Writing is a difficult task, not because it necessarily requires a lot of time, but because it requires thinking, planning, outlining, drafting, editing, etc… and there are lots of things that go into the writing process. However, you’ll often find that many seasoned writers are aware of this and don’t choose to go into writing without sort of psyching themselves up. This is basically the writer’s process, or a set of routines and rituals and steps that writers undertake before they get into writing that actually helps them mentally process what they’re going to do, block distractions, set the mood, or something similar. I personally have my own process too and there’s a lot that goes into it. So, for today’s post, we’ll be talking about a few different writers and their processes as well as what the writer’s process is and how it works.
(affiliate disclaimer: some of the links in this post are affiliate links which means that I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you when you purchase something through one of my links)
Defining the Writer’s Process
The first thing we want to do is talk about the writer’s process or the creative process. Simply put, it is a method that a writer follows to curate and develop their works. This can involve a variety of components, such as:
- Routine: A fixed schedule for writing
- Mental Preparation: Techniques to inspire creativity and focus
- Physical Environment: A dedicated workspace or tools
- Rituals: Personal habits or practices that help stimulate creativity
Every writer has their own version of this sort of process and they tailor their personal process to fit their needs. Although each writer has a different process, the ultimate goal is pretty much the same: get into the mental state needed to freely write and let ideas flow.
There are writers out there who prefer a more methodical, rigid approach to this and there are authors who prefer spontaneity. Some writers focus more on setting the mood while others focus more on energizing themselves. So, I’ve compiled a few examples of different writers out there to see what their process looks like. We’ll start with mine!
My Creative Process
Compared to some of the other writers you’re going to see in this post, I’m a bit less rigid in my structure. In fact, I think that many from the outside looking in might think that it’s a bit chaotic! I have a desk that I write at (I talk about it in the post about building the ultimate writing setup), but I’m not necessarily always writing at my desk. I sometimes write on the couch in the living room or at the kitchen table. I also like to often refresh my desk setup so that it doesn’t feel stale after some time.
I really like to drink coffee while I write and I also enjoy listening to music, which is why I’ve curated a lot of playlists on Spotify that include different styles of music for different moods and genres of writing.
If I hit a block in my creative process, I’ll sometimes turn to video games. I really enjoy gaming (check out this post of video games I recommend for writers) and I think that they help clear my mind, provide me with a fresh perspective, and sometimes even give me a needed boost of inspo.
Before I start a writing project, I like to do a lot of research and world building work. So, I’ll work on the actual world building (check out this post to learn more about how to start world building) and I also like to research, watch YouTube videos, read articles, play games that relate to the topic, and more. I even sometimes watch movies, since they also tend to do well in showing you how the atmosphere looks.
I have a lot of notebooks and an iPad, so I use both mediums to create my worlds, take notes, jot down research and more.
How I Found My Creative Process
It took me some time to really figure out what worked best for me, but it was a combination of experimentation and trial and error. I tried to find places to write in that worked for me and was able to settle on my desk as well as the living room. I found that those spots were comfortable, cozy, and allowed my mind to really take its time and think through my writing.
I always find that music pretty much sets the mood for my writing. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was a kid. Sometimes, the music fades into the background and I don’t pay attention to the songs, but other times, I’ll purposely fit songs to the scenes I’m writing. I treat it almost like I’m directing a scene in a movie and I’ll visualize the scene and try to imagine what sort of “soundtrack” would be paired with this moment.
Obviously, I’m not listening to heavy metal when I’m writing a cute, soft scene and I’m not listening to lofi if I’m writing a scene from a warzone. I use the Sony XM5 headphones and they are THE BEST for writing. They cancel out all the noise around me, have great sound quality and are just really lightweight, so they don’t feel like they’re bothering my head. I find Sony to be the best in audio for what I’m looking for.
I also found that what I was typing on mattered a lot. I type all the time and most of my work revolves around typing at my computer. That’s why I had to invest in a good keyboard and I found that after many keyboards, the Corsiar K100 RGB fit me the best. It’s a bit of a pricier option, but realistically, it’s the only keyboard investment you’ll need to make for many many years. It’s also great for my fast typing speed and the build is really high quality, so it feels like a justified price in my opinion. Mechanical keyboards, especially optical mechanical keyboards, are my favorite and I find that they make the writing process significantly easier when compared to a standard keyboard.
What Do Other Writers Do?
In this part of the post, I want to talk a bit about what other writers do and how their writing processes look like.
Malaka Gharib
Malaka Gharib is an Egyptian-American journalist, author, and cartoonist. For her, mental preparation is pretty crucial for her creative process. She likes to take walks and finds that it helps her improve her thinking. Walking is a pretty good thing for anyone to practice before they start their work day, as it helps to let the mind clear, allow for ideas to flow, and more.
On top of walking, Gharib has a specific workspace that helps her settle into her writing zone. She has a window view and has whatever she needs on the desk. This allows for her to set a space that stimulates creativity and gets her into the zone.
Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is best known for his works on stories like Coraline (a personal favorite of mine) and he probably has one of the more interesting writing rituals on this list. He uses a fountain pen to draft his first version on paper instead of on a laptop. This is something very different compared to most other writers, who prefer to write their stories digitally these days.
After he has handwritten his draft, he then types it up on his computer and edits the story there. It’s really interesting to see how his process is in this sense.
Gaiman also takes most of his time writing. He basically forces himself to write and he doesn’t allow himself to avoid writing. He has that sort of self-discipline and he found that it works for him. Obviously, you don’t have to force yourself to write if you’re facing writer’s block, but sometimes this method works for some people.
Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami is probably the most disciplined in terms of his routine as he follows a daily regimented schedule. He wakes up at 4 AM and writes for 5-6 hours. After this, he engages in physical activity throughout the afternoon such as running and swimming. He believes that physical exercise allows him to stimulate his mind better to prepare himself for the next day.
Each book he writes has a lot of effort put into it and his books go through many drafts and revisions, sometimes over the course of a year, and a book can potentially go through 9-19 revisions before publication. I personally have rewritten entire books multiple times (5+ for some) before I found the story that clicked the best with me!
Why a Creative Writing Process Matters
It may seem like a small detail or something that adds too much time to the writing process, but having a sort of creative ritual allows for a writer to really get into the zone and create the environment to properly write in. Whatever your personal routine, ritual, etc… is, you’ll find that if you practice some sort of creative process in your writing time, then you’ll find it much easier to actually get writing.
A good creative process will help you beat procrastination, fight writer’s block, and be consistent with your writing. Every writer has to find what works for them, but once you’ve found it, it’ll really click!
Before you head on out, be sure to check out my series, The Fallen Age Saga, and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you can get updates on all my latest books, WIPs, guides, posts and more!