Odd writing habits

[Nt 2 B TKN INTRNLY]

I just started writing by candle light, and I was just wondering; does anyone else have any weird writing habits? Any suggestions that could be out of the ordinary?

Just throwing that out there...

[Raving_Lunatic]

I cannot write unless I have hot chocolate by my side, and only when the day has a T in its name. Only then can I settle down to write, but before I begin that I must check email. Then I need to check on some forums I'm subscribed to. Then I must replace my chair, for it squeaks. Then I am kinda hungry, so I buy lunch and eat it in the restuarant. I return home and sit down at the keyboard, waiting for notepad to load. Then I stare at the screen for three minutes and decide some music needs to be on. I create a new playlist on my iPod for when I am writing, and decide I must name it, which requires opening iTunes. While on iTunes I purchase a new single/album/ep/music video/podcast and decide I should listen to it straight away. By this point I am hungry, so I have my dinner. Then I decide to get my mind into gear, I should read a book. In the book is a word I don't know, so I look for the dictionary, but cannot find it. I drive down to the library and get a dictionary, but it does not contain my word. Then I question why I did not simply search on the internet. After I am done kicking myself, I compose a humourous email to a friend. By this time it is late, and I decide that I shall have to write during the night. But first I must compose pointless and overly-long posts that no-one will ever read for message boards. Finally I sit down at my desk, my eyes glazed, as I slowly realise that I haven't written anything in months, haven't done anything in months, haven't thought or felt anything in months. It slowly dawns on me I am on autopilot, sucked dry. And I realise that I'm not really here at all.

[Talia]

I cannot write until raving_lunatic explains the conditions for him being able to write. Its about frigging time already, geez, man, what was keeping you.

[Raving_Lunatic]

 

[Coyote]

I have to have soundtrack music playing. I don't have to be listening to it, but it needs to be playing.

[Raving_Lunatic]

Oddly enough, I'll always have OKC on in the background, and I'll only notice it was there when I hear the CD whizzing to a stop and realise I've been sitting here for about 45 mins.

[Zathras]

I can't write unless I have someone to put the words down for me.  Illiteracy suks.

[MacArthurBug]

I need: Inspiration, music, caffine (tea, coffee, chocolate- something), snacks (cookies, chips, nuts- something!) all within easy reach.  I CAN write without these, but it's much harder.
Also, it helps if my writing area is slightly cold.  Don't know why, but that helps too. 

[Raving_Lunatic]

On the subject of this, I was doing some work on Notepad this morning and I was totally bored, so I wrote a random sentence. Then another. Then I realised the two were linked.

Thus spawned a not-so-wasted afternoon!

[umamei]

I need: Inspiration, music, caffine (tea, coffee, chocolate- something), snacks (cookies, chips, nuts- something!) all within easy reach.  I CAN write without these, but it's much harder.
Also, it helps if my writing area is slightly cold.  Don't know why, but that helps too. 

Me too with the slightly cold!  And I thought I was just weird.  I need it to be slightly cold to sleep without getting a headache too, actually.  Maybe I just like it slightly cold in general.... hmm. 

I also do not require the inspiration in order to get my butt in the chair and my hands on the keyboard, however.  (It's generally very helpful once there, though, like you said.)  My words sometimes (read: usually) suck, but it's my belief that waiting for inspiration is like trying to chase cats--what's the point.  If you sit down and start typing, both will come to you sooner or later.

[SirJolt]

Years as a news/feature writer an a cramped office made me happier to sit in teeny spaces with a crooked chair than anywhere else. Now I can't write from bed like I used to, but I don't I have it in me to be a fiction writer, so maybe it's different.