Shannon Stacey


Writerly superstition

So, it’s Friday the 13th. So far all’s well. *knocks on wood*

I’m…passively superstitious? I don’t consciously live my life aware of superstitions, but I don’t walk under ladders and I try not to break mirrors and I will freak out if you rock an empty rocking chair in my presence.

But I can’t write without my hackeysack.

Needless to say it’s a bit of a hinderance if I’m actually writing writing, because I don’t type for crap one-handed. But when I’m thinking, plotting, problem-solving, it’s in my hand. I can squeeze it, toss it from hand to hand. It gives me the physical outlet for the writing energy. When it’s going really well and the scene’s exciting me, I have to move. I have to pace to keep it processing in my head.

Needless to say, getting up and walking away from the computer is not exactly conducive to getting the scene down. The hackeysack accidently helped cure that little problem. I can grab it up, work off some of that energy with my hands, toss it back and forth from hand to hand, then get back to work.

Having the laptop has been a wonder for me. I love being at my kitchen counter. I read there, I eat there…almost everything can be done leaning against the kitchen counter. (Well, not that. The husband’s shorter than I am, and I have nosy neighbors to boot.) But writing while standing works for me. I can move move my feet, pace just a little, without stepping totally away.

But I still have to have my hackeysack at hand. I’ve lost it a couple of time (let’s blame the children, shall we?) and panic doesn’t even begin to describe the aftermath. I’m screaming, the muse is screaming, characters are screaming. It was the End of Days at the Stacey house, let me tell you.

So that’s it. That’s my thing…my lucky charm. My talisman. (And SOMEbody just told me it’s not only Friday the 13th, but a full moon, and now I’m setting my rocking chairs on fire.)

So what’s yours? Do you have a writing superstitition or talisman? How ’bout a reading one, like a book thong with a special charm that’s for your favorite books?

14 comments to “Writerly superstition”

  1. WaxMIA
    Comment
    1
      · January 13th, 2006 at 10:52 am · Link

    I’ve got a piece of tiger iron I fiddle with, same as the hackeysack.

    But I’ve also got this pair of chicken feet, here. Did you know that the skin peels off just like latex gloves?

    /waits for the resounding slap:coffee:



  2. Shannon
    Comment
    2
      · January 13th, 2006 at 11:07 am · Link

    :hide:



  3. Shiloh Walker
    Comment
    3
      · January 13th, 2006 at 11:51 am · Link

    daggone it… i didn’t realize it was fri the 13th until i just read this.

    i think i’ll go back to bed. now that i KNOW… something is gonna happen….:oops:



  4. Ann Wesley Hardin
    Comment
    4
      · January 13th, 2006 at 12:28 pm · Link

    Nah, I don’t have anything like you psychos, unless a bottomless supply of cold beer counts ;)

    Actually, I can’t drink and write at the same time since alcohol gives me a frontal lobotomy, but there’s nothing I crave more after a sweaty day at the keyboard than an icy one.

    I suppose, if I had to choose one thing that helps me channel the energy and write, it’s napping. I’m addicted to napping. My office is upstairs and my couch is downstairs. Which is a really, really good thing. If I had a couch in my office, I’d be on it. Napping. Napping…I even love the word. LOL.



  5. Dee
    Comment
    5
      · January 13th, 2006 at 1:45 pm · Link

    I eat chips. I drink tea. If I can’t have chips, it’s about three gallons of chamomile tea. Hubby insists the house never be without tea–he likes me sane.

    But mostly, just had to howl at setting the chairs on fire, lol. I didn’t reallygive the date any thought at all until bloggers started worrying about it, lol.

    Maybe I can go back into ignorance, lol. Gimme time, it’s not hard. :)

    Smooches,
    Dee



  6. Charlene
    Comment
    6
      · January 13th, 2006 at 3:59 pm · Link

    I just need coffee. Give me coffee and I can write. I also have dragons all around my desk. The Harry Potter dragon made by Gund. Two Ty Beanie dragons. The Coffee Please pocket dragon. And a thumb-sucking sleeping baby dragon incense-burner – when you light an incense cone, smoke curls out the nostrils. Too funny. Yep, my writing is powered by coffee and dragons. :nod:



  7. Shannon
    Comment
    7
      · January 13th, 2006 at 5:14 pm · Link

    Well, I thought the large Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffees, cream only, went without saying.

    In a tragic turn of events, I was tossing my hackeysack back and forth between my hands and missed and it flew in the cats’ water dish. Not only did I make a mess, but my little ball of inspiration is sopping wet.

    :cry:



  8. Charlene
    Comment
    8
      · January 13th, 2006 at 6:04 pm · Link

    *gasp* It’s the Friday the 13th curse! Good thing the hackeysack didn’t knock over your coffee. That woulda been a tragedy.



  9. Selah March
    Comment
    9
      · January 13th, 2006 at 6:43 pm · Link

    It’s not actually the full moon until 4:48 tomorrow morning, the 14th. Doesn’t that make you feel better?

    And it’s January, which means it’s the Wolf Moon. Way cool, yes?



  10. jaciburton
    Comment
    10
      · January 13th, 2006 at 7:57 pm · Link

    i don’t have a talisman. and i want one now. dammit

    now i’m going to have to scrounge until i find one.

    And I’m sorry your ball got wet

    Wolf Moon. yummmmmmm :devil:



  11. Shannon
    Comment
    11
      · January 13th, 2006 at 8:37 pm · Link

    That must be why it got the cat dish instead of my coffee.

    *knocks the hell out of a piece of wood*

    Hmm…tries to think of a talisman for Jaci…



  12. Charlene
    Comment
    12
      · January 14th, 2006 at 8:06 am · Link

    Isn’t it obvious?
    :penguin:



  13. PBW
    Comment
    13
      · January 14th, 2006 at 8:24 am · Link

    I don’t have a talisman, exactly, but I have to wear slipper socks or bunny slippers when I write. For some reason I can’t write barefoot.



  14. Shannon
    Comment
    14
      · January 14th, 2006 at 11:47 am · Link

    Ooooh, comfy socks are a must for writing, especially during New England winters. (She says while it’s fifty degrees and raining outside.)

    I knit my own wool socks, because I like an extra tight ribbing around the arch and roomy toes. *contented sigh*







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