Episode 1

Environments and Routines | Elizabeth Bezant

Writing is one of those wonderful skills that can be done anywhere. The question is though, is there somewhere you can go or something you can do that improves the quality and quantity of your writing?

Do you write best using a computer or paper? Do you like writing inside or outside the house? Can you write amongst a crowd or do you need peace and quiet and a door to work behind? These are just some of the questions to find the answers to if you want to find the ideal environment for your writing. Of course, the answers to these questions might change, depending on what you’re writing, your frame of mind, the time of year and who knows what else - but they’re worth investigating.

One thing that you’ll need to be aware of though, is that if you prefer writing in pen or pencil and are planning to submit your work for publication it will need to be presented in printed form. Consequently if you’re not willing or able to type up your work at some stage you’ll need to beg, bribe or pay someone to complete this part of the task.

Some people also find writing at different times of the day more productive than others. The most common times to write appear to be early morning or late evening, perhaps because this is when most households tend to be quieter.
 

Routine

Routines or rituals are also worth considering. The options are endless and many writers will tell you that without their routine the words take longer to get onto the page.

For example, before you start writing, consider: going for a 20 minute walk, spending half an hour quickly tidying the house, playing your favourite music, lighting a candle, sitting quietly and contemplating your story, doing a writing exercise.

A thought that leads us neatly in to the question, how much writing do you expect of yourself? So many people have dreams for their writing, but never reach them because they don’t quite find the time for writing. This would have to relate to the comment I hear most often, that life constantly gets in the way of living. It’s so easy to let time slip by filling it with small things, but if you’re serious about your writing you’ll need to put it well up on your list of priorities. Consider setting yourself some deadlines or work consciously to make a habit of writing. If there’s a specific project you’re working on - and this works especially well for the larger projects - set yourself a goal of how many words or how much time you’ll spend writing each week, and then stick to it.

For some writers this goal setting works better if they are accountable to someone else for their achievements. It might be a friend, a coach or another writer. Sometimes even arranging a time to meet another writer and then writing in the same room helps, or consider setting a date when both you and your friend have to finish your manuscript. Anything to start the habit and keep your writing goals on track.