Writing Rituals (Anne Stuart)

I'm in the midst of a huge writing tear -- I have to write 250 pages in the next three weeks. Fortunately the story is wonderful, all sorts of rich things are popping up, and the worst problem will be to pare them all day. But because I've got to be so focused I'm very aware of my rituals, and what will help me get the most done.

First, I gotta kiss Gackt. Who's Gackt, do you ask? The prettiest, most deliciously androgynously sexy J-rocker. It's kind of like kissing the Blarney Stone -- it's for luck, not for lust (and there are even a series of funny Japanese commercials where a tiny old lady chases him around, trying to kiss him). He's just eminently kissable. I have to have the 2' by 3' calendar on my office door (this year's has a lot of shots of him lying bloody in the snow with white wolves all around him but a ritual's a ritual). I've been doing this for years --close the office door, shutting out the world, kiss Gackt, and start writing.

Then I put my headphones on and fire up High Focus, an audio program on my mp3 player. (Search for it on Amazon if you're curious -- I left a review). It's an audio cd (I bought it in tape form three times, but finally it came out in CD form so it doesn't get worn out) that at the very least provides white noise if you don't believe in the whole brain wave thing. For me, it helps me focus and turn out pages like crazy. Love it!

Sometimes I'll light a candle, depending on how paper strewn my office is. Right now I think it might be too dangerous -- I don't want to go up in flames -- but it's a good focusing method. I've got a musician's drink holder hooked to my standup lamp so I always keep cold Tab nearby, and whole grain goldfish are the food of choice. I have to have my recliner, my lap desk so the laptop doesn't weigh down on me (I have a couple of great ones by intrigo -- they don't make them any more), a quilt to wrap around my legs, and I'm set.

For maybe five minutes, when I'll get up and get something new to eat.

On a normal day I start when I get up. On a deadline it's any time of the day or night.

So those of you who are writers -- what are your rituals? Do you have any thing you absolutely have to do? Kissing Gackt is kind of like a Hail Mary or clapping twice at a Japanese shrine. A way to call the writing gods.

What do you guys do?