Simple enough question...

How do you write? In what conditions do you prefer writing?

Do you prefer music when writing, if so what kind? Why?
Do you prefer to write sober or, ahem, not-so-sober?
Is there a specific room/place where you do your best (or only) writing?

Do you prefer pen and paper or typing?

Are there things that you cannot stand while writing?

I find that when I'm writing I either prefer listening to some old Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, or another one of the great Outlaws. Then again, there are times I prefer some 80s Goth (Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim, Mission UK, Bauhaus) -- yes, I'm weird like that. It really just depends on the type of poem I am writing.

I have found that I enjoy the company of a good beer much more while writing as well.

I think it would be interesting to see how others go about writing.

-- j.

Typically, I don't write much any more. When I was younger, I listened to R&B or Hip-Hop while writing. But now I'm typically in silence in the late hours of night after my family has gone to sleep. Occasionally with a beer or something.

I am all over the place. I will listen to the Old Masters of country and new ones like The Shins. Noise or quiet matters not. I am writing in periods of time. I had over 400 written between 2004 and 2006, I stopped for six months and I am back to writing again. I paint as well and soon will tackle the task of translating some of my poems into complex paintings. I tend to prefer the electric medium as you can cut and paste and delete as needed, however I will carry a notebook and write as well. I am just a creative person so I write, invent in the kitchen, paint, and sculpt any time I can. Then I go to work and arrange flowers. My wife is a great inspiration as well.

Hats off to Jh for doing what he loves. I wish I had that many creative mediums.

No music. I'm a musician. When I listen to music, I listen to music and can't write. If I need background noise, it's almost always the TV, set to something trashy I won't really pay attention to -- say, Law and Order, NCIS, CSI, all of which I've seen so often that I pay no attention to it. But more commonly, it's silence.

Laptop, almost exclusively.

I usually write in the living room, on the Mac, while seated on the couch, usually in the early morning or very late night...say, 6 AM to 9AM if I don't have a scheduled training session, or 11 PM-3AM if I do. Hotel rooms if I'm not at home. Can't write in public places.

Usually put in 2-3 hours per day on writing poetry, editing, etc. Includes submission work, etc.

Stone cold sober, unaltered state of any kind.

No music in the background. I write when I'm inspired. Sometimes at 2 AM if I wake up with an idea. I always use the computer. I prefer being alone with no distractions when I write.

Good question.

TB

Music, anything from the 60's to the 90's. But, I like it more when it is quiet. I get really mad, if someone comes and talks to me while I write.

I write because I can't help it. Sometimes, I type into my cellphone while I'm driving and save it, or if I'm sleeping on my bed. Sometimes, I type in my computer, if it is on. I write in the back pages of my notebook, if I am in class. Where there are also numerous sketches which I draw, again because I have no choice. I also maintain two books to note down my thoughts, and I usually write in them when I am just sitting and staring at nothing.

Earlier I didn't use to save what I write, its used to be on paper, and all of them is lost. I only started saving them in my computer, from last october, and till today, I've about 312 poems, broken down into 3 compilations, the third compilation in running, and each with 133 poems.

Drink, or no drink, food or no food, this things really doesn't matter. If there is beauty around, and my head is standing on my neck, then I'll write.

How do you write?
Haphazardly. Nothing makes sense. Incoherent too.

In what conditions do you prefer writing?
Any conditions are fine with me. Just need a place to sit and remember what ran through my mind, and to write it down. I usually end up sketching stuff in my notebooks (marginalia and test papers) during school. I end up getting pretty nice ideas and pics in when im dying from boredom in class or on the edge of falling asleep.

Do you prefer music when writing, if so what kind? Why?
I cant listen to music because I end up listening to it. Although, I can easily say that the music I do listen to while Im not writing attribute to my ideas, and generally, the tone. Also, I think that every scenerio deserves some kind of BGM.

Do you prefer to write sober or, ahem, not-so-sober?
Not a drinker.

Is there a specific room/place where you do your best (or only) writing?
In bed and on the washroom. After reading too.

Do you prefer pen and paper or typing?
Pen and paper~! Nothing beats the feeling of scratching something out. Just having those lines crossed out on the page is like history. The stories of a wanderer. I guess it's because it shows progress.

