I’m currently away from home for a few days for my non-writer job, and I’m staying in a room with very bright lights. They are not “soft white,” and though they can be turned on and off in many different combinations, the quality of the light is the same. I’m pretty peaceful here, reading, writing, and editing in solitude, but I do miss the atmosphere of home. My husband laughs at me when I come into the living room when he’s been sitting in there for a few hours and adjust the lighting. Hey, I like my lighting, all right? It sets a mood. I love feeling like I’m in a calm, inviting environment, and lighting is one of the keys to that.
I also should have brought my sweatpants. Mistake! I mentioned in my last post how I hate to be cold…well, the AC in this place is not fully within my control, and it’s a little chilly. I may or may not have slept in my jeans and a wool sweater each night. I was warmer that way.
Still though, it hasn’t been a bad few days at all. I’ve got some more writing work to do after I finish this blog post. I’ve got the lights turned down as low as they can be while still functional. (They are still too bright and too white. They are saying, “What’s the problem? What kind of fancy light do you want? Aren’t we good enough for you?” and then they think about dimming, but don’t because they weren’t made to, and they want to speak to me in a softer tone, but they can’t. Still, they feel sorry, so they add, “We have our good points.” They don’t elaborate.) I acknowledge that I can see everything very well. There is no question of that. (The lights appreciate the concession and show their appreciation by shining in exactly the same glaring way as before.)
When I’m home, I like to have the light right, and sometimes I listen to music with headphones, though other times I write in the relative silence that is not headphones but still life. Often, I read something to transition into what I want to work on…even if I’m focused on editing. I’m replicating as many conditions as I can here. Home soon.
Any other writers have your own “getting in the mood” rituals? Or anyone else have a preparation ritual for some other work?
P.S. My short story, “Glass Eyes” is still free at Smashwords through tomorrow with the code SW100 at checkout through their summer sale. Also available for purchase for Nook at Barnes & Noble and for Kindle at Amazon.
Links:
“Glass Eyes: A Short Story about a Family’s Struggle” on Smashwords
“Glass Eyes: A Short Story about a Family’s Struggle” at Barnes & Noble
“Glass Eyes: A Short Story about a Family’s Struggle” at Amazon
Unmapped Country within Us 