Getting Ready

One of the key things to do when writing is getting prepared and comfortable.  Some people find the right music to fit their style.  Others play classic cheesy movies in order to set their mood.  Still more people prefer near silence in order to focus their thoughts on their literary creations.  I have my own method of stimulating my brain and getting my creative juices flowing.

One universal requirement for my writings is a full stomach.  I find nothing more distracting than a grumbling stomach when I am trying to form words from the images in my mind.  Sometimes this means a healthy breakfast, but more commonly it is accomplished with a large lunch and unhealthy snack.  With a full stomach, I am nearly ready to settle in and begin my literary creating.

With a tall glass of water or bottle of homemade soda, I settle into my large chair, pull out my laptop, and start getting myself ready to create.  After a brief check of social media and email accounts for any happenings for the day, I start up Open Office for word processing, and a video streaming window.

What I stream depends on who I am writing for.  A television series that I have seen a number of times is the preferred option if I am writing a freelance article that require some research.  Shows such as Firefly, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Airwolf fit the bill well.  The familiarity of these shows mean that I don't need to pay much attention to it and can focus more of my mind on comprehending the information being researched.  I am also able to judge how much time has been spent on each article based on how many episodes have passed.

Because material for my own books comes entirely from me, I will stream a movie or series I haven't seen but isn't necessarily one I have a major desire to see.  The "cheese" factor of many of the movies made for the SyFy network and episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 are perfect for a happy mindset while forming a story that is uniquely my own.  The general entertainment value lets me keep the outside world at bay without influencing the shape or tone of what I am attempting to write.

I entertain myself with more captivating shows and movies while composing these blog posts.  The content of these posts has been developing during my downtime for days or weeks.  Pieces coming to me while driving to work or settling in for the night.  Shows such as Continuum, Arrow, and Dexter as well as the new generation of Star Trek and Marvel movies maintain a flow that helps me arrange and shape the various thoughts in my mind.