Ahhhh... :)

[the_gneech]

Many writers have a creative ritual they go through to get things started, and I think I've found mine, at least for the time being. On Monday, Wendnesday, and Friday, for the past two weeks, I've driven Laurie in to work so I can have the car, then headed over to a local Starbucks that's adjacent to a Barnes & Noble, taking my draft notebooks with me.

I get myself a [flavor syrup I feel like today] mocha, a chocolate croissant if I've missed breakfast, sit down, and start putting together my draft strips. Being away from home takes away all sorts of distractions (say, for instance, chat programs, message boards, and my livejournal ;) ) -- but being in the presence of books and other creative works, inspires me to write (or, in the case of draft strips, draw). I do 2 NN strips, 2 SJ strips, and *boom*, I'm ahead of the game.

The only drawback, is that this is a time-consuming activity, at least an hour and often two -- so it's not something I'm going to be able to do once I have a job again. I'm going to miss it, badly.

Theoretically, Laurie and I could live on just her income -- I suppose I could mooch off of her to delay the inevitable for a while; but I feel like such a leech as it is. :P It's going to take years for my creative work to actually pay something approaching a livable income -- and mind you, I don't have what I would consider to be expensive tastes.

I couldn't use this little ritual for actual "text-based" writing, so to speak ... I definitely need a computer for that. But for creating draft strips, so far I've found nothing better. So until the job comes around again, I'm going to take advantage of the time I have to do it!

-The Gneech

Comments

[tygermoonfoxx.livejournal.com]

I noted that the cafes, coffee houses, and book stores tend to have a good affect on my creativity. Unfortunately for me, the best ones are located downtown in the art district and since some idiot put racing slicks on a Bonneville (DONT ask), my car doesn't have enough clearance between road and undercarriage to get down there. Until I can afford to put the new tires on it, I'm probably stuck here. It WILL make it to Barnes & Noble or to Booksamillion but once I got there, I'd probably spend money on books instead of working on creative issues :P Bad kitty, no biscuit.

[blacktigr.livejournal.com]

Sounds like your ritual would be good for what ails ya. Relaxation goes a long way on the path to creativity, or so I am told. I haven't come up with any sort of block yet, so I have yet to experience this first-hand.

On the "making what you love what you do for a living" angle, do you have a Cafepress store? I'd love to be able to have a "La Vida Panthera" t-shirt...I'm fairly sure that others would, too.

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Well, I sell prints and things off the comic sites; but the Cafepress shirts are so cheap, I don't really want to have my stuff done there. There are other options being worked on by various parties, but it's slow going. -TG

[blacktigr.livejournal.com]

Make sure you let me know. Been really thinking hard about that.

you need a laptop dude...

[mammallamadevil.livejournal.com]

god bless my clamshell with my wireless card...(grin)...being a crocheter, I understand how you can get SO much done with different surroundings...wish I was crocheting now---gotta lotta work to do!

MLD

Re: you need a laptop dude...

[the-gneech.livejournal.com]

Nah, I can't take laptops ... tiny keyboards and dim screens conspire to make me want to throw the things out the window. :) -TG

Re: you need a laptop dude...

[mammallamadevil.livejournal.com]

grew up with 13 inch screen TV for too long....I'll adapt to almost any keyboard or screen

That quiet little space

[foxcutter.livejournal.com]

Ya, being able to sit down and clear your mind does help the writing tremendously, that's partly why I have a laptop, not that I take it anywhere really. :)

I've never tried getting into the zone outside of my house. With the laptop I guess I can now, and we have SO many StarBucks at the mall (3 at last count, in a strip mall no less) that I could find a nice place. Or I could try the B&N some time.

Sounds like it works really well for you, I hope you can find something to replace it when you get a job, or work it into your schedule.

--Fox

Yare-yare

[nekomimikun.livejournal.com]

I wish there was somewhere I could go. There is absolutely NOTHING where I live. It is probably a 15-mile drive to the nearest Starbucks. Even then, the roads are blocked up for few miles at almost every intersection.
Otherwise, I would end up living in the B&N bookstore with their adjacent Starbucks. (Even though I can't stand coffee.)
But, whatever gets you going.... ^_^