My first published novel is on my desk as a reminderthat I’ve done it before so I can do it again!
If you know me, you know I love writing, but I’m also a procrastinator. So to help me get into the writing mood, I’m a firm believer in establishing an environment that feeds my creativity.
- Transition. If you don’t write first thing in the morning, do something that helps you transition from what you were doing to writing. This could be having a mental break with a cup of tea or coffee, doing yoga or meditation, or simply reading some of the manuscript you plan to work on. The goal is to move your mind to writing mode. And if you can, try to do the same thing each time so your brain associates these actions with writing.
- De-clutter. Try to work in an uncluttered area. This is hard for me because I leave stacks of books, paper, and other things around. But I do find that if the area is less cluttered, I’m better able to concentrate. The clutter is a distraction for me and the last thing a procrastinator needs is distractions that can be easily corrected when there are so many other distractions. And I use the de-cluttering time to think about what part of the manuscript I want to work on.
- Sounds or Silence. If noise or music helps, use it. Some people thrive in a coffee shop or with tunes pumping (often with music that relates to their story), others need complete silence. Choose what gets you there.
What do you do to get yourself in a creative mood?
