Do you have a pre-writing ritual?

I know that some people have specific things they do before they sit down to write, such as grabbing a bowl of popcorn, turning on music, or changing into a more comfortable pair of clothes.

So what about yourself? Is there anything you do before you sit down to write?

Depends, when I was working on a novel (now canceled) of mine, I would have avoided eating half a day, and drank a strong coffee usually during night-time (Non of the above is recommended, That's what led to the experience I wrote about in
"Clown in the dark"- Shameless promotion, muhaha...)

If it's regular writing, it's usually IM. I talk about the story to get it out of my head before sitting down to write. But usually there's nothing for regular writing.

However, for word wars I do have a ritual. It usually involves stretching my hands and massaging out any sore muscles in my forearms, while listening to this song as many times as I can before the start. That song then plays in my head the whole word war and it sets my typing speed.

I listen to songs that match the story. Like for Embrace the Madness, I turn on Green Day (I usually keep replaying "Before the Lobotomy" for that specific story.)
For a really gentle story, I play Coldplay.
So I set up the mood in my mind first, basically.

Believe it or not, on nights that I mean to sit down and write for hours, I secure the typical (water, comfortable clothing, wrist supports)...and then tie myself to my chair. Usually it's my ankle to one of the wheels. By 'tie' I mean 'attach ankle to chair with belt,' so it isn't Azkaban. If I need to get up, it's easy to undo. But it does remind me of where I should be every time I stand or try to move. That reminder's enough to convince me to sit me back down when whatever errand I had in mind (2 in the morning is a perfect time to organize one's closet) is unimportant.

I also enjoy putting on music. I don't actually listen to the music, and the music doesn't do much of anything to the actual writing. I just get a certain satisfaction out of coming out of The Zone and realizing somehow I had gone through three albums worth of songs unawares.

Well, my ritual is pretty complicated. I'd recommend it to everyone, however. Here are the steps:

1. Draw a pentagram on the floor in chalk. (Make sure the chalk is white. Blue pentagrams have adverse effects and yellow ones are completely ineffective.)
2. Step into the pentagram with a rodent in your hand. (Squirrels work best.)
3. With the nail of your finger, draw three drops of blood from the rodent's body and allow them to fall into the center of the pentagram. (You don't need to kill the rodent. Well not yet anyway...)
4. Wave your hands in the air like you just don't care and mutter the following phrase: "Isidoombodoombo Isidoombodoombo, talawalalalala talawalalalala."
5. Kill the rodent, and smile evilly.
6. Take out your pen and write.

*Note:

Spoiler

This method works especially well for writers of horror. (It also is fair inspiration for humor writers.) The ritual may affect those writing chick books adversely.

THAT IS SO FUNNY!!! I was laughing my head off!!!!


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you.... weren't serious...were..you? LOL:D

Well I listen to The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers. It's possibly the greatest of all time.

I turn on my music (no particular playlist; anything works), pull on my fingerless gloves, and read the previous page/chapter to get caught up.

Goldfish + Hoodie + Sweat Pants + Air Conditioning/Blanket + Computer = Write

Music, fingerless gloves sometimes, strawberry soda (my favorite drink EVER), food, many pens, headphones just in case my music is too loud for others and it also makes me feel isolated and then there's my phone...I always need somebody, perferebly my friend Megan who also enjoys writing and loves to geek out with me about my novel, to bother me whilst writing or I won't have a good balance. Heh...

Fingerless gloves seem popular.
I know mine DO make me feel more elegant, more fall than summer.
I need a ritual. I may steal Rachael's.

Like Hannah, I wish I could say I had a ritual. Yoda's looks... interesting. But I don't. I get a pen or a laptop and, well, write. I do have a few things. In certain notebooks and in certain stories I'll only let myself use certain coloured inks. That handwritten novel? Every page was in a different colour (pink, green, blue etc.) but I couldn't use the same colour twice in a row. I don't have a pre-writing ritual, but during writing I have a lot. Since I handwrite so much (it's easier for me, portable, perfect for long train rides!), the majority of them fall into that sort of category.

Also, fingerless gloves (I like to call mine my gauntlets) make me feel more creative. But they're strictly for winter (heck, in my house, writing or not, I'd wear gloves in winter).

I close YWS... and then quit my internet, just to make sure! Also, chat things are a generally no-no during writing time.

I most definitely need to turn off my wireless when I write or I'm easily distracted. I also need to be in a room with people, kind of like white sound. Not a lot of people mind you, but perhaps one or two that are preferably not talking and are a bit away from me. Perhaps they might be washing dishes or flipping a newspaper. If they ignore me, I'm fine.

Also, weather really affects my writing. I tend to write better when it's storming outside or raining heavily. It just seems so cozy to curl up with my laptop and a blanket next to an open window and write. I find I get the best inspirations.

They aren't really "rituals" because it's what I do when I'm writing, but nonetheless....

Also, don't forget, but I need food. Like good crappy food, especially brownies and macaroons >=)