Writing Rituals.

So, after yesterday's downer of a post (definitely not intended that way, I assure you) I have promised myself I'll post something more positive today. The theme: my writing process and the joy I find in it.

I'm writing the draft of this in my notebook for two reasons:

1) If I get the laptop out my son will want to "have a go" or watch Tractor Ted on YouTube.

2) It means I can work outside in the glorious sunshine, which always makes me happy. Sure, it would be more convenient in some cases if laptop screens were more easily visible out in the daylight, but it really doesn't bother me most of the time. You'll soon see why.

This way of doing things might seem really longwinded, and I suppose it kind of is but, oddly, I often find it the most efficient method for me. It's not like doing the whole thing twice, although it might appear like that. When I come to type my work up, I don't need to keep stopping to think, except for the odd sentence that doesn't feel right when I read it back to myself. It's only the same level of effort as checking a piece through after writing it.

I'm not a fan of sitting in front of the screen for hours on end. If I'm just typing up something that's already written, it means spending less time staring at the screen, which can only be a good thing. I prefer writing in books for the same reason I prefer to read a paper book rather than an ebook. I like the feel of a book in my hands. Reading from paper feels effortless, while I lose patience with reading from a computer, phone or tablet. Something about the screen makes it feel more like a chore, probably because it still reminds me of double and triple-checking university assignments, even after all this time.

I love my notebooks. I have a different one for each purpose, each with its own gorgeous picture or pattern on the cover. The one I'm using for the blog-related stuff is from one of my best friends and has a picture of eight very different women on it and says "Girls Support Girls." This could not be more apt, given our mutual support of each other's writing projects. Whenever she releases something, you can expect me to plug it on my blog, just as shamelessly as I would my own work.

I also love the act of handwriting. I suppose that makes me a bit weird, but I don't really care. There's something satisfying about doing my neatest handwriting, particularly when I'm using my best pen. Yes, you read that correctly. We're entering the point of no return. Everyone is about to find out exactly what a sad case I am.

For Christmas, I got a beautiful wooden fountain pen and a pot of turquoise ink. (Trust me, it looks gorgeous on the page.) It's lovely to hold and, let's face it, it's fancier than a biro. I use it for my novel writing, primarily. It's an extra special pen for my extra special projects. There, now. I bet you've never read anything quite so geeky in your life.

I digress. Where was I? Oh yes...

I'm out in my garden in the sunshine, engaging in my favourite pastime while my child plays happily, and I feel at my most peaceful and positive. Yes, we might be confined here due to the virus, but we are fortunate and we are privileged. There are far worse places in the world to be "trapped" than in our own back garden.

Looking back over what I've written, I suspect this might be considered my dullest post yet, harping on about notebooks and fountain pens and boring old writing rituals. But this is my happy and, at the moment, we all need to find joy wherever we can if at all possible.

Besides, I bet you all love your boring little rituals too; you just don't want to admit it. ;)

If you have any quirks in your writing process, I'd love you to share them in the comments. Go on... At least now you know you're not as big a loser as I am. :)

V.