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Where and When do you Write?
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Where and When do you Write? |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
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Karilea gave me an idea in one of her responses to ask the question ... "Where and when do you write?" I was stranded at the side of a road with a flat tire the other day, waiting for the tow truck driver, had some time to kill, so found myself writing some verses while waiting for him to show up. I always try to keep a pen and paper in my purse "just in case" inspiration strikes. I'll also write or fine tune some poetry that's still a little rough, while on smoke breaks at the office. Beyond that, I usually write at home early in the morning when I have some time to myself. Last night I thought of an idea on my way to bed, and thought, oh I'll remember that tomorrow ... but so far, whatever it was has eluded me, because I didn't write it down. So I'm just curious ... where and when do other's find they like to write? |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Imagine my surprise finding my name gracing your post! ...and in reply: my MIND is always working, never goes on haitus, and I never have pen and paper when it goes the most berserk. I try my best to fix a particular line in my head, hoping to recapture most of the words that did the 400 yard dash through my mind at a later time... but I am back to taking pen and paper with me everywhere...to work, in the car, truck, to bed...[I encourage everyone to get soft lights installed on your side of the bed] and yes, into the "reading room"... napkins, post its, business cards, toilet paper, etc. have all carried a scratching of words until I can get back to the computer or the legal pad... and I've even taken to carrying a small dictaphone with me...with fresh batteries...just in case... Kit, thanks for the honor... Karilea When you want to be loved, look within...KRJ |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
... in a comfy chair... with a pad of paper (a whole one cuz I'll go through it in one writing)... a pen... my Dictionaurus.... absolute quiet... and a bottomless diet Coke... ...except for the time my car started on fire from an oil leak - then I wrote "Ode to.." on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck too...  |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Welcome Karilea ... you got me thinking as always with your lovely responses. I've definately done the post-it notes, napkins and steno pads too. I've fought the dictaphone though, I can't even seem to compose a business letter using one of those because my thoughts don't seem to come that fluently for me. I did try, but I found I was re-winding more than talking LOL! I guess I just need to see it written, I wish I could though.  ~You've set the setting perfectly Nan. For the times I really do have a good stretch of time ... that's exactly how I like it, comfy chair, full pad of paper, thesaurus, dictionary and something cool to drink (not always a coke though) And you wrote one at the roadside too? Guess if my muse goes on vacation, I can always sabotage my car, great spot eh? |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
Excellent question Kit! I'll follow this thread because I am interested in reading the other's replies. I don't have a set time or place to write, I write when the inspiration or thoughts hit me (some times in the weirdest places and hours). Many times I've gotten up in the middle of the night because I dreamt a poem. I keep pens and paper beside my bed in a drawer and sometimes before I go to sleep I'll polish a poem. When I'm on my break at work I'll write mostly haikus and sernyus, for some reason my mind can only think of them at work. Once when I was driving, I had to pull over at the side of the road because I just had to write down a poem or I would forget it. It's an annoyance sometimes because for days I will not even think of poetry and then out of the blue at the most inconvenient times, I'll think of a great poem, it can be a pain, but I love it anyways Take care, Melissa Honeybee The beauty of poetry gives my soul wings to fly free within dreams |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Well, there's no set place or time for my writing... but I do have a favorite place and time: My favorite time to write is before dawn (That's when I wrote the piece that got in "Voices"). It's the darkest then, but there's the promise of a new day that is just beyond the horizon. The poetry I write then is like that, sad and dark, but with the since of hope that keeps us all going. When I write then, I'm in my room, lying on my bed. I feel the safest there, for some reason. It's the only place that my mind is completely clear, and that's where I write my best poetry. False gems may shine as brightly as the genuine article, but there are always those who can tell the difference. |
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Cerenity Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 2637Escondido-California |
