Writing Rituals - Ilana Kaplan
Ilana Kaplan
@ILANA KAPLAN
WRITING SPECIALTY: JOURNALIST/EDITOR
Whether you’re an author, journalist, playwright, screenwriter or copywriter – every professional scribe has a different set of rituals that help them put pen to paper. Hemingway would write from first light until midday, Didion used one solitary hour before dinner to go over everything she'd worked on that day and Maya Angelou kept a hotel room in her hometown just for writing. Our new Writing Rituals series shines a light on some of our favourite writers and the private ceremonies they engage in each and every day.
writing rituals
Spotlight: Ilana Kaplan
Photo credit: Ilana Kaplan
“The one thing that remains consistent though is that my creativity doesn’t really exist until the sun goes down”
Photo credit: Ilana Kaplan
Photo credit: Ilana Kaplan
Writing is a process that every writer approaches in a different way – how would you describe your own process?
“I hate to say it, but I work best under pressure and after 8pm. One long stretch is often how I work best. For some reason, I’ve never been the best writer at a desk, so I prefer the couch in leggings or sweatpants. I don’t always write all at once, though. Often, I start writing or outlining on my Notes App on my phone. Then copy it later to a Google doc. The one thing that remains consistent though is that my creativity doesn’t really exist until the sun goes down.”
Do you listen to music while writing?
“I used to be able to write while listening to music -- in fact, I couldn’t do anything -- reading, writing, breathing -- without it. But now I can’t write or think clearly when there’s music with lyrics in the background. When I have opted for music, I usually go with something like The Album Leaf or Explosