We all have our quirks, don’t we? I’d love to hear some of your quirks in the comments! Full disclosure: I may even give some of your quirks to future characters.
It seems to me that those of us who are writers may have received more than our fair share of quirks. For example, I still write my books in Microsoft Word. I don’t even use a recent version of Word. No, indeed. I’m using Word 2011. I haven’t upgraded to writing software like Scrivener because I feel superstitious about changing! I don’t want to mess with my creative process, which already reminds me of a skittish unicorn.
I also always pray before I write because I’m convinced (rightly so) that I can’t do it without God’s help and equipping.
Since I have writing quirks, I began to suspect that my writing friends might have them to. I asked them and received confirmation that — yay! — I’m not the only one with a few bizarre charming methods.
Here’s what they had to say:
I delete nothing. Ever. I keep all drafts of every novel. My husband will occasionally catch a glimpse of all these drafts in my files and say, “Don’t you want to . . .” and then his voice trails off as I stare at him, wide-eyed. How could he even think of suggesting that I delete anything?! I just might need that (now forgotten) metaphor (that I’ll never find). –Beth Vogt
I often change the font to some unreadable cursive while I write my first drafts.
It keeps me from going back and re-reading/editing everything. – Janette Foreman
I write all my first drafts long hand. I can’t start on a computer with a blank screen. So I take my notebook and erasable pen and curl up on a couch or comfy chair. I always have coffee and usually some dark chocolate with me. – Dani Pettrey
I always keep a spreadsheet open showing the number of words written each day up to that point. It triggers me to convince myself I can meet my current goal! –Jill Kemerer
When I’m writing, I need total silence. Like, TOTAL silence. None of this “wrote 592 chapters at Starbucks this morning, thanks for the fun, all you chattering people!” foolishness. – Jennifer Major
I have emails from 2009. I’m afraid that, if my computer dies, I won’t have backed up my files properly. So I know that if the worst happens, I’ll still have my manuscripts attached to old emails. –Katie Ganshert
When I write I have to have earbuds in, so that I can listen to my Pandora instrumental movie music soundtracks. – Courtney Walsh
I write my scenes out by hand in a notebook, then I type them into Scrivener. My muse flows better with a pen in my hand. – Lisa Jordan
I have about 87 paper copies of each manuscript that I refuse to get rid of. (Maybe not 87. But at this point in my process, each manuscript gets at least 3. They used to get more. None have ever been thrown away. You know. Just in case.) – Carol Moncado
I definitely like to have tea while I’m writing. It can be hot tea or iced tea, but I have to have tea or I feel like I’m missing something. It’s like walking around without jewelry. –Ashley Clark
What are your quirks, readers?
Becky Wade
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I am a fast and obsessive reader. It is not uncommon for me to read a full length novel in a day. And I believed reading makes mundane tasks more enjoyable, but I don’t have the patience for audio books. So, some of my quirky reading habits: reading while folding (or sorting) laundry (using the basket to hold the book open to my page), reading while doing dishes (with the iPad propped on the windowsill, and a towel handy to dry off my swiping finger), reading while cleaning/vacuuming/putting sheets in beds/cooking (these do not usually go so well as they are hard to do one handed and with 1/2 attention), & reading on my iPhone while walking the dog. Of course I do all the normal reading obsessed things: reading until late at night, reading during any and all free time, and reading on road trips (I thankfully do not get motion sick)
I read with a pencil in my hand . . . . yikes! I ‘dot’ mark lines, character names and locations (since I review every book) and I have my own special way of prioritizing those marks. I can read in silence, I can read with lots going on around me, I can read in the car, on the couch, standing beside my stove while cooking dinner . . . I can just read.
On another note, I don’t write books, but I write lots of children’s curriculum and other children’s ministry related programs . . . . I still write first drafts with pencil and paper, drawing arrows and stick pictures all along the way . . . .creative scribble scrabble.
I love the quirks you’ve shared, Karen and Rebecca! I’m especially impressed by your ability, Karen, to read non-audio books while doing mudane tasks. Wow! 🙂
Your input makes me think I need to do a follow-up post entitled Reader Quirks!
I think you ended up just getting reader quirks! Did you want other quirks, like my friend who hates odd numbers and does everything in her power to make things always even, or my husband who is very tall and very neat so he dusts the top of the refrigerator and other places that no one else sees, or my teenage niece who takes her pet chickens in the pool on a kick board, in the snow on a sled, and has trained them to walk an agility course?
My quirkiest trait beyond my reading habits is that I play the trombone in a community band and own a purple p-bone (google it) which I play in the local yearly Maple Syrup Parade with a group of amateur musicians called the “Strollers” who originally didn’t march, but strolled, but now actually ride on a hay wagon in the parade. The group itself is very quirky.
I skip to the end of the book, sometimes after I start reading it, sometimes first thing, like sitting in the car after visiting the bookstore or library. But I have finally figured out that this makes actually reading the book take longer, so I am really, really trying to stop doing that. I was very proud of myself when I read my first Lyneette Eason book straight through!I also will buy the paper copy of a book that I have read on my Kindle if I loved it. One can always get more bookshelves! And for my favorites (that’s you Becky) I just preorder both the book and the ebook, because the ebook drops first. Enjoy Branson!
If you usually skip to the end first, I can absolutely imagine that reading a Lynette Eason book straight through must have taken a great deal of will power.
Thanks so much for reading my books in print AND ebook formats, Linda!
When I loan someone a book, I take a picture of them with it so I can remember who has it. That way I also have visual proof when they claim I didn’t loan it to them.
Joy, this is a GENIUS idea!! I apologize in advance for stealing it 🙂
Go for it! I’d suggest creating an album on your phone so it’s easy to find the pictures. I call mine “Give Me My Book Back”
Brilliant! I have had books disappear, so I am in a “no loan anything, ever” mode right now. One was even autographed and I know who it was…they just denied it.
If I ever break down and loan another book, I am doing this! Thanks!
Oh, I never ever loan signed copies. I’ll sooner buy a second copy to loan out!
Ohh, brilliant!!! Stealing this also!!
HA! Love this!
I keep a blank piece of paper in the front of the books I’m reading, and as I progress through the book I write down characters names and their relationship to each other so I can keep them straight as the story unfolds. I also make a note of lines/dialog/thoughts that I like whether their funny, romantic or profound. I keep a spreadsheet that lists every book I read with a story recap and also the lines that I want to remember. This is extremely helpful when I’m reading a series and the books come out a year apart. I can quickly look up the previous book(s) and refresh my mind before reading the next. I also enjoy going back to ‘relive’ the scenes or dialog I enjoyed the most.
Your spreadsheet sounds fabulous! What a great resource.
This is fabulous! I can identify with several of these. Especially the one about keeping chocolate handy. I love that you pray before you write, Becky. That seems not as much as a quirk but a reliance- and one can never go wrong with that! ❤️
Yep! It really is reliance. I’ve found that relying on Him to write through me is both necessary (I really can’t do it without Him) and freeing (I don’t have to do it without Him).
When I read a book, I become so totally engrossed in the story that I can never hear anything that is happening around me. The TV could be on or loud music could be blaring, but I will not even notice. People will have to repeatedly say my name in order to get my attention away from the story world in my hands.
That reading quirk is also a fabulous skill! I wish I could develop that kind of focus when writing/reading.
I absolutely have to have something to read while I dry my hair!! It might explain a lot about my hair! 😉
LOL!
I am never going to be a novelist. My expertise is my reading and reviewing gig that I got going. I have two quirks. First, I must have a cup of tea or glass of water at all times. I may not even drink any of it — I just have to have liquid near me in case I get the urge to drink. I think it’s a lazy thing. I don’t want to stop reading or writing my review to go get a drink because if I do, I will lose my reading/reviewing muse! The second quirk: I cannot read more than one book at a time, and I cannot move on to a new book until I have posted my review. I know that there are reviewers out there who read like 3-4 books at a time, but there is literally no way I can do that. I get too frazzled feeling!
This is a great topic!
I love hearing about those reading quirks! I really do think I’ll do a Reader Quirks follow-up post. 🙂
I agree with someone else who does not consider praying before writing to be a quirk. Maybe for a person who does not believe in prayer, that person would consider it a quirk or something less charitable. I believe an author who wants to share God’s love and life lessons in their stories should consider praying before writing to be a necessity. Probably one of the quirkiest things I do is choosing a specific bookmark for every book I read and leaving it in the book after I finish reading it. It started a few years ago when my wife and I were on a trip and bought tickets for a concert. I was reading a book during free time at the hotel and used the ticket stub as a bookmark. The stub is still in that book. I also use bookmarks I receive from authors and other suitable items as bookmarks.
Your bookmark tradition is charming!
These are great – I loved reading about how you all write! I have two boys and read while they play the new video game obsession Fortnight and I also read during commercials if I am watching a TV show. I have way too many books (hundreds) on my Kindle and I still sometimes can’t seem to find something I am interested in reading at that time and have to buy something else – it’s sad.
Yep, there are times when it’s hard to find a book to match your current mood!
I love all these quirks! The only thing I want to have is a candle lit. It just makes me feel cozy, like I am hunkered down and ready to let the fingers fly.
I’m a huge fan of candles!
I’m always in awe of anyone who can write longhand (my handwriting is atrocious) or write while listening to music! Like Jennifer Major, silence is NECESSARY in my writing life! Thanks for including me, Becky! And high five on Microsoft Word–I’m right there with you!
I’m a ‘silence is golden while writing’ girl myself. 🙂
I’m sure I have many quirks but I don’t know what they are. I would ask my husband since I’m sure he could name many, but he’s sleeping in the bed next to me. So here’s some facts about my reading that some might consider quirky. Once I start a book it’s really hard for me to put it down before I’m finished reading it. Of course, I have to at times, but I’m often reading way into the night because I just can’t quit. That may account for the tremendous number of books I read. I try to review each book to help the authors but I’m absolutely atrocious at it. Any meager writing skills I had in school have long abandoned me. I also feel very guilty if I have to leave a 3 star review and I can’t seem to rank a book less than that so I just don’t review those books. If there seems to be a possible love triangle, I usually skip to the end because I don’t want to root for the wrong person! That’s about the only time I do this though.
I light (or at least sniff) a lavender candle while I write. The scent relaxes me, and the candlelight helps brighten dreary weather days like today’s has been.
Reading quirks:
I have at least 4 books I am reading, sometimes as many as 8. I almost go into panic mode if it gets down to two or three….and I will just stare at the bookcase or my kindle list trying to find another one! Depends on my mood, where I am, what else I am doing, what I have to read..book, tablet, phone. (I kept my old phone to take to appts. just for reading. It fits so nicely in my purse!) Also, I may have to stop reading everything to finish if I have an author chat, a promised review, or other literary deadline.
If I am reading a book and it is in a slow part, I will listen to another book at the same time. (or vice versa)