Head in the Clouds

Have you ever felt the urge to write but can never properly get into ‘the zone’, that frame of mind where words just flow from your head onto the page, or screen, and you could easily write a whole poem, or chapter in a matter of hours? I know I have. Some days you find yourself trapped in a certain frame of mind or forced to focus on the outside stimuli that affect your writing flow, whether that be a screaming neighbour or something as small as the quality of pen you hold in your hand. Over the years I have experimented with what I find creates the most comfortable writing environment for me and I would like to share my own preferences with you for this week’s entry. Of course everyone has their own particular tastes - I know many people who, for instance, prefer writing to silence rather than music. It’s just a case of trying something new until you find what works best, whether that be a particular chair you sit on or a certain time of day to write. Anyway, I digress. Here is what I prefer:

Ambience - This changes daily for me, depending on the reliable British weather. I always find that I do my best writing whenever it is raining, the hypnotising drumming of heavy raindrops landing on our greenhouse roof and battering the windows always allowing me to reach that peak level of concentration. Strangely enough, I can always get past writer’s block whenever I have a shower, that same harsh spray of water strengthening my creative muscles. I assume that it has something to do with drowning out all other sounds, allowing your mind to focus on what is more important to you at the time. Having said this, a serene sunny day with just a hint of breeze is always good fuel for thought, a simple glance at the swirling and forming clouds enough to rekindle that spark for a day’s writing. I’m lucky enough to live near the countryside, so relaxing under the shelter of a tree whose leaves sway in the wind is a luxury that I always take advantage of. I highly recommend being close to nature as you write, there are always so many forms of inspiration hidden away.

Music - Whenever I am writing, I can guarantee that 80% of the time I am listening to music, chiefly film soundtracks or orchestral scores. These provide very helpful forms of motivation to get words down, especially as they convey a certain mood that encourages you to experiment with the emotional range of words. Even without visual stimuli, music allows your mind to wander and create images that match the events of the song, forming new and exciting stories out of a few notes. For instance, the song linked here is softer and more soothing so can be listened to whilst forming perhaps a calm conversation scene, whilst the song linked here is more intense and connotes a high action or fight scene.

(Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these songs and I am linking to their official owners and creators who reserve the rights to their own work).

Laptop or Notebook? - Just one look at my book case and you can see that I am clearly a lover, and serious hoarder, of notebooks. I personally find that notebooks are much easier to use when writing outside or when you need to write down that latest brainwave, however much you may struggle to read your handwriting down the line. I usually find that planning is easier for me using notebooks, as you can quite literally draw or doodle conclusions between parts without the need for a charger or power socket. I usually write my first draft of a chapter or section in a notebook too, that way I can improve once I do write it up on the laptop. As such, I am usually on draft three by the time I have fully written up the chapter and saved it onto my plentiful memory sticks, having adapted the plot or flow of paragraphs between the time of shifting between mediums. It may sound like a hassle as I am rewriting what I have already written and not progressing the story further, but I usually find that it serves me better in the long-run as I am editing something that has already been partly proof read.

Time of day - This is one area that I definitely need to improve on. As it is I am working two days a week and spending most of the rest of the time at home, either working on my own book or going through my university reading list. As such, the times that I actually sit down to write vary, although I mostly find the flow works best just after dinner time between 2pm and 6pm, sometimes lasting until 8pm. My issue is breaks - I hardly have any. I have to realise that slaving over a screen during a brainwave moment isn’t great for my health, leading to long episodes of migraines and eye strains that take a week to fully recover. That would be one piece of advice I offer myself as well as others - have sufficient breaks, even if it’s just half an hour away from your writing. Plus, fixing a time that is more convenient for you - perhaps after work or early before you complete your other jobs for the day - is ideal, as you will come to a routine that your mind can ease into and help you more. This is something I am making an effort to improve on, allowing me to ease back into a life post-lockdown.

Nutrition - I find that a simple pint or two of water is best while writing away, hydrating your body as well as your mind. Sometimes - now for example - I may snack away on a sweet treat to keep my energy up, but I always find that this makes me more hungry later on from the sugar. That is why, typically, I write just after I have eaten a decent meal. That way I have less motivation to snack and also have sufficient energy to write without stressing about what I am going to cook or feeling to hungry to actually form proper sentences. As such, I suggest setting yourself a reminder to eat, especially if your flow is between mealtimes in a morning and afternoon. That way you are keeping yourself full and energised and providing yourself with more motivation to write, as well as giving your eyes and brain a rest as you put the work aside to eat.

So there you have it, a little insider into the kind of environment I prefer. Like I said, it is always best to work out what is best for you, even if that means trying out some things that don’t actually fit. It’s better to try than never know.

I will leave you this time with a piece of great news - my official degree came through the post! It is so surreal to physically have the result of three years hard work in my hands, and for it to be the best possible result. Part of me still feels like it has been cut away, with my final year ending as abruptly as it did with all the memories finished off by a piece of paper in the post, but we all have to look forward now. We have all been through hardships this year, whether you’re a current, future or past student now, or not even a student at all. To my fellow students I say this: now is the time to utilise what we have learnt and decide our path in life. After all, if we can overcome the fears, losses and stresses of a pandemic we can overcome anything. For me, this simple piece of paper is a symbol of the motivation that urged me onward, proving that the best of results can arise from the worst of times.

That’s it for this instalment. I hope you enjoyed reading this entry and I shall see you next time, hopefully with some more news about where I shall be taking this blog next!

Until next time,

Emily