Is there a particular mood you need to be in to write?


Me, not so much. However, there is a particular mood that I cannot be in and write. Well, write poetry anyway. I can't be arroused. It's weird. And I don't really like that, and I don't know why, but it seems to be fact. So, how 'bout you?

i dunno....i always have the inspiration, but sumtimes i lack the direction, or whatever......

i've go through writing spurts......for stories, i dunno, itz sad to say that i used to write stories a lot more when i was stoned all the time.....i don't smoke pot anymore, but am seriously contemplatin' startin' back up for i haven't wrote jack shit in a year!!!!!!

novels....hmm.....i wrote about 200 pages for my first novel idea, hated it, now i'm workin' on a new one.....i'm only about 18 pages into it thus far....currently workin' on it.....since i get stoned anymore, i just drink....a lot....it helps me write.....sumtimes the words just pour out of me.......i need to finish sumtin....make $$$$....y'know?

as for poetry....i don't write as much as i used too.....i used to write a shit ton back in the day......now, the only drivin' force for my poetry is our goddamn poetry seminar thingy here at DF....and since thatz like a "NO-GO"....i just don't write poetry anymore really......

I don't know if this is a mood thing. Ultimately the only thing that gets me truly motivated to write (either poetry or a story) is when I want to read something that doesn't exist. I can force myself to write at other times, but I don't really enjoy the work I do then as much.

For mood, I find that I also enjoy the stuff that I write when I'm tired better, for whatever reason. Usually early in the morning, right before I go to bed.

i feel ya man......most of my ideas come when i'm really tired and tryin' to sleep, so i crawl out of bed and begin writin'........

so I guess it comes down to would you rather be a pot head, or an alcoholic? Personally, I chose pothead. And I can understand that the 'altered state of being' can contribute to your written expression. Helps me too.

well....i've prudy much always been an alcoholic....so thats kool......pot, i used to be a major pot-head, but last time i got stoned was december....sux man!!!!!!!! wanna hook me up?

haha... get your ass over here and I will babe.

That's really, really interesting. (Sounds like a rather glib reply, but honestly it I'm serious.)

I had to be in a certain mood to write I guess, if its a story, not so much, I can continue the inspiration that I got originally, so I dont have a problem with that, but poetry, I have to be pushed by something, whether it be an original idea popping into my head, the urge to make people feel something, or just a release of feeling. I could write a poem any time, any place, but the ones I prefer are always written when something is urging them to be written, if ya know what I mean....

Not exactly. Most people think it's easiest to write when you're depressed, but I dunno about that... I think I write best when my emotional slate is pretty clean, because allows pretty much anything to come into my head. Since I like writing a variety of things, there's at least one thing for every emotion.

I tend to be able to write lyrics when I'm in a sad state of mind. And that doens't mean that I'm limited to writing solely sad things or a contrast of ultra happy things either. I feel very focused about all my thoughts and views when in a sad state, in terms of writing lyrics.

As for music, I prefer being in a clean state of mind. But, there have been some great things I've written when in super emotional states as well. But again, preference is in a clean state of mind. Besides, it's a lot harder to write with someone when one guy is sitting in the corner fuming/crying/giggling/etc his ass off...

The main time I write is when I'm feeling low, but I produce such awful rubbish then.
Mostly, if I'm in an ok mood and write feeling/thought poetry I just feel pretentious and end up making a joke.
I'd like to try object/descriptive stuff rather than self-reflexive but I'm hardly a talented writer and if I ever do get round to that I don't know how it would turn out.

I write to create mood! mood inspires me... I am a moody kind of man. The mood of a piece can bring me to elation or drive me to the depths of despair. I tend to fight the manic-depressive phases that enthrall me... but why not give in once in a while. It strengthens my style. Wiles me with guile.

I don't have to be in any mood to write, I write voraciously these days, normally after I get done reading. I pick a line or a word or a phrase that I think's cool, and I incorporate it into the poem.

I'm usually either quite stoned or awakened from a dream when I write.

good post

My crappy poetry catches me off guard, when I least expect it. I usually don't think up specific ideas either, I just find a few phrases that strike my fancy and start from there onward. It comes out like a cinema that I see for the first time.

Poetry from me DOES have a tendency to come about a lot more often when I'm up late and experiencing minor hallucinations, as I drift in and out of consciousnous. : D

~ S.A.

Sometimes its spontaneous. I haven't found the right 'place' to be in when I write, be it words or music. Often it just happens - I'll be goofing aroud with a simple chord change and I start to toy with it and add layers. Then on occasion I'll start improvising a melody, lyrics...

Other times, I'll write down a line and just be struck and start going with lyrics - the song comes later if it ever does.

I have so many snippets that will never see the light of day...but I know that's the same for everyone.