Monday, May 16, 2011

What do you need to write?

Next week is finals week which means this week I am running around with my head on crooked trying to get projects done and snapping at all who try to speak to me. As much as I would love the excuse to ramble about something I'm not going to be graded on I don't have much of a post for you today. Instead I will leave you with a quote followed by a question.

"A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction."
--Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

Would you agree? What do you need in order to write? Quiet? A certain pen? Enough sleep? Sleep deprivation? Coffee?

10 comments:

  1. Quiet aloneness where I don't dread somebody beckoning me for some purpose I'm most likely ill-suited for. Good luck on the projects/finals!

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  2. I definitely need the time alone. I suppose by money she meant having the freedom to write without spending all your time and energy at a dull job in order to pay the bills. I don't need much money because I have divested myself of debt and "things" and I no longer frequent malls and such. But I do need insurance. I work for the insurance, and I know I'm not alone in that pathetic state of affairs.

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  3. I don't know if MUST is the right word, but I agree it helps. Actually I should make that a sign and hang it over the door to my study. Only I would add "Now leave me alone."

    Good luck on finals. Don't envy you there.

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  4. Bane -- Quiet aloneness is definately helpful and thank you. I shall need it.

    Yvonne --You're right. I think by "money" she mostly meant "time" and maybe "not-being-too-hungry-or-stressed-about-other-things-to-concentrate". I am often amazed by writers who manage to create beautiful books without those things.

    L.G. --I would steal your idea of making it a sign if I had my own door to hang it on. So yes, "must" is probably not the right word. Still, highly desired.

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  5. I have what I need (my desk, computer/internet), but I wouldn't mind a little room entirely devoted to writing with some shelves for all my helpful books. That would be nice.

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  6. Love that quote! I need absolute silence and time! Great post!

    Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?
    YA Paranormal Romance Darkspell coming fall of 2011!

    ♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
    www.authorelizabethmueller.com
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  7. Good luck with everything, Taryn. A few years ago I would have never said that money was an issue to writing. But lately I do feel like money would provide a certain sense of security that would allow me to pursue my writing goals more successfully. (If you have any spare cash, please let me know.) I also think the opportunity to think clearly is critical.

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  8. I find writing is easier to do when I surround myself with colorful characters I know from real life. A muse is necessary for art, no?

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  9. I have to have my computer (not just the laptop, the keyboard, the docking station, all of it), a bottle of water, and my playlist. ;)

    BTW, I'm giving you an award tomorrow on my blog, so please drop by if you have time! :)

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  10. I need quiet! But sometimes music! No voices, though, except singing is okay unless it's a song I've never heard before. Then I won't write because I'll just sit there and listen to the lyrics over and over and over again.

    Wow, I'm picky. It's a miracle I write at all.

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