The Mood

Do you need to be in the right mood to write? Is there such a thing as perfect writing conditions? I'm trying to get away from that and set myself a time every day when I will write no matter how I'm feeling. Sometimes I do and sometimes I convince myself not to. However whenever I do I'm always surprised by what comes out and the knowledge that I would never have written that if I'd been waiting for the perfect moment. For example, the other day I told myself I would get up early and carry on writing a short story I was working on. I did get up early at about 6.30 and put pen in hand before my bleary eyes were really open. I didn't write any more of the story at all but instead being in that state of mind brought back perfectly details of my life that I had completely forgotten, namely when I had a milk round and had to get up before 6 every day. I would never have brought those memories back so vividly without writing at the 'wrong' time.

I have written two novels (both unpublished). You have to be incredibly strict with yoruself. Athe desk every day at 10 and no going out until 2 was my regime. I found that I really got under way about 11 and didn't stop for two hours. Then that was it. I could sit for hours more but wrote only drivel. Poetry and short stories are different. I don't write poetry any more (because I'm not very good at it) but I do write the occasional short story and that's when I'm taken by the muse. I'm working from home tomorrow and will try to to a 'today's event' piece. It won't be entered (I'm the judge) but I need a kick start to my own writing at the moment.