Your Writing Routine, And How to Perfect It

 Abi-Phillips-Writing-Sessions typically last between 2-4 hours at a time, with the occasional 15-minute doom scroll somewhere in between. 

My snack of choice is between something disturbingly sweet (like the Cadbury milk chocolate bar I'm munching on now) or something salty and easy to grab, like a package of Saltine crackers. Caffeine is a must, and I'm willing to share my favorite Dutch Bros orders, as long as you're willing to try them out once or twice.

(A chocolate-covered strawberry Mocha, iced!! or a Ray of Sunshine Rebel w/ extra grapefruit, iced!!)

Music is an important part of my writing sessions, as I typically prefer to be immersed in my subject matter. As a primarily-horror focused writer, this includes Youtube compilations and playlists of "spooky" ambiance, Resident Evil soundtracks, or "Oldies with Rain in the Background".

I put on something comfy, which always happens to be a pair of leggings, some fluffy socks, and the same rotation of oversized sweaters and hoodies. The extra warmth comes later, for my fingers and toes when eventually I upgrade to a pair of gloves and a lap blanket (this usually comes with a lap-cat as well).

This routine has been very carefully curated for years, since I was in high school, and stemmed from a middle school English lesson in which my teacher, Ms D, informed us that she had written her book every session with a bag of M&Ms. Every session! Since she had started writing in the 1950s. For some reason, I took that little tidbit of knowledge and decided to dedicate space and time to my own writing sessions, to make them special to me.

Gifted to me for my birthday, one of the books I'll always be grateful to have read as a writer is Stephen King's, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. In this book, he documents his writing process and how he's been able to successfully write so many different stories and ideas with the same setup. He has also explained this routine in detail in interviews and different locations.

In a 2014 interview, he says,

"I wake up. I eat breakfast. I walk about three and a half miles. I come back, I go out to my little office, where I've got a manuscript, and the last page that I was happy with is on top. I read that, and it's like getting on a taxiway. I'm able to go through and revise it and put myself --click-- back into that world, whatever it is. I don't spend the day writing. I'll maybe write fresh copy for two hours, and then I'll go back and revise some of it and print what I like and then turn it off" (Stephen King).

 Other writers and authors have cited having other pieces of their lives intertwined with their writing processes and routines. Some wait to have coffee until they're an hour in, some don't brush their teeth until they hit a word goal, and some wake up at ungodly hours because "creative energy [is] nourished by sleep" (Salman Rushdie).

My own writing routine didn't set in stone as much until just a few years ago, after I got married. While a completely different subject, marriage, your routine does change when living, breathing, and loving with another human being. My spouse and I have similar routines, which involve getting up in the morning, feeding the cats, and getting to work. They are a pharmacy technician with long hours, and I substitute teach right now (when my body allows it), otherwise allowing myself to work on writing a majority of the day. But my writing sessions have had be molded around our life together, to ensure a proper work-life balance.

My husband has also noted that I seem happier and more fun to be around when I have my writing sessions and have a frequent sense of accomplishment.

Not everything works for everyone either, and that much feels obvious to me. I don't think I could stomach a whole bag of M&Ms every writing session, and I sure as hell don't walk 3 1/2 miles every morning, but I do like spending time with my cats, having a quick iced coffee, and getting to work.

Things might change, but one thing is for certain, and it's that your allowing your creativity to breathe and move around, undisturbed for a period of time, just to make sure it can stretch its legs and get comfy again.

Below, I have attached a few recommendations for good starting points to building a routine. This includes writing books I've enjoyed, Youtube ambiance, and where you can find your nearest Dutch Bros.

Happy writing!

Recommended books:
(links are to purchase books on bookshop.org - support your local bookstores!)

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
(blend of autobiography and advice, creating a writer's "toolbox", and embracing authenticity)

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
(blend of life advice and practical techniques, "bird by bird" management, shitty first drafts, and everything in between)

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
(plotting!! structuring fiction based on screenwriting specifically. includes a "15-beat" how-to)

Story Genius by Lisa Cron
(science-based encouragement to build your book from the inside out. 16-step method)

Steering the Craft by Ursula K Le Guin
(focuses on sentence-level mechanics and rhythms, and how prose uses sound and voice)

Meander, Spiral, Explore: Design and Pattern in Narrative by Jane Alison
(encourages use of non-traditional story arcs like "meander", "spiral", and "explode" to explore 3-act storylines)

Recommended playlists / YouTube videos:
(links are to Youtube videos / playlists - please watch responsibly)

Ambient & Relaxing Resident Evil Music (w/ Rain & Storm Ambiance) by Cry Cafe 
Length: 1:28:10

NO AI - 80s Japanese Pop / Starting Over / Mood Setter for Study, Work & Chill by EleonorArts
Length: 1:08:30

writing in a cozy old library during an autumn thunderstorm (ambience + music) by Abbie Emmons
Length: 1:57:30

you're in a vintage disney cartoon | dreamy strings + classical music to relax by Lepreezy
Length: 2:04:31

2 Hours of Dark Mystery Horror Music: Beyond Arkham H.P. Lovecraft by Cthulhu Mythos Music
Length: 2:00:13

Your Nearest Dutch Bros Location:

https://www.dutchbros.com/locations/