My 8 Necessities for Writing

I love reading about other creative artists' processes to get in the frame of mind for doing whatever it is they do. Writing, acting, singing, painting, etc. Everyone has their own unique method of preparing their minds and bodies for the work ahead of them, their own tics, their special visual necessities. Sometimes it's getting out into nature, or using a stress ball. One person may take weeks to prepare, another jump right into their craft without another thought.

Without further ado, here are my usual necessities when writing.

1. A Quiet Place

Right now my door is open, and I can hear a fan humming in the other room. I can't stand it. Excuse me while I close my door.

Ah, much better.

There are days I'm more sensitive to noise than others, today being one of those. Usually, to write my best, I need utter isolation and peace. And now my dog is barking. You can't control everything.

2. No food

If I'm planning to write, I might grab a snack and quickly eat it before I write a single word. I know a lot of writers who spread out chocolate and almonds to munch on while writing and always have a cup of tea or coffee nearby. My tea will go cold by the time I remember it. Food distracts me and pulls me out of whatever world I've launched myself into for that time. I grab the chocolate after I've finished writing.

( I do have to be careful not to neglect myself, however. Just today I was feeling rather sick while writing and realized it was coming up on two o'clock, and I hadn't eaten lunch yet. Ever since I took my lunch break, I haven't been able to get back into the mindset of my characters. It's all about balance. )

3. Scrunchie or hair tie 

I often forget I have hair. Then there are moments where every little wisp against my neck is a spider pulling me towards hell. I have to have something nearby to pull my hair back or I will go insane and not be able to focus on a single word.

4. Mirror

This may seem narcissistic, but it's a rather handy little tool. I have a little standing cosmetic mirror on my desk. I turn it so I can't see my reflection constantly (because of movement, not being distracted by my own looks. C'mon, people.), but if I'm struggling with describing an emotion or particular look on a characters face, I will look in that mirror and mimic my characters until the words finally come to mind.

5. Headphones

Didn't I say I needed quiet? Well, when the dog is barking and your mom is crafting in the next room and it seems a hundred jets are flying over your house, sometimes a little music is more soothing and constant. I turn it on the lowest volume and make sure to pick songs I'm familiar with so that the words don't distract me.

And other times, even when the house is silent, I just put my headphones in and don't listen to music. It's like wearing extra padding against your eardrums.

6. Pinterest

If I have a specific board for a story I'm working on, I'll pull up that board and leave it in the background of my computer screen, just as a little added inspiration. If I'm struggling on what scene should come next, I can then easily pull up the board and give a quick glance to see if anything pops into my head.

7. Thesaurus 

I know, I'm suppose to just write and worry about grammar and special wording later. But sometimes...I can't let it go. I get hung up on something very easily and until my mind is satisfied I can't move on. So I keep either my pocket thesaurus or an online thesaurus handy while I write, just in case.

8. Freedom

A moment to collect myself. Breathe in, breathe out. Me and the words. Unlocking the chains around my brain,  smashing the brick wall built around my mind. Freedom to be myself, to take risks, to write whatever I want. When I allow myself run with ideas, that's when I write for days on end and can look back at my work and be pleased.

How do you prepare, or what do you use to help ease you into the creative process?

Let us know in the comments!

Writing and Depression

I've written many posts on techniques to get over dry spells in writing, conquering writer's block, where to get inspiration for stories and characters, etc. I want to do another encouragement post today, but I want to deal with something a step above writer's bock: Depression.

TRUTH: I have depression. I've struggled with it for 7 years. My depression stems from a brain injury, and for many years I didn't realize what it was.


How does depression affect writing?

1. Motivation. Depression sucks the energy from your body. In my personal writing, it's kept me from editing my fantasy novel draft; editing is hard enough itself, much less with a tired mind.

2. Stamina. Depression affects how long one can do something. I get tired easily, and that's not just a physical aspect. My brain often decides to "turn off" while I'm writing, saying "that's enough!" No matter how hard I fight it, once my brain clicks into off mode, there's hardly any chance of recovery that day.

3. Negative thinking. Another big one. Ever thought your writing was horrible, like you'd never become a great writer? I think this every time I go to write something. There are many times I avoid writing all together because I know if I get caught on one scene, one phrase, one grammatical issue, I will get so frustrated and depressed. That sounds drastic, but it's the truth. It's not me whining about my situation, it's not me pouting. My brain literally works differently since my brain injury, and in addition to the depression, I have a hard time working myself through or around problems.

4. Health. Depression and PTSD affect one's physical health. It's not easy writing when you have to take cold medicine that makes you sleep!


 Lately I've come across two ideas that have helped me to accept my writing once more, and I wanted to share those with you:

• Write for yourself, not publication.   Publication has been my dream for years. When my depression halted my writing and editing, I realized my goal of being published wasn't going to take off for some time. I got depressed and stopped writing for quite a while. Then I realized my passion wasn't publication; it was writing. It's getting across a message. It is stories, characters, personal revelation. Once I stopped thinking that without publication there was no sense to keep going, I was able to connect again with my characters and gain back my confidence. Even if all my stories end up in binders lined up on my shelf, it'd still be pretty amazing.

• No one else can write like YOU. I'm currently taking a course to improve my singing, and one of the tips I was given was to sing like myself because no one else has a voice like mine. I realized the same was true of writing; no one has a voice like you. Your stories are special. Your thoughts are unique. No one will view your story like you do.

My guess is at least one of you reading this post struggles with depression, and if not clinical depression, you have had at one time or another severe doubts about your writing. So please remember your writing is worth it. Fight for your characters. Your voice is important. Pin these notes to your inspiration board and be reminded every day that YOU matter.



Depression affects about 4% of the world's population — and that's just those who are diagnosed. Mental health is becoming a more recognized topic, between organizations like To Write Love on Her Arms and public figures such as celebrities stepping up to help destigmatize mental health, but still it's more than often hushed. Being an "invisible" illness, many people don't consider depression to be a real medical condition and don't understand how people can't just "get over it." If you think you or someone you love has depression, please reach out to someone, a parent, a friend, a doctor, and get the help you or your loved one needs. <3