Hello all, I'm curious. How do you write? Do you write in silence? Or do you need music? Do you have a special place to write? Just wondering.

I can tend to write anywhere in either silence or noise. I live alone and usually have the television or radio on as background noise anyway. As for a special place - wherever my laptop is!

Well... got a desktop, so I write at a desk in the living room (under the heater - gotta be comfy!). Some times I have music in the background... or the TV on... or just the cats having hissy fits as company. I find it really doesn't matter most of the time, but every now and again, I do turn everything off so I can concentrate purely on writing. I guess I really don't do anything special!

I tend to be very much like Maddy and Green in where and how I write. I'm at my desk in the living room and usually have the TV on. I've found that I use music as inspiration but I usually can't write while it is playing. I've been known to lose my train of thought and suddenly start typing part of the lyrics randomly. Constant distraction is just part of the challenge since the animals and the teen feel no remorse at interrupting me.

I write best wherever my kids, dog and husband aren't. I know it sounds terrible but it's hard for me to stick in the groove when all of a sudden there's a *CRASH* "Moooooom!!" "KATHY!!" *woof woof woof* ad nauseum. I don't tend to write to music, but I can be inspired by some, to be sure. That, and stuff on Discovery Channel. My writing style: scribble scribble, wad tear toss, scribble, type outline, delete outline, start over, dialogue snippets, read back dialogue out loud, "ugh, that sucks", delete dialogue snippet, rewrite, read aloud again, explain to husband that I'm not talking to myself again, start fleshing out story, write write, "ugh that sucks", delete, rewrite, delete, rewrite, write some more, delete half, redo rest, edit, delete, rewrite, edit again, read, "I hope this doesn't suck", send to editor, "you forgot the apostrophe in 'it's' here here and here," fix, then post.

In my mind, I am always writing, so I have no special place. Wherever I am, wherever I go, regardless of what I am doing, I always have my mind forever drifting, playing with words to create phrases, moods, and feelings and then setting them into storylines. Sometimes, just getting the time to sit and type is the biggest challenge! I can write in just about any circumstance, but generally speaking, I prefer it quiet, or perhaps some classic music (Vivaldi, usually, or Bach) playing low in the background, while sitting at a desk. Unfortunately, those perfect circumstances are few and far between and I tend to write in snatches, when and where I can, otherwise I'd never get anything written at all!

I have a desk in the living room facing the TV, which is always on, even though I tune it out. Harder to tune out the husband who seeks attention. I keep a little notebook with me to write in whenever I'm not at home and the mood comes on me. I tend to have several scenes to a fic in mind and write them first, then try to figure out how to put them together to complete the story.

Thanks everybody. Mine is probably a bit strange in comparison. We have an ancient desktop and a new laptop. I post on those all the time but NEVER write on them. I write on my IPad. I'm hardly ever without it. With my weird security job, I spend a lot of time in my car. So it is my IPad in my car with the stero playing. I've gotten pretty good at typing blind while keeping my eyes on what and who I'm guarding. But music is what brings my scattered thoughts into scenes. I tried to write some part of the puppy story to the Firebird Suite. Nothing. Blank. I'm embarrassed to say what gets a scene together. Example: The Nambu in birdstyle with Katse came together with Adele's "Rolling in the deep". The team getting back to the ship, Enigma's "Beyond the invisible". Think Russian ballet meets John Woo. Thanks all.

I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I write best when there's silence, as in nothing to distract me. I write on the computer at my desk, but I also write by hand in a notebook pretty much anyplace. I have a speech-to-text recording program I use later, as I read out the pages of my notebook, to put it in my computer file.

I've written on paper, and on my laptop. It depends on the situation. If I can, I carry a notebook so that I can jot ideas and scenes. There are times when I have the television or music on in the background.

Since I write on my laptop, I tend to write just about anywhere, although I am usually most focused when I am sitting with the tv on and the volume on low. But I also always seem to be thinking about my stories or a scene to fit them. If I find myself thinking about the same scene all day then I know it needs to be written down and as soon as I get home I will pull out the computer and begin writing.

