Some writers swear by their creative rituals. And, we get it. Once you get into a creative routine, it can be hard to break – especially if it provides you with inspiration and motivation.
Alison Whittaker, Blakwork (Poetry): I keep a book by the bed and in my pocket, and once they’re full, I file them. I try to write in bursts and in isolation, when the time works. One peppermint tea, a banana and a Whittaker’s Coconut Block. I’m mildly allergic, I recently found out, but the lower face numbness is a fine price. And grounding!
Meredith Lake, The Bible in Australia (Australian History): My ‘ritual’ is to just keep plugging away in the time I have, whether the words are flowing easily or not.
Billy Griffiths, Deep Time Dreaming (Australian History): I read my words aloud, constantly, so I can hear the rhythm of the prose. You will often find me at my desk muttering.
Above: Billy Griffiths
Clare Atkins, Between Us (Young Adult Fiction): If I have the luxury of time I like to sink in to writing slowly, starting with a whole day of catching up on sleep, doing yoga, eating healthy food and walking in nature. It refreshes, refuels and inspires me to wake up early the next day, get a cup of tea and jump straight into writing.
Eddie Ayres, Sonam and the Silence (Children’s Fiction): Procrastinating isn’t a ritual? I listen to some beautifully played music before I start, often cello music. It helps with a nice cadence at least, even if the words are rubbish.
Jill Jones, Viva the Real (Poetry): I don’t have any rituals, but I often read something by someone else before I get started, usually poetry or some non-fiction, just to remind myself what writing can do.
Maria Tumarkin, Axiomatic (Non-Fiction): No rituals. Just coffee. I need it to write.
Kirli Saunders, The Incredible Freedom Machines (Children’s Fiction): I’d say my better writing has always been served alongside some food and a good cup of something warm, so writing in cafes or restaurants is a bit of a habit of mine. I often start by ‘writing the surface’ which for me means writing what I’m feeling, or the context of my thoughts at that given moment. I find this helps me identify what I’m trying to articulate sooner.
I carry a notebook with me everywhere. I always write in black, and always on unlined paper, if not on my laptop. My favourite pen to write/draw with is a 0.4 artline felt tip.
I also don’t write picture books until I have the entire story in my mind. I like to let a tale marinate for months or even years before I place it on the page.
Suneeta Peres da Costa, Saudade (Fiction): I have some rituals, such as writing new material in the morning, when the mind is fresh. I keep notes through the day on my phone or in an old-fashioned notebook, so that I can use them later.
Laura Elizabeth Woollett, Beautiful Revolutionary (Fiction): I’m a method writer, which means I do certain things to get into character. Music is extremely important to my process; I’ll often make playlists that are relevant to the time periods and characters I’m writing about. I also like to surround myself with objects and images that relate to what I’m working on, and have even found my fashion sense changing dramatically between projects.
Above: Maria Tumarkin
