Weird Things You Do Before You Write

I imagine the scene that I'm planning on writing throughout the course of the day (in school and on the bus in the morning or before I go to bed) in my head like a movie.

If I sit on the idea for a while, in my head, I manage to make it all perfect and all I have to do is type out the exact words I've formed and the whole scene is done. :3

I also like to listen to a playlist I compile for the story where all the songs remind me of the story, a part of the story, or the lyrics match up with the plot idea.

My methods vary. I sometimes sketch out a scene and off to the side, or on the back, I write dialogue from it and do the descriptions when I sit down to type it. I also often act out my more action-based scenes, throwing in some random dialogue that pops into my head as I do so. I listen to music. And another thing is that I read parts of my other stories to kind of make sure I don't overlap them. I don't guess it's very weird. Just me. XD

Right now, I have a habit of putting on the song I'm going to write to, sticking it on full volume, pressing the earphones into my ears and closing my eyes, and just listening to it. I don't do anything else; I just sit there and take in absolutely everything in the song, the way it all comes together, the things it makes me think of and feel, and then I translate that over in my head to story plots and characters and have it all come together as the story, the same way the song comes together.

It sounds so nerdy now I guess that's what happens when you spend your time studying how computers work and translate information from one type to another. You start to program your brain in the same way.

Not really things I do, but things that happen before I write:
Have a mental breakdown and cry my eyes out.
When it happens, I write.

The only thing I must have is some kind of spearmint gum, it helps me a lot for some reason.

dru underground.:

I love to get stoned before I write.

I love how throughout the course of this thread, you've posted things like "I have to masturbate" and "I get completely naked". You made my day.

Anyway, I have to be drinking something and I need something to munch on.

Writing longhand isn't a necessity, but it sure helps after you put it on the computer, because you re-read what you've written and you can just tweak it while you write. No boring re-reading stuff on the computer.

I also need need NEED some sort of sound. I need the TV on and possibly music as well. I just need it. It helps me focus on my writing and not the other thousands of things floating around my head.

dru underground.:

I love to get stoned before I write.

This so bad now that I'm back into smoking pot.
It helps the ideas flow so much better
--
On top of this I almost always have the munchies when I'm writing, even when I haven't smoked pot

When I get inspired I have to go outside and jog. It helps me clear my mind and think on the plot. If it's raining, I have to do something aerobic inside.

I drink tea, listen to Framing Hanley and turn the lights off. Once, I sat in the bath tub for a change of scene, and it really helped actually I can never write on my bed...

God, I'm so weird

I take a shower. I get a lot of good ideas in the shower.

I hate when a story goes too fast! Like when the author is rushing relationships! I hate it because its really unrealistic and yeah :D I want to feel like I'm experiencing it all you know what I mean??

I have to have either hot chocolate or mountain dew with me before I sit down (otherwise I'll stop writing halfway through to go track down said items). I have to have at least two packs of cigarettes beside my computer. I won't smoke that many, but I just feel weird if I don't have them there with me.

I always have a shower before writing, I think so that I'm forced to think away from distractions. Also, I have to have a coffee next to me, regardless of whether I'm drinking it (so I don't have to worry about getting up to make one). Finally, I can't write unless my font is Georgia or Cambria size 11.

Recently, I've only begun to write if the font is in size 8 Verdana, with a Georgia (typically size 11, but it differs) heading - used more when I'm planning but for chapter headings and such as well. I have to be in a particular state of boredom to write (how sad) or when I'm feeling very much inspired, which doesn't happen often unfortunately. I also tend to write very late at night while listening to trippy music, which can often be described as instrumentals really. Anything with a loud or obnoxious beat tends to distract me while I write.

Watching some anime or reading some manga to get my juices flowing. Those tend to be the best I think. Also listening to music (depending on the idea that pops into my mind. If it's something sad - soft music is good, and so on).
Going for a walk, showering, setting a proper font. Eating something sweet too! :)

I like to think about my story before falling asleep and I swear I always wake up ready to write (mostly)

I absolutely have to write with a hot drink. It doesn't work any other way. This goes for any kind of writing, even in the summer.

I don't think this is really a /weird/ thing, per se, but if I'm not feeling in the least bit motivated, I read other people's writing and look at their comments and think, alright, I wanna do that too. Almost like a competitive thing, to write something to the best of my ability the way this other person did.

@ stallion ducky;
I totally get you! I,always sorta... act out little scenes in my head, almost, and it sounds great, so I try to recreate it in wirting afterwards.

Sometimes I like watching a television show. Watching drama unfold gives me inspiration for my stories. It also shows me what not to write into my stories, because if the things I wrote were as dramatic as the things I watch, I wouldn't be happy with it. But most of the time I reread what I have written or stare at the layout I've made for the story.