I write at my computer, in an upstairs bedroom that's used as an office, usually without any music and usually at night (when my brain is functioning most optimally) I find a glass of wine helps the words come more readily -especially if I'm trying for something romantic. The big thing is that I needed to be focused and undistracted by anyone or any unfinished work demanding my attention. Sadly, I don't get as much of that 'quality time' as I would like!

Anywhere, Songs, situations, TV, movies, work etc. All can trigger a thought or a possible "What is" it's just deciphering my scribble after (trying to put them all in one book or in one box for when I need them) Then I leave them alone, until I feel the need to write more bits that fit into each other, I can write anywere, quiet or noisy, I just seem to tune out (longhand) Though... thanks to you wonderful people and your feedback, I eventually type them out print them , leave them alone, look at them, scribble over them, leave them alone, scribble more, type up, then file away...sometimes post... willl eventually post LOTS So, I just need pen, paper, inspiration, dictionary or thesaurus

Originally posted by littlewolfSo, I just need pen, paper, inspiration, dictionary or thesaurus

Ooooo, I absolutely LOVE thesaurus.com or dictionary.com when I am writing. When I am unable to get on line while writing or editing I find myself at a complete loss. My word document thesaurus just does not offer me the selection I like to see, although I have had to make do at times - especially when writing up at my parents where I have to use dial up and am not connected to the internet all the time.

Yep, a thesaurus is good when I have written the same word 3 times in one paragraph! I normally just use the one in Word, though.

Thanks all. Everyone's muse works a little different. I am fascinated by the writing process. I also feel bad that I never mentioned that I would be useless without: 1. My dictionary app.( It also contains a thesaurus.) 2. Spell check. 3. My five different Japaneese language apps. ( I'm going to officially take Japaneese this fall at UNCC. My first college course since I graduated U of M in 1991.) 4. The five guys that I work with in security. Who have not only save my skin a few times but have taught me the finer points of security and seeking out hostile targets. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

You're going to be studying Japanese? Very cool! And you'll be able to watch Gatch and also claim that you're "studying"!

Iborgia88: I LOVE the way you think. I can just see it now. I get to watch all sorts of anime claiming "It's homework."

Sounds good to me!

Yes, and think how much fun it will be as you increasingly understand more and more words and phrases!

Right now I understand, maybe, 1 in 30 words. So I can't wait till the becomes recognizeable.

You're well ahead of me -besides characters' proper names and place names, I might recognize about 10 words, things like nani, arigato, hai, baka, kuso, shimatta, etc.

I write better without to many distractions, so if music is playing its more chillout than anything with lyrics. I barely write at all now because I have young children who don't give me much computer time anf I tend to have to relax into it or else it all comes out sounding wrong to me.

(might as well throw my six cents in) I always carry a bunch of small papers around to write down ideas. When it comes to the writing itself, music is completely indispensable to me. Every project has its own playlist with songs chosen according to how they correspond with the story. I have just under 100GB of music, so I have plenty to chose from. (that also means I have plenty of playlists) Strangely enough, though I do have the Gatchaman Vocal Collection shipped straight from Nippon, I don't listen to it when I'm writing. It's too... upbeat. I also prefer to write at night, when everyone else is asleep. It's not unusual for me to go to sleep around 6a.m. on weekends. (PS: It's fascinating to read how do you guys write. I would've never guessed there are so many styles and ways)

That's true, Victoria! I think there are as many ways to write as writers!

Victoria, I used to write until 2-3 am, but then marriage and a kid kicked in. I'm usually too tired by 10:30 to keep writing. I have to have noise around me, whether it be music or the TV. I need the white noise, for some reason. I write both in long hand to be typed in later and straight to the computer. I have a habit of editing too much some times so that things don't get done.

Originally posted by Victoria I also prefer to write at night, when everyone else is asleep. It's not unusual for me to go to sleep around 6a.m. on weekends.

I'm quite that way myself, or at least, whenever I can be! I love the silence and solitude. I don't usually have music on when I'm writing, or at least not anymore. I wrote my dissertation almost entirely accompanied by classical music or trance techo (basically stuff with long tracks and little or no distracting lyrics) but since I've taken a stab at fiction, I find any music a lot more distracting. Maybe I need a new genre of music, or maybe my ability to concentrate and focus isn't what it once was (very likely).

I'm still quite new to writing, but I've noticed that I tend to write in fits and blasts. If I need to write something I scribble it out in longhand on A4 paper, then it's edited as it's transfered to computer. Usually done at night when I struggle to sleep because that's when my imagination is working overtime!!!

I've had the nighttime thing happen too. Sometimes I wake up with such a strong idea that I have to sneak downstairs and write it up!

I have found it interesting to note how many people write to music (or with music playing). I have never done that, but I have found music (or lyrics) that I have been able to connect to certain moods or events in a characters life. I don't tend to get up in the middle of the night writing to do some writing on my computer, but if an idea hits me I have woken up and can note it on the pad paper so I can type it up when I get time the next time I am at my computer.

Originally posted by lborgia88 You're well ahead of me -besides characters' proper names and place names, I might recognize about 10 words, things like nani, arigato, hai, baka, kuso, shimatta, etc.

Aren't a lot of those curse words? I think that might be the first words people learn in other languages, just for the fun of it.

I also often make notes at work. I work in a car-parts factory right now which is not particularly mentally-challenging, so I can just stand at the conveyor belt and mechanically do whatever I'm supposed to do at the time while letting my mind wander. I've covered tons of papers with my scribbles. Night shifts are especially good for that. (on the other side, I think it gives me a slightly space-cadet-y look. Plus, people tend to freak out when I suddenly start to chuckle to myself for no apparent reason while staring off in the distance)

There are some songs I swear were written with Gatch/BotP or a fic in mind. The theme to the original Spiderman movie, 'Hero' iI believe it is called, sounded more like the theme to a Gatch movie. I'll have to go get the lyrics and post them. There's another song on that CD that would have been perfect for Jane Lebak's Scavengers fic. And a Duran Duran song for Wendy Dinsmore's Out of the Shadows. Can't rmember the name of it but now I can't get it our of my mind.

Here are the lyrics for Spiderman's 'Hero' - as the Gatchman movie (if it ever happened) theme song: I am so high, I can hear heaven I am so high, I can hear heaven Whoa, but heaven...no, heaven don't hear me And they say That a hero could save us I'm not going to stand here and wait I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles Watch as we fly away Someone told me Love would all save us But, how can that be Look what love gave us A world full of killing And blood spilling That world never came And they say That a hero could save us I'm not going to stand here and wait I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles Watch as we all fly away Now that the world isn't ending It's love that I'm sending to you It isn;t the love of a hero And that's why I fear it won't do And they say That a hero could save us I'm not going to stand here and wait I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles Watch as we all fly away And they watch us They're watching us As we all fly away *Repeat twice more

This is the lyrics to Duran Duran's 'Ordinary World', for Out of the Shadows, when Ken thinks he's going insane ebcause he hears Joe's voice all the time after his 'death': Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue Thought I heard you talking softly I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio Still I can't esape the ghost of you What has happened to it all? Crazy someone say Where is the life that I recognize? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world Somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive Passion or coincidence once prompted you to say "Pride will tar us both apart" Well now prides gone out the window Cross the rooftops, run away Left me in the vacuum of heart What is happening to me? Crazy someone say Where is my friend when I need you most? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world Somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive Papers in the roadside tell of suffering and greed Fear today, forgot tom orrow Besides the news of holy war and holy need Ours is just a little sorrowed talk *Repeats the But I won't cty for yesterday stanza

The song Hero by Chad Kroeger sums up the way Ken looks at the world around him perfectly, and his insecurity over his possible relationship with Jun when the war eventually comes to an end. I'd love to see it as part of the soundtrack to any Gatchaman movie if it ever happened!!!

Originally posted by Becky Rock

Originally posted by lborgia88 You're well ahead of me -besides characters' proper names and place names, I might recognize about 10 words, things like nani, arigato, hai, baka, kuso, shimatta, etc.

Aren't a lot of those curse words?

Kuso (Joe says this one a lot) and shimatta are. Baka means "idiot," so it sort of is. Funny how much words or phrases in a foreign language that one ends up knowing are often profanities!

Originally posted by Becky Rock This is the lyrics to Duran Duran's 'Ordinary World', for Out of the Shadows, when Ken thinks he's going insane because he hears Joe's voice all the time after his 'death'

I've always liked that song -I agree, it does fit Wendy's fic!