in a place that makes me happy.

My pre-writing rituals differ based on which type of writing I am going to be doing.  For me, there is a really big difference between writing papers for school and just writing for myself.  


When writing school papers, I tend to stare at a blank computer screen for almost an hour before actually writing something.  Then I will write my name and the date.. and stare at the computer screen for another an hour.  When I finally realize that I'm not going to get anything done anyway, I pretty much sprint down the stairs to make myself a cup of hazelnut coffee with the new single-cup coffee maker my mom just bought.. I might have an addiction to it.  After coffee, I decide that I need to get some fresh air.  I will either take a long walk or a run because for some reason this gets me really motivated to get a lot done.  My favorite time of year to run is during the fall because all of the leaves are changing on the trees by the farms around my house.  Running always puts me in a great mood and being in a good mood is essential for me to be able to do my best work.  When I finally drag myself up the stairs and into my room to write again, I realize writing an outline would probably be helpful.  Once I have planned out my paper, there is no stopping me. I don't let myself edit anything on my first draft because I am really critical of my own work and I would probably keep myself from making any progress.  After I finish my first draft, I let myself pick it apart and completely rework it.  By the time I turn in a paper, it looks and sounds nothing like the original draft.


Writing for myself is a completely different situation with a completely different set of rituals leading up to it.  Some people might call it journaling, but I honestly would just describe it as me keeping a record of my life.  I'm that girl who just wants new felt-tip pens and fancy notebooks for her birthday.  Last year, I got four new notebooks and almost 20 new pens for my birthday.. It might take me a while to use all of that.  To write for myself, I always drive out to one of two of my favorite spots.  They are both on the same lake, but I won't tell you which one because I want to keep them my little secret.  I take my shoes off, sit down in the grass or the sand, and dip my toes in the lake (unless it is winter).  Then I write.  Sometimes for hours, with breaks of course.  One of my writing spots has a patch of grass right near the water and two trees that trunks cross each other to form canopy above my head with their leaves.  I go there when I need peace, calm, and quiet and sometimes, inspiration.  My personal writing has  a completely different kind of ritual than my routine for writing papers.  


Here is a picture of one of my favorite writing spots on the 4th of July last summer.