Katie's Writing Notes

After working as a writer for a while, or just writing for a while, you will find that certain times, places, and situations are more productive for you as a writer than others. Writers have different working preferences, which may include writing at certain times of the day or night and at specific locations, using specific technologies (from a pen to a computer), and other aspects of the writing experience.  One of these preferences involves noise levels in the environment.  Think about it: would you prefer to write in a coffee house or a library?  Knowing your preferred noise level will help you reduce frustrations from unrealized distractions so you can write better.

Some writers — J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame is one — are known for preferring noisy, frenetic environments, such as coffee houses.  The noise and activity seem to stimulate their writing muscles, and the productivity increases.

Others writers — such as myself — prefer quiet.  I like a noise level as close to absolute silence as possible, with occasional nature noises acceptable intrusions, usually.  I find that if I have music on (I prefer classical music), or if children are playing and screaming nearby, I become distracted by the noise, which takes me away from my thinking processes.  Sometimes, if I am doing some activity that requires surface thought only, I can have music on.  But when my activity requires deep thought — when I am plotting a novel or revising a draft — I prefer the noise of my mind’s machinations without competition from outside sounds.

DIFFERENT NOISES WITH DIFFERENT EFFECTS

Various types of noises elicit different reactions from writers.  Which ones annoy you, and which ones do you find acceptable or even conducive to writing?  Here is a list of common noises.  Think about each one and find an environment that contains the good noises but not the annoying ones:

* music (your preferred style)

* music (stuff that is just annoying noise to you)

* nature sounds:

- water – ocean surf, waterfalls, rivers or creeks

- bird sounds

- rain – lashing rain or gentle patter on the roof

* people sounds:

- coffee house or restaurant activity

- children playing

- conversations nearby

- phones ringing and the ensuing one-sided conversations

- your own phone ringing (or can you let it go to the answer machine?)

* vehicle sounds:

- trains roaring by, train whistles

- public transport trains, buses, trollies

- car traffic – constant roar of a freeway, occasional street sounds

- planes roaring overhead, engines revving up

Of course, I can use my need for absolute quiet as an excuse not to write.  If the neighborhood children are playing nearby, screaming and racing around as children do, or someone’s music is playing, and I fear the noise will continue for a while, I will put off writing and do something else.  If I really have to write, as with a deadline, I try to ignore the noise, but the frustration impacts the quality of the writing.   The better solution, however, is to create that ideal writing space in the beginning, tweak it as you realize new or different needs, and then write to the best of your ability.

To be as productive as possible as a writer, determine the qualities of your ideal writing space, including the source and level of noise.  Do this consciously, and you can find that ideal place to create your best work.