Hi Kit, This is good, all most all of my writing is done in the early morn, sometimes when provoked in some way by a happening but mostly in the morning. Rarely I get these ideas right before bed ones that are going to be very deep and could go on for hours and I fight it, so I go to bed thinking but can't stand it and go to the office and write the thought down, the thing is I will go back and forth several times getting up set before I finally grab a pad and pen and take it to bed. Once I go to bed DO NOT WAKE ME UP!! and of coarse theres a certain someone who gets the adittude at me for shaking the bed, which I sometimes do for the fun of it hehe! I find the minute I pick up a pen someone in my clan is right there to upset the brain waves, they find my writing to not mean anything to them and so I find myself hiding in order to get in on paper. Taking a mental note tell later I wish I could do that, I have lost more awesome thoughts waiting till later. I think the weirdess time for me to get something on paper was when I waited in line at target to use the bathroom just so I could use the toilet paper roll and the whole time I was waiting I keep repeating what I did not want to forget the looks I got. I am so glad to see that all of you will do anything to get it on paper, I have been chewed for this because ill stop doing what ever just to write something down or I will forget. Thanks Kit I needed something to get me going in the forums I have been working so much I have lost my well my something just out of touch to long and this helped. Love, Cerenity "God doesn't have to be reminded that we exist. We have to be reminded that He exist!" (Writer Unknown) |
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Erin Member Elite
since 2000-06-15
Posts 2527~Chicago~ |
I dont know why but right when Im laying down for bed. And it sucks cause Im all tired and then I have to get up to write down whats on my mind. I like to snuggle up in my bed when I am gonna write. I get all comfy and then I try to write. I used to bring a notebook and paper with me to work so when I would have time I could write. But it didnt help cause I would have so much work to do (I waitress). And with all the cleaning and stuff it was hard. So now its in the bed! |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Kit~ Now you just KNOW I'm laughing out loud at this one ! When do I NOT write ?????????????? LOL ! @ my merry little musing self ! Okay .... absolutely everywhere - I have a muse that rides in my car ... I swear she jumps on my shoulder and sings to me ! (I kid you not !) She is probably my most prolific thought transporter. She cares not a twit if I have a pen or not ! She has gotten so insistent that I MUST, for safety reasons, use my recorder. Believe me ... if anyone has lost a muse, it's riding in an Acura Integra down the Florida highways ! Then there are the muses who hide in my kitchen cabinets and sing me through meal preparations. In the bathtub - forget my modesty ! In the yard - the mower doesn't even drown them out. In the master bedroom ... between the hours of try-to-sleep and dawn. Under a musing tree at my workplace where I take my breaks. Or as Dr. Seuss might say - On a bus On a train In the sunshine In the rain In the midnight hour Or while watering a flower Poetic thoughts do poems bring I pen them when they sing ! And then Heaven help me when I read the works of others and get a dose of inspiration not-of-my-making ! I have often said that I don't write poetry ... Poetry writes me. If I were to corral the thoughts ... I really would prefer writing while sitting right at the computer ... Fickle fingers flying fast ! Gads ... I've exhausted myself just by reading this. Bye ... muses calling. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~I'm much like that Melissa! I can go for days, and not worry about writing anything down, just enjoy reading other's works, and then Bang! Gotta write ... get outa my way everything! Hits like a rocket, then she's gone again! ~This is great ... I'm glad I asked this. By reading your replies, I'm realizing a bit more about myself. I'm a morning person too Erica! I'm a bit opposite though, in that I think some of my happier or sillier poems come in the morning. The sad ones for me (I think) tend to come if I'm dabbling in the evening. ~This line rang familiar bells with me Cerenity "I pick up a pen & someone in my clan is right there to upset the brain waves". I don't know how many times I'm in the writing mood, and someone pipes up. It's like they "know", and seek me out! LOL! I've done the same thing too, reciting a line over and over till I reach the paper. Fun to know we're not alone eh? ~It's hard to find the time with work Erin, LOL, know that feeling all too well. I take advantage of the work breaks I mentioned earlier, or sometimes have to pull a piece of paper out of my purse and quickly scribble. My hubby wouldn't appreciate me writing in bed, so that one's out for me, but I think that would be a wonderful place to snuggle down and think. ~ROFL Marge ... you NEVER rest!!! I loved this, I can just picture you at any hour, any moment, admonishing your muse for picking yet another inopportune time, and yet they are all opportune ... so what the heck! You have a playful little gal on your shoulder Marge Tindal!  |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Anywhere, everywhere and all the time! I've prayed for "Writer's Block!!!" |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
LOL Christopher ... we should ALL be so lucky!!! Maybe I should hang out with you for a while, maybe it'll rub off! |
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Moon Dust
since 1999-06-11
Posts 2177Skelmersdale, UK |
