchen table spot made me more determined and focussed, I think. However, now I love the quietness of my own space and am very thankful for it.
ReplyDeleteYes, Lately especially as I get older and think, time is running out, maybe just determining to do it and not waiting for the ideal conditions is the way to go because life happens and its not going to stop happening. I think I'm definitely going to set aside more days to write even if they are not the quite the ideal conditions. thanks for your comment.
DeleteLovely post. I think Nola is right. Ideal conditions can change over time. I used to do everything with radio or record player (showing my age there) blaring. Couldn't do it now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dale, hope your writing for this year is proceeding well.
DeleteIdeal? Ah, wouldn't that be lov-er-ly? I had to move from the study because even though we each had a desk, my darling husband would interrupt my elusive train of thoughts far too often. Now I'm in one end of the living room and have learned to tune out the TV or conversation. I've even told DH he has to tap me on the shoulder to bring me out of my 'writing world'!
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about this and read the comments, I'm thinking yes, maybe determination is the key necessity to writing, not particularly having the ideal writing conditions. Well done for being able to block out the TV I find I have to be by myself in a room with a shut door. Husbands I agree are definitely way too disruptive to the writing process. All the best with your writing this year.
DeleteFor some reason, I usually find myself jotting things down with my clipboard propped up on my knee in bed - even though I have a desk. Love the peace of early morning or late evening. And yes, a grey, melancholy day can inspire me too.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes, somewhere less oriented for work can be more relaxing and conducive to writing. I'll often write in the bedroom as well as the study can feel too much like work and it has a different view from the window, which helps. Love, love early mornings even before the sun rises. I hope your writing is going well for this year.
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