Rituals

Recently, an interviewer asked me if I had any rituals before I started writing. I can't really remember offhand what my answer was; mostly it had to do with finding a quiet spot away from the normal distractions of our household. Maybe a little meditation to get me focused, but that was pretty much it. I can sit down and start writing cold, pretty much anytime or anywhere.

Well, that was a lie. Not an intentional one, but still, events of this night and morning have brought home to me just what a obsessive/compulsive person I am about writing. You see, I believe that writing is a craft that is powered by discipline. Yes, it's a creative art, but unfortunately, I don't run off inspiration 24/7. I'm moody and a bit lazy, and there are times when I'd much rather be outside playing than inside facing my computer. So I believe in discipline. But what I believe about myself isn't always true.

In November, I participated in NaNoWriMo, the big writing marathon that runs through the entire month. I did well, I believe I ended a bit over 52 thousand words. I completed 2 novellas and got a healthy start on a novel. Once I cleaned up one my novellas and submitted it last week, that left me facing some decisions on what to do next.

After a few days I picked my project, the sequel to Belle Starr. Fortunately, I did some early work on the book many months ago, so I'm not starting from scratch. I've got my story plotted, my characters developed and really, it should be a breeze.

Well, it isn't being easy.

I sit down, open the document and scan the work I've done. Then I take a break. That can be time on Facebook or Twitter. Maybe I'll catch up on email or write to my daughter. I'll do some "research." Usually that has to do with another project completely. I'll open another file and work on something unrelated, or go read a book. Then I return to the manuscript. This process continues for days. In the middle of the night, I get up and make muffins or go in the bathroom and search for grey hairs. Maybe take a bath and give myself a facial.

Anything...anything to avoid the manuscript that's waiting.

I finally figured out that there's not really a problem, this is simply a method of preparing my mind to turn itself over to the new book. Once I've finally submitted to the task at hand, I'll sit down and work steadily. Those hours and days that I've dithered haven't really been a waste; on some subconsious level I've been organizing my thoughts and diving into the characters. I'll go searching for music on You Tube or sorting through photos on stock photo sites. Sometimes I'll grab onto a line of poetry or a comment that someone makes in a movie. This is all fodder, setting the mood for the time to come.

Thankfully, these rituals don't always last for days on end, this is generally when I'm letting go of one story and family of characters and embracing the next project. As I sit here at 3:00am, I think that I'm nearly ready to let go of the last book and move on to the next. Of course, I'm writing a blog about my ritual of avoidance, so maybe I'm not as ready as I thought. But maybe tomorrow I will be.

Visit Belinda at her website: http://www.belindamcbride.com