The Write Stuff (Get it? Write Stuff? Because I am a writer? Haha!)

Music Playing: Star Sailor “Faith Hope Love” (on repeat one)

Urgh. It’s July in Georgia, so naturally it’s hotter than the surface of the sun outside. I think the asphalt is melting…

Anyhow, it’s time for the long awaited status update. Despite the challenge of writing while we’re also moving (countdown to two weeks), I still managed to get some worldbuilding on my new project done. I also bought some Prismacolors colored pencils so I could make my maps pretty (and accurate. I am coloring in the biomes of my made up planet). I am still brainstorming for my newest project, since it would be futile to start something and then move a week later (I moved once while in the middle of writing a novel, and let me warn you: do not do this. Avoid it at all costs. It kills that lovely momentum you generate while you’re in the fervor of creation).

But that’s okay, because I need to do some serious worldbuilding before I can start writing anyway, and it’s proving to be a good diversion from all the boxes lying around.

Recently I have fallen in love with Starsailor’s song “Faith Hope Love.” I mean, in deep, deep lover with this song. I have listened to it over and over. Yes, I am one of those annoying people that like to replay the same song to death. But I am considerately annoying, and only do it when no one else is around.

I consider this song repetition to be an extension of my mild OCD. I call it OCD for lack of a better term, but I am actually just extremely anal retentive about certain things. I don’t have a meltdown if my desk is messy, however, so I am not clinically OCD. But I DO like things to be a certain way, and I am fussy about organization. I can also concentrate on repetitive things (as you might have gathered from my listening to the same song over and over).

This freakish ability has translated well into my writing. I can line edit for a good period of time, not to mention being able to sustain interest in a world, an idea, and characters long enough to write and edit a book with them. Just another example of how certain behaviors that are frowned upon in the “normal” world are a boon for a writer. Other behaviors include talking to yourself, making up stories, and staring at a computer all day.

What about you guys? What personality quirks have actually come in handy for your writing?