It can be difficult with so many of life’s distractions to find the time and the mood to write.
Are you having a hard time focusing on writing your piece? Have you been unable to beat writer’s block? Try creating a writing ritual routine to signal your brain that it is time to create a masterpiece.
Writing rituals are the consistent steps we take to prepare ourselves before putting pen to paper. Writing rituals arrive at the goal: to feel energized and inspired to structure our thoughts effectively and in a way that aligns with our ultimate desire to communicate them to others and put us in a headspace with greater freedom to create.
Here are some examples of writing rituals to try; choose the best ritual for you and use it to enhance your creativity and productivity in writing:
- Light a Candle: Your memories are strongly tied to your sense of smell. To use scent as ritual, choose a candle with a specific scent like lavender. When you’re ready to write, light the candle and let the smell of your favorite scent trigger your writing reflex.
- Use Scent to Your Advantage: You can use scent in other ways when writing. If you’re a memoir writer, you might take a few sniffs of your mother’s favorite perfume while working on a piece about her to bring back memories.
- Reading Before Writing: Spend a few minutes reading a passage from a book that inspires you before starting your writing session. It is to stimulate your imagination and set the tone for your own writing.
- Tea or Coffee Ritual: Make a cup of tea or coffee before you start writing. Take a moment to enjoy it as part of your pre-writing ritual to create a comforting routine that signals it’s time to start writing.
- Listening to a Specific Playlist: Create a playlist of music that inspires or relaxes you and listen to it every time you write. It builds an association between the music and your writing process, helping you get into the flow more easily. Music also relaxes our brain making it easier to stay focused, puts you in a creative place, and serves as an entrance to the world of the book you’re writing.
- Using a Special Pen or Notebook: Reserve a particular pen, pencil, or notebook exclusively for your writing sessions. This gives a feeling of importance to your work, making it feel more intentional.
It’s not magical thinking, it’s psychology. It’s brain chemistry. Rituals help us focus and allow our minds to get creative. With so many types of writers out there, it may seem impossible to create a ritual that works for everyone. Another way to look at it is that by recreating a certain series of actions, you’re tapping into the “muscle memory” that helps you write.
What writing rituals work for you?