Are there things that you cannot stand while writing?
Brothers. People who talk to me. It disturbs my train of thought, plus, poetry is personal to me.

Of course, I ve only written like, 5 poems in my lifetime, but Ive had this idea going on about writing a short story.

NG, sometimes my creativity is a curse. I cannot tell you how many paintings I have destroyed as well as poems. Oh, if I ever get stuck I draw ideas from a hat and my mind wanders. I prefer to think my poetry and painting is tripping not me. No dugs no alcohol and no restraint. Love learning look at Rasa writes. Not sure what's next just love creating, images through medium and method. JP this is a cool post and I think I'm done for now. Thanks NG for the compliment.

i keep my notebook and pen in hand
every where i go..they are with me
capturing moments of every day life

i can listen to music and get about 5 different poems out of 1 song
dont drink...so no on that one
i feel some times i am weird as well because i listen to all music and when i say all... i do mean all

I can't force myself to write. Usually, I will jot notes down at random times, at work or other places. Then I take them home and try to flesh them out.

Inspiration comes while driving, listening to music, reading, sleeping, whatever.

I normally finish poems at the dining room table on my laptop (Microsoft Word). I prefer silence or innocuous background noise. I always write while sober (otherwise it becomes pretentious, self indulgent crap).

Also, Dictionary/Thesaurus.com is invaluable.

Music is always helpful for me when I'm writing and I have it all going, but I just need a couple more ideas to get the poem completed. I have two rules though:

1. Music is alright, but I can't handle other people's noise. Whether writing or reading, too many different sounds cloud my mind.

2. The music has to be poetic itself. For example, U2..Indigo Girls..The Police..Patti Smith...especially Leonard Cohen.

I have found that my favorite place to write is in my room at home. It's my spot...my dungeon, throne, and a thousand other exaggerated personifications.

Always keep a backup of your poetry! I can't stress this enough. I always write my poems on paper first, to get everything ironed out because I like to try to get it as close to perfect as possible on the first try. I have a three-ring binder where I have kept every poem I've ever written. I might have to expand that operation though. The binder is getting really fat!

The one thing I can't stand is trying to construct a poem off of an old list of random thoughts. You think, 'Hey, when I'm out and about, I need to keep paper handy to write down these ideas I have.' Well, when you get home and try to make something of it, you've lost the moment. The situations and time in which we live are more important than leftover ideas, in my opinion.

Being in a crowded place, but feeling separated from everything around me. I find it hard to write in solitude. I often use the conversations of others around me as a starting point.

I should mention that on the rare occasions when I listen to music while writing, it has to be intrumental -- jazz, usually free jazz or hard bop without vocals. Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor are staples.

I think a person's habits change over the years. I am at the age where i need absolute silence except for the noise of a giant almond tree in my backyard. I usually write early in the morning or late at night.

If i am working ( i am a pastel portrait artist ) it is hard for me to write. It seems that the two things fight against each other. I believe it takes two different types of discipline to either paint or write. Music and noise always cancels out my thoughts so i don't like either. Stress also cancels out my ability to concentrate on verse (a.d.d.) Also, always sober.

I usually write on paper first. There is no logic to it, just habit. sometimes i will write stanzas and make sense of order of placement after. I usually refine my poems on my computer (research topics etc.) before considering them even worthy to post anywhere online.

It's a secret...

Oh, well...

I write at anytime, day or night. I tune out everything, so the background noise or quiet is irrelevent- it doesn't matter whether music is playing or the TV, or whatever. My wife knows when I'm writing because I don't answer her.

Sometimes I write in my head and the laptop just lets me save it to stanzas.

When I do sit down to write, I usually glance through my photography until something catches my fancy. Then, I'll decide whether the piece will be short or long and the form, though sometimes I write a few lines before the form is settled. Occasionally I'll decide on the form before anything else ("time to write a villanelle").

I almost always finish a poem in one sitting, but there have been exceptions, like longer pieces, sestets, etc.

Before it's complete, I usually switch around stanzas in case a different order is more poignant. This is something I learned from the GP workshops. The first place I post my poem is always GP, usually in the forums.

Since I went back to work a couple of months ago, my writing and critiquing have taken a back seat to learning my new duties and reorganizing my department. I hope to be back to writing and GP more regularly after Thanksgiving.