I've actully wrote down some poems in a night out in the local pub, but I mainly do it in front of my computer. There are enough colours in the world, To paint your own dreams, You won't get them, Till you try. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Kit, my poem-creating is like my love-making...spontanoeus, unexpected and I'm grateful and appreciative whenever it happens  |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~I can sometimes write in front of the computer Maria, but mostly enjoy scriblling it on paper and finessing on the computer. ~Then I wish for you, many passionate nights Balladeer ... for the results are always satisfying, fulfilling ... and well worth the wait! |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
I too, write almost anywhere. . . at work, at home. . . on the bus. . . whenever I have time. . . I have my large notebook that I carry with me a lot. . . and when that's too big to go with me, I have a small notebook that I carry in a coat pocket. You never know when you're going to need a piece of paper to write down a line, or a poem! And I always write out all my stuff on paper before I put it here. . . I know that a lot of people write it in Word or whatever before they post. . . but for me, I like to write it out longhand. . . just to see it. . . and I rarely re-write. . . sometimes I do. . . but not all of the time. . . This is a great post. . . it's cool to see how other people write and when! ----------------------------------------------------------------- That which gives light must endure burning --Victor Frankl |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~I like to write the majority out in longhand too Sven ... guess I was writing long before the computer age, so there's a certain comfort level in seeing it on paper first. That screen can be dark and cold ... much more intimidating to me than a blank piece of paper, LOL |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
My goodness @ Balladeer, he is being even "randier" than usual these days...what's up with that? ROFL... Okay, in answer to your question, I write anywhere I can...I am the person people turn to when an ink pen is needed, because they just KNOW I have one...I've a friend who has several paper towels in her scrapbook, after finding them on her kitchen table one morning after I spent a restless night at her house...(only thing I could find..) But I have developed a new ability resulting from joining Passions, and that is the ability to recognize other poets. I went out to a nightclub the other er, morning? heh heh, and noticed a young lady furiously at a back table, writing, writing, writing...so me being me, I went over later asked, "whatchyadoin?" and yep, she was writing poetry, and yep, I told her about this place, and we exchanged e mail addy's and I hope we've got a new poet here and I, a new friend...sigh...I just love poetry! |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
Let's see.... late at night, with only the sickly glow of the monitor for light, the sound of my fingers on the keyboard subtely caressing the gentle snores of my lovely wife as she slumbers 15 feet away... I actually tried to use a pen and paper the other day and was unable to pen a single line... may the gods help us all...  Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn. JP Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so. B. Russell |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~LOL ... I'll leave that question for Balladeer! Now, I don't know that I've ever recognized someone else and clued in that they might be writing poetry, but what a wonderful story and such a great way to meet new people and friends. I'll have to keep my eye out more now! ~ROFL ... We'll have to make sure you get a laptop with a good battery backup in case inspiration hits in the midst of a power outage JP ... just in case! |
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CocoBaci Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 3043 |
Hi KIT Well all my writing comes to my mind when I hit the sheets each nite so I keep a pad nearby but that doesn't seem to help much as the thoughts stir quickly thru my mind... Hence this niteowl creeps outta bed and to her computer she rests her fingertips and jots these thoughts down in notepad to be looked at the next morn. Coco |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~I always convince myself that I'll remember it in the morning ... never do though! I may have to try the pen & paper by the bed yet Coco! |
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Dopey Dope
Moderator
Member Patricius
since 2000-08-30
Posts 11132San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Well i'm new to the Alley, but i think it's cool. Just expanding beyond the realm of TEEN POETRY. Anyway Where and When do I write huh? Where= I write just about anywhere. I've written on buses, air planes, beds, floors, cars, roof tops, by the highway, on my body, and just about anywhere imaginable. Let's just say that anywhere I go, anywhere I find myself being is a place that could have the possibility for me to write in. When= I write whenever I am inspired. Sometimes I find myself walking along and i'll just start to free verse a poem in my head and curse the fact that I do not have a pen and paper to write it on. Oh well! I was born myself, raised myself, and will continue to be myself. The world will just have to adjust. |
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