Monday, August 29, 2011

Little Things Make a Big Difference

Here’s a list of some small things that help get me through my Writer’s Day (in no particular order).      
  • -       Coffee
  • -       Hug
  • -       To-do list
  • -       Changing work locations:  office, lap desk in living room, patio table, coffee shop
  • -       My favorite ‘Mistress of the Messy Desk’ rainbow-striped mug
  • -       A blog-reading break
  • -       Petting my wonder dog, Penny Lane
  • -       Black Warrior pencils (they don’t break)
  • -       Fat pens
  • -       Visits from my impossible-to-ignore cat, Mr. Naughty Pants
  • -       Water bottle
  • -       A walk
  • -       Notebooks with fun covers
  • -       Interacting with someone for a few minutes
  • -       Chocolate (No, I’m not immune!)

What are three small things that make a difference in your writer’s life?

12 comments:

ElaineCharton said...

Good Morning!
Love that list, I have most but not all on my own list. No dog but have the cat trying to knock my laptop off so he gets attention.:)

Judith Ashley said...

My three little things? You actually get more...
- Refilling my tea cup or maybe changing to water or juice.
- Walk around the block.
- Crossing 'something' off my To Do list - that is always a great feeling.
- A quick household chore (water indoor plants Or water outdoors in back Or water outdoors in front; unload the dishwasher; put a load of laundry in).

Oh and yes, chocolate and nuts. I either have to have nothing or nibbling stuff so nuts works great along with pieces of chocolate.

Where do you get Black Warrior Pencils? I have a "Queen Who Must Be Obeyed" mug but it doesn't seem to work so it stays on my mug shelf ... lol.

Jean Paradis said...

One big small thing for me is sunshine.
When the sun shines I take the laptop out front and eavesdrop on the neighbor kids, the walkers and dog walkers as they pass by my house. (mommy, do we have to take the dog poop home with us?)

Rayka Mennen said...

Sunshine coming in through the window opposite my desk, filtering through the pineapple palms fronds first.
Coffee in my favorite Tintin character mugs
A many sided puzzle with scenes from the Grand Canyon - I switch it around every few days.

Paty Jager said...

Fun post! I'd say all but the cat on your list and my dog is Tink. But I also need green tea (hot in the winter, cold in the summer), music, and my notes.

Diana McCollum said...

Whoa! Three small things....Hm-m-m, let me see. 1) moving the lap top from the computer stand to a quieter location(T.V is in that room and my hubby turns it on sometimes right when I am at a crucial part of the M.S.)
2)Yard work-it has been calling me lately. Over grown bushes etc.
3)I always need a Hot cup of tea or a tall glass of iced tea.

Nice post Sarah! :))

Sarah Raplee said...

Elaine, my cat likes to walk across the keyboard, or lay by my coffee mug and reach a paw for my hand. lol

Judith, I love the endorphin rush I get from crossing something off my To Do List, too. Plus I need to get up and move around every hour at minimum, or my body goes into hibernation.

Jean, great idea! Eavesdropping is another of those writer skills we must perfect, and kids say the most wonderful things, don't they?

Rayka, Your writing space sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing.

Paty, Tink is YOUR wonder dog! If I ever figure out my IPOD wannabe, I'll try music.

Diana, I think I'll get you earplugs for your birthday. LOL

Thank you all for commenting and sharing a few small things that make a big difference to you.

Sarah Raplee said...

Oops, Judith, I forgot to answer your question. I buy my Black Warrior pencils at Office Max, Staples, Office Depot, etc.

Renee said...

My necessities are pretty similar, although I have two cats (Artemis and Luna, otherwise known as Artie and Mooner) instead of a cat and dog.

I also love fat pens, but what are the pencils for? I love to write drafts longhand, but only in pen. Pencils are good for crossword puzzles.

I like to have a crossword puzzle break every few hours. I do two or three words and then go back to work.

Sarah Raplee said...

Hi, Renee! I like your cats' nicknames.:)

I use pencils when critiquing on hard copy, as well as when I'm proofing one of my own printouts. I like needle-sharp lead that doesn't break, which is why I buy Black Warriors.

I wrote the first draft of my first book longhand, mostly in pen, out of necessity. I still use longhand writing when I'm planning or brainstorming a story, and when I'm stuck. There's something about writing this way that seems to help the words and ideas flow, isn't there?

Vonnie Alto said...

What three things get me through a writing session:
- My Art Nouveau tarot deck (from which I pulled 2 cards for hero and 2 cards for heroine and a 5th card accidentally that represents my story and which I prop up against my monitor to view as I write.
- A Feline pet break. I must pet my cats.
- Visiting favorite blogs like this one.
- Playing the CD, "Piano Favorites of Jane Austen" as I write.

Vonnie Alto said...
This comment has been removed by the author.