#8 Writing advice: Set the table the night before
Some people thrive with fastidious writing routines.
Others take a looser approach to the creative process.
I count myself in the latter camp. For instance, I believe freewriting has tremendous value as a solution for writer’s block or start point for creativity.
But commencing your writing routine with freewriting and launching into it without loose direction or preparations are different things.
I still “set the table” the night before I write.
Set the table
“Setting the table” helps me remove obstacles so when I put my backside in the seat to pour some words onto the page, there is minimal resistance in my way – and as a confessed procrastiplanner I need that protection.
What does setting the table look like?
For me, it looks a little like this:
- Prepare coffee the night before with water ready in the kettle so I can have a dose of caffeine within minutes of waking up.
- Charge my laptop in advance, place it in my writing spot and otherwise clear it because clutter distracts me.
- I write from 5-7 am then head to the gym. I lay my gym gear out, pack my work bag, make my lunch and have everything else lined up so I can expand into those couple of hours as much as possible.
- At the weekend or in the evenings, I braindump writing ideas. I look through this list when I journal at the end of the day and jot down the topic or two that I’ll freewrite about the next day. The freewriting process can go anywhere, but if I loosely identify a topic or focus, it helps tremendously even if I go off in another direction.
How do you set yourself up for success with your writing routine?
Share your versions of "setting the table" in the comment section below.
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Benjamin Craske
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