Writin’ for the Lion

This weekend I have discovered the importance of the details when it comes to writing.

And no, I’m not talking about details in the writing itself. I figured that out a LOOOOONG time ago.

I’m talking about details of writing environments and the tools used. I have discovered that little things can make a HUGE difference.

The nice weather led me to do a little poking out and about this weekend. And I spend a good part of it thinking about my writing. I went down to the bookstore and picked me up a nice journal. The notebook I’d previously been using was… much too small. Great for carrying around, insanely difficult to write in. So I bought a new one, a bigger one, still easy to carry around but not too small either. Lines for easier writing. At first I thought no lines would be better for me, but I need a little structure. Lines help.

Next order of business: A pen. I settled on a blue one. Not black. Blue. Shocking for me. But I felt a blue pen might be a good idea. Spend a while testing out pens with blue ink, scribbling all over notepads provided as I did so. Judged on feel, on look, on color, on how smooth it wrote, on how quick the ink dried. EVERYTHING. Finally settled on one I liked, so I went to pay for my journal and pen.

With those in hand, my next order of business was to find someplace to write. I went to my favorite spot on the university campus, chose a bench, sat down, and pulled out my new pen and journal.

And wrote. And wrote. And WROTE.

I couldn’t stop. Well, I did, but not after I’d gone four pages solid in my journal. And I have small handwriting.

Bottom line, I’ve discovered how important the details are. I write better in natural lighting, either outdoors or in rooms with big windows. Blue ink works better for me than black, it stands out a bit more against the page and lines ON the page. The journal’s the right size for me, not too big to be hard to carry around and not so small it’s hard to write in anytime, anywhere. Little things like that are IMMENSELY important. I’ve written more in it these past two days than I did for months at a time before.

Next attempt: Look for good INDOOR writing locales. There’s a Starbucks down the street that looks promising…