blogging, creative writing, fiction, fun, writing

Noise, silence and writing

by Writer of Words, etc

No matter what time I go to bed I’m up at 6 am.

Or earlier.

Only very rarely do I stay in bed past that time. Or go back to bed after a trip to the loo. 🙂

There is something about the quiet, the solitude, the dim light in the early mornings that appeals to me. Wakes my senses, makes them more pronounced. This is usually a good time to start writing.

But not always.

Writing fiction, when you’re developing characters, story lines, scenes, they require a continuation of your train of thought that should remain void of interruption. I know this is true because I read an article the other day that validates, or explains this point:

High-intensity noise that exceeds 95 decibels disrupts performance on complex tasks but improves it on simple, boring tasks — noise tends to raise arousal level, which can be useful when trying to stay alert during mindless and monotonous work, but can agitate you out of creative flow when immersed in the kind of work that requires deliberate, reflective thought.

I got this quote out of an article called The Psychology of writing and the cognitive science of the perfect daily routine.

I looked up how loud 95 decibels are. Here is a short list for comparison purposes:

    • A passing diesel truck, or a snowblower, is about 85 decibels
    • Conversational speech is about 60 decibels
    • A motorcycle or a handheld drill is about 100 decibels

So as I sit here in the quiet, dreaming of my elusive She Shed, I contemplate how I will proceed with my fiction writing career-to-be in 2020. Will I stay the course I have set up in 2019? Will this be the decade of possibility?

As you can see, I am not currently writing stories. My stories are on hold. My big story, the one I have developed and is up to 14 chapters, that’s the one I can’t wait to get back to. But I doubt this will happen prior to the new year… in the meantime, I’m entertaining you with blog posts. You’re welcome. 🙂

I’m tracking Santa on NORAD as we count down to food and presents on this Christmas Eve day. Do you see a She Shed in his sleigh?

Me either. 🙃

All all your dreams come true. Merry Christmas!

34 thoughts on “Noise, silence and writing”

  1. Just came across this post and I so agree. Writing in the quiet of the morning is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Something about that etch of time, the light and sound makes the words flow easier, thoughts fly free.

    Thank you for sharing your words and experience.
    Have a great writing week ahead! 🙂❤️If you’re interested, do check out my newest story and let me know your thoughts. Would love to have your feedback.
    Leaving the link below for your convenience. 🙂💜

    https://saraabesukhan.com/unsigned-love-letters-in-the-memory-of-loving/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Sounds like sounds like excellent sound cancelling insulation is definitely a need/want for the future SheShed. I get up early too. Whether I want to or not. Don’t get much quiet though. As soon as she hears me move, the cat is sitting on me with her nose in my face saying she’s STARVING!

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. You too! And that’s interesting…I lost some hearing due to a childhood illness (Meningitis) so I’m familiar. But it’s all about frequencies – I can hear the tap dripping but can’t make out what they’re saying from another room. 🙂

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  9. I used to always have music playing when working, but these days I find it too much of a distraction and prefer as much quiet as I can manage.

    Happy Christmas and best of luck with the she-shed 🎅

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. I’m a lover of peace and quiet, the early hours before anyone else is up are perfect! It’s interesting about the noise level, I reckon my teens are often loud enough to disrupt my flow.
    Wishing you a Merry Christmas and hoping that Santa brings your She Shed x

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  11. Merry Christmas Claudette. It would be so cool if Santa brought you your SheShed. I definitely like quiet for writing although most of the rest of the time if there are no tunes playing in the house they’re playing in my head anyway. 🙃

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  13. 90 decibels is quite loud then! I find I can put up with music as long as it doesn’t have words. Living in a chaotic house, if I don’t have some sort of background music, I get distracted by arguments, shouting, and general life happening throughout the house. (Teenage girls argue constantly – it’s like a force of the universe).

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  14. Too much pressure on yourself, although I can understand what it is to have a dream and seem so far away from it at the same time. And I have no answers because I’ve been where you are and found I simply had to wait things out until the time that being a full-time mom was passed…
    Merry Christmas Claudette and happiness in 2020!

    Liked by 3 people

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  18. No noise. White noise. Learning to live with some noise and keep going despite the noise. Focus with all the noise. That is what the husband says he is trying to train me with his ex military days to do. I think it is a good line of defense and also good if I can learn as sometimes the mind and chatter is the greatest distract er. It is the day before Christmas…I hope all is well for you and your family! Enjoy the noise today.

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. I admit that it has its charm and practicality but I need somewhere in between the two. I have often watched the husband with focused concentration when all is haywire around him. I admire this trait and try to take something from it but I would like a little room with nothing in it but a desk and a view of the ocean. Now that would also be distracting and another blog!

        Liked by 3 people

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