How to Tap Into Writing Mode Anywhere

By E. J. Wenstrom, @ejwenstrom

Part of the How They Do It Series

If you asked a room packed full of writers what they'd change about their process, it would probably be "to write more" in some fashion. More books per year, more words per day, more words per hour—we're always looking for ways to be more productive writers. To help us with that, please welcome E.J. Wentrom (and her fabulous hair) to the lecture hall today to share some tips on how to write anywhere and anytime.

E. J. Wenstrom is a fantasy and science fiction author living in Cape Canaveral, FL. Her first novel, a dystopian fantasy titled Mud, is releasing this month. When she’s not writing fiction, E. J. drinks coffee, runs, and has long conversations with her dog. Ray Bradbury is her hero.

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Take it away E.J....

When I write, I have needs.

I prefer to write first thing in the morning—early-early morning—before the nagging tasks and responsibilities of the day can catch up with me. I prefer to work in relative quiet. You know, not too loud, but not utter, pin-drop silence, either. And, I prefer to lounge while I write … I get in my comfiest workout clothes and curl up in a blanket.

So fine, I’m a little high maintenance.

Historically, I’ve been okay with this. After all, the muse must be fed. But then I read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s brilliant book Creativity, and learned about micro-environments.

Turns out, the world’s best creative minds are using micro-environments—portable work spaces that give them everything they need to work from anywhere—to keep being creative and productive no matter where they are, no matter how long they’ve got.

It should be no surprise the top authors work this way, too. Whether it's five minutes in the carpool line or the 30-minute bus ride home from work, the most efficient writers squeeze their word count in whenever and wherever they get a chance.

But how do you knock out distractions and get your creative juices flowing on cue? What does a “micro-environment” look like for a writer? Here’s what I included in my own micro-environment:

More writing utensils than I know what to do with.

Because pens run out of ink, pencils break, and, no lie, they both tend to run off of their own volition, never to be seen again, with not so much as a note to explain why they left you.

I keep a few in all of my purses, a few in my laptop case, usually one squished inside a notebook, etc.

A trusty notebook.

Sometimes multiple notebooks. You know, one for each project I’m in the middle of.

It’s worth it to always give yourself the option to write by hand, even if you have your laptop with you. Sometimes it’s just helpful to shake loose of writer’s block, or to make reference notes as you work through the manuscript. And, sometimes your laptop’s battery dies.

It’s worth springing for something durable. The moleskins are nice, but I also love a good, basic, composition book.

Apps.

And a phone for the apps to go on.

My smartphone is my best way to control my focus while writing, because controlling what I listen to is major for my ability to focus. I have ADD, so I don’t even need a distraction to be distracted—give me legitimate distractions, and I’m a lost cause. I rely heavily on apps like Coffitivity and Spotify lists to get tap into my flow.

But there’s other apps that can help you out, too. Evernote can store your ideas for you, MindNode can help you brainstorm, Dragon Dictation can let you dictate and record your work instead of writing it out … whatever you need to do your best work, there’s an app for that.

Headphones.

My husband recently got a pair of noise cancelling headphones, and wow. They. Are. Worth. It. They truly live up to their name.

Now, I can go to a coffee shop, shut out all the distracting coffee shop noises around me, and then listen to exactly the right coffee shop noises from Coffeeitivity. Because I am a control freak.

A great bag.

Keep all of these tools in a great bag big enough to keep your micro-environment in, but small enough to be comfortably carried everywhere. I’d recommend going for something cute and comfortable on your shoulder too, because this bag is your new best friend.

When it comes to hitting that creative sweet spot, I have a tendency to be a bit of a diva. But the most productive writers don’t let less-than-ideal circumstances stop them from adding to their word count. Instead, they create their own micro-environment so they can create their own perfect writing conditions from anywhere.

About Mud

Torn apart by war and abandoned by the gods, only one hope remains to save humanity. But the savior isn’t human at all.

Trapped by his Maker’s command to protect a mysterious box, Adem is forced to kill anyone who tries to steal it. When a young boy chances upon Adem’s temple, he resists temptation, intriguing the golem. As the boy and his sister convince Adem to leave the refuge of his temple, the group lands in a web of trouble.

Now Adem will do whatever necessary to keep his new young charges safe, even if it means risking all to get rid of the box. Their saving grace comes in the form of an angel who offers to set Adem free of the box’s magic by granting his greatest desire—making him human.

But first, Adem must bring back the angel’s long-dead human love from the Underworld. In doing so, he will risk breaking the barrier between the realms, a cataclysm that could launch the Third Realm War. To set things right, he may be forced to give up his the only thing he’s ever truly wanted…a chance at a soul of his own.

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