Breaking Our Own Rules
My current writing space may not be ideal, but it works.
As much as I am a laid back and spontaneous person, I have a lot of rules. Not for other people, but for myself. Some of my former co-workers even call me “Rules” for a nickname.
My rules weren’t things that effected other people and I always thought they made life easier for me. I don’t care about white after Labor Day, but you won’t catch me leaving dishes in the sink or wearing shoes inside the house.
Some of my biggest rules were about writing.
I only write at home, in my own space. I take the time to set up a writing area, whether it’s a whole room or a corner, so why wouldn’t I use it?
I write with music on, but no words in English or Spanish. That would be too distracting.
And I don’t like distractions. Especially the distraction of people.
But, now I’m staying with friends. I don’t have any space that is actually mine. I thought it would be short term, and maybe I just wouldn’t write that week.
After a few days, though, I couldn’t go without writing.
I packed up my computer and my headphones and went to the neighborhood Starbucks. Even though I always rolled my eyes when people told me about writing in coffee shops, I decided it was worth a try.
My friend has two kids and a husband, so quiet time doesn’t really happen. It was writing in public or not writing.
So I ordered a latte, turned on my computer, and put on my headphones.
And something funny happened.
Once those headphones were on and I heard my writing music, it was like the rest of the people disappeared. I wasn’t at Starbucks. I was back in my story. It didn’t matter who or what was around me, I was writing.
After a week or so of writing outside of the house, I started to worry about how much money I was spending on coffee. It was time to try writing at my friend’s house. If I could write in the middle of a busy coffee shop, I should be able to write in a house with only four other people.
I made some coffee, went in my room, put on my headphones and wrote. I didn’t hear the kids or the TV. I didn’t even hear my friend’s husband when he was jumping up and down about his new signed hockey card.
I was so involved in the writing, I could’ve been anywhere. I broke my own rule. I could write anywhere.
That makes me wonder about what other rules I might not need.
There might even be some dishes in the sink when I’m living on my own again. Because some rules were meant to be broken.
Do you have rules for yourself that other people don’t get? Or are you a rule breaker? Do rules make things easier or harder? I’d love to hear that I’m not alone in my rule making!
I’d love to continue chatting, so if you want you can find me on facebook or follow me on Twitter.
I am more of a rule follower, but I’ve become a bit more relaxed the older I get. As far as writing, I definitely like to write in a certain place, but like you I’ve found that if I put those head phones on and play my story play list I am in another world.
It’s great isn’t it?
Yes, it is great! I wonder if it has to do with having a set playlist for each story? If so, that’s what I’ll be doing.
I think it’s the familiarity of the headphones and your own music that does it for me. Sort of like muscle memory. Nice post.
Oh, yea, like riding a bike. I hadn’t thought of it that way before. That makes so much sense.
I have many rules, I cant even count them they are part of who I am but lately I’ve been breaking a few because I became mother to a pretty unpredictable toddler and I can’t seen to stick to rules when there is a little person around. But I think you’re bound to break or adjust to your rules otherwise you’ll be unhappy. Either you change or the situation or people around you have to change and unfortunately that’s not always an option so why suffer or be unhappy? Some rules are definitely meant to be broken or just tweaked.
I have heard that having kids makes you break a lot of rules. I have seen it first hand with one friend who used to be a clean freak. She would literally follow you around with a sponge and spray bottle. Now that she has kids, she just lets things go. Maybe we all have something that will help us change and break our rules. It could be a part of growing. I think that makes us all very mature!
Rules, yes, lots of them. And the more rules, the harder it is to break them. When I do break a rule, it’s so freeing. Sounds like that’s exactly what you discovered, Emma.
Hmm, the more rules, the harder it is to break them. I’d never thought of that. Apparently I have a lot of rules, so that must’ve been why it took me so long to break one!
Since I started writing more often I am breaking all kinds of rules, such as letting laundry go longer and letting the dishes sit in the sink. I have written in many places. I go batty if I go too long without writing. I can sympathize with what you were going through. I’m glad you figured out you could write outside of your rules. That’s huge!
Maybe letting the laundry go will be next for me! Part on my problem with that is I’m such a routine person that I get used to doing things at a certain time. Like laundry on Sundays. I think that started in college. I am glad to hear that I’m not the only one with rules, though.
[...] how Emma Burcart is discovering she really can write anywhere. Share this:TwitterFacebookStumbleUponPinterestEmailTumblrLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]