Supplies Necessary for Writing

Writing in the 21^st Century requires so much more than paper and pencils.  Each writer has their own necessities which almost always include some sort of munchable and drinkable.  Despite the obvious need for sustenance, one might ask what are the required working materials for a modern day scribe?

Computer- this tool is required for the actual construction of literary greatness, the caliber of which will change the history of publishing and bestseller’s lists for eternity.  With the limits of typewriters, (do they still make those?) authors must upgrade if they want to remain competitive.

Paper- must be blank on at least one side for printing your fine, history-making best seller upon.  Be sure to use a good marker (you know one that won’t bleed through) to X out your kid’s homework on the other side since you ran out of printer paper again.

Internet- The Swiss Army knife of writing.  Permits a Google search at a moment’s notice, can carry on no less than four Facebook chats about how you aren’t getting your work done fast enough for that deadline next week and follow five Twitter conversations about how to write “Hit Lit” so you can make more money than Twilight and retire to Fiji while you are still a smokin’ hottie, all while writing a blog post about writer’s block.

Music- For listening to that carefully crafted mood-setting playlist.  You will also need knowledge for building new ones.  This will eliminate the risk of finding yourself without means to set the appropriate mood and tone when no teenagers happen to be nearby.

Pens- of various colors so when you revise and write all over that heartfelt manuscript the edits look like a rainbow and therefore make you smile instead of feeling convinced your life’s work permanently belongs in a slush pile.

Caffeine- Seriously?  I'm not even going to insult you with an explanation!

Tissue - THE most important supply for a writer.  Why tissue?  Tissue for those dark, private moments when you open those letters from publishers or contests knowing it will be yet another “thank you, but...” letter.  Because, even though you’ve heard, “If you haven’t received at least three rejection letters this week, you aren’t trying hard enough,” you still don’t want to add another one to your collection.

Tissues for those moments when you are sitting at your computer, bundled up in blankets with your hot tea or coffee, waiting to die from the Avian Flu you probably caught from that snot-covered kid at the grocery store last week.  But there you sit anyway, writing—and, constantly wiping and blowing your bright red nose, hoping you finish before death comes calling.

And tissues for those scenes that sneak up on you.  The ones that make you ache with anxiety or tremble in fear as if you were your character.  Scenes that make you sob with happiness, blurring the screen as you continue to type.  Scenes, so heart-wrenching they haunt you until finally images explode into words, bringing with them so much relief that tears flow silently as you sit oblivious to the world around you. 

Finally, we need tissues for those moments when all our sacrifice, all our fretting and editing, all our hand cramps and caffeine buzzes come to fruition.  We need tissues because, if we did it just right, our work, our words, our worlds, touch somebody’s soul— making a difference in someone’s life, making someone smile when they are sad, or making someone weep because they are finally understood.  Our writing, can give them the hope that passion and dreams can come true for the "every man".  At the very least, we give someone the escape they need on a rainy day.  This is why writers need tissues.

    

I write this blog entry in preparation for what I anticipate will be a very difficult weekend for me.  I have been struggling with a key scene in my WIP for over a week now.  It is an uncomfortable scene for me to write for a number of reasons (I can’t get into them all now, it will ruin the book.).  Each time I sit down, I get anxious, my shoulders twist up into knots and I start editing before I even type.  This has created one crabby and frustrated Christine.  Therefore, this weekend, I will need all of the above—especially tissue—because I am not leaving my writing space until the scene is finished!  No matter what!  So someone—PLEASE—bring me a fresh supply of caffeine sometime Sunday morning.  Thank you!!!

Help me out!  Just in case my weekend lock-in doesn't work:  How do you make it through a scene that is difficult (for whatever reason) for you to write?

