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| English: The Open Road From Eastnor to Ledbury (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
A
recent car trip severely disrupted my writing routine. At the same
time, I read a passage in a writing book that made me question the
advantages of a strict writing routine. Routines can help us write
when the going is difficult but they can also handicap our
productivity when we become dependent on them.
For
instance, I write best in the morning, at my desk, in quiet. Maybe
you are an evening writer who needs to be surrounded by people at the
kitchen table. The thoughts flow most easily then. The point is, I
reached a point of dependence where I felt that if I didn't
have any one of these conditions, I could not produce. Because I
identified these three crucial elements, I was able to begin bending
them in order to lessen my dependence on them.
I
began writing twice a week in a local deli that encourages people to
work from their restaurant. The deli is quiet in the morning and
gradually fills for lunch – which gives me a chance to adjust to
the increased noise and business. On rough days, I listen to music to
drown out the sounds of the other patrons.
You
can do the same with your routine. Write at a different time,
different location, noise level, whatever is opposite from what you
feel is crucial for your writing process. I am not recommending that
you tackle all elements at once – that might completely block you.
Be moderate or daring, but test yourself to be sure that you are not
a slave to your own routine.
The
benefits of stretching your routine are tremendous. I can now write
in more places, with different noise levels. (I already wrote at
times other than mornings). You will also become able to write under
conditions that previously stymied your productivity. The practice
paid off during my car trip where I did not have my desk, open
mornings, or quiet. Thanks to stretching my routine and using
a combination of discipline and adaptation, I was able to continue
writing under even these extreme circumstances.
