A writing ritual is simply a routine that prepares you to think creatively and write productively. Many famous writers practice writing rituals to transition from previous activities, to clear their minds, and to set the intention to write.
Natalie Zoe Kerr (postdoc, Morris lab): I try to dedicate 1-2 hours of non-internet time per day to writing tasks alone. If I write one paragraph – great! If I write two pages – also great! The amount written per day doesn’t matter, but consistent allocated time to writing allows me to not push it to the backburner. I also brain dump onto paper, and then pull out ideas and reorganize them into a cohesive story.
Emily Levy (graduate student, Alberts lab): I like to do whatever gives me a clear head, but the actual ‘ritual’ varies depending on where my head’s at. Sometimes I do deep breaths and some stretches. Sometimes it’s chocolate or an extended dog-hug.
Sheila Patek (professor): Pre-pandemic, I had a beloved writing ritual that revolved around the bliss of a regular schedule and that quiet moment when the family is out the door, to school/work/whatever. I would make a perfect cup of premium green tea shipped directly from Kyoto Japan, capture a nugget of morning sunlight coming in through the window, move my chair to sit in that sunbeam, and just be with the writing for at least 30 minutes before the chaos of the workday began. I am looking forward to finding that rhythm again once schools are operating normally – maybe fall 2022?
Julie Reynolds (associate professor of the practice): My favorite writing ritual is to go on a run first thing in the morning to get my blood pumping and clear my mind. Then, with a steamy cup of black coffee, I sit down at my desk, mute my phone, turn email off, and write down specific goals for the writing session before getting started.
Robin Smith (professional science writer and alumni of Rausher Lab): My most productive writing rituals happen when everyone else is asleep. For me that means getting up in the pre-dawn dark, tiptoeing down the hall past my husband and snoring kids, quieting the cat with some extra kibble she’s probably not supposed to be eating, and keeping a keen eye on the tea kettle so I can take it off the burner before the whistling breaks the magic. No emails to answer, no meals to make. For the next hour or so the kitchen table is my happy place. This ritual became even more important during our 16 months of living crammed together at home 24-7 during the pandemic school closures, when quiet time and space for work was so hard to come by. I got better at getting things done no matter what was swirling around me, but let’s just say that if I could hug their teachers now that the kids are back in school, I would.
Do you have any writing rituals? Join the conversation below!