Stay Groovy,

Christine Benson

Nova on House Renting/Writing Space

I believe it was last week I spoke about writing space.  I can usually write in most places but home seems to still give me trouble.  My sister came up with a reason for that.  See, I'm a talker, so if someone is home, I want to chat it up with them.  Currently I live in a small apartment with her and her steady bf who shares a different house about 40 mins from us.  Our apartment is closer to his work so he stays with us most nights.  My desk is in the living room, yes the busiest of all places so when I want to do something I write in my room on my bed.  I don't mind but it makes me sleepy most times and since the bed is right there.  All it takes is a yawn and I'm out before you can say Godzilla!  AKA the dilemma! The sleep..not Godzilla...Well Godzilla too but not at this moment. 

Our lease is up the end of next month so we have decided to give renting a house a chance.  We have never rented one before.  Since HS it has been apartments or townhouses.  My sister's bf will be moving in with us so we are looking for some place with a decent size and with that comes a higher price but when it's split between us, it really is close to what we are paying for our current apartment, which is about 3 times smaller than the houses we have been looking at.  I'd say paying 300 extra for that amount of space isn't too bad at all.  We are paying 625 for our two bedroom apt so if the house is 3 times larger...well you can do the math.  That is a heck of a deal.  Plus!!!! This is a big plus! We have decided to get a house with 3 bedrooms so I can have an office!!!

I have never had an office before.  I swear to you that when my sister suggested it, I jumped up and down.  I can just imagine it now: A room of my own to work in, a new desk, a reading chair, notes tapped all over the walls, bookshelves on one side, etc.  I just can't wait!  We viewed a beautiful place yesterday that both of us love.  Today we are taking her bf to look at it and if he agrees, we will be putting down the deposit so we can move in the end of April!  *does a happy dance*

I finally might have somewhere constant I can go to work everyday.  Until then, I force myself to write here at home while I dream of my new office.

Nova on Writing Space

There are many writers out there who talk in great detail on their writing space.  For some it doesn't matter where you write and those same people mention that you should learn to write anywhere, for the fact that there is a possibility down the road you won't have the luxury to choose. On the other side of the spectrum, you have the group of writers who have designated spots that they feel most comfortable writing in be it public, their bed, or the kitchen floor.

Last night I met the amazing Lauren Oliver.  She spoke briefly about writing her first book, "Before I Fall", on her blackberry while in transit and mailing it to herself. That is dedication.  I can write about anywhere for the most part but I also fall into the category where certain places yield better writing for me.  I have realized that I tend to accomplish more when I write out in public than I do when I am at home--unless I am in my bedroom.  My bedroom is the only place I feel that I have the peace that I need, which sounds odd when I like writing in public. I think this is because when I am at home, I see all the distractions before me.  I'm not talking about cleaning because that I am usually pretty good about, but I realize I am on twitter, fb, hulu, etc far more when I am at my desk than when I am at Barnes and Noble or Starbucks.

I was sad the day Borders closed its doors, not only because of the books but I was loosing the location that fueled so many of my words.  Now I have since moved on to Barnes and Noble.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the store but the writing doesn't come as easy there, plus the lack of plug-ins drives me up the wall.  I mentioned this on twitter if any of you caught it.  If not, I compared it to The Hunger Games breaking out over outlets.  The second a person next to an outlet moves, 5 people jump up to take his place.  Come on B&N, be a little more caring for the writers who put books on your shelves and supply us with outlets! Pst...In turn, we will spend more time there, thus spending more money on your coffee.  Hello marketing!

Ok, so I got a little off topic.  But what I am trying to say is that to each their own as long as you get the work done.  There is no right or wrong way to do it really.  That is as long as you aren't hunkered down waiting for your muse to meet you in the same space everyday because let me tell ya, it doesn't happen like that.  It's a job like anything else and with that you have to set limits.  Today I have wrote in B&N, a Starbucks after my book club, and now I am sitting on my balcony for the first time in months, soaking up this beautiful weather (I know storm season is upon us in the Mid-West so I gotta take what I can get.)

Is there anywhere that you can write or can't write?  Currently this balcony is rising up the latter but I can't seem to get myself to write at St. Louis Bread Company.  It is always overly packed and it just doesn't work for me.

I'd like to hear your thoughts so send em' my way!

I'll leave you with what keeps playing in my head over and over...maybe I'll get you stuck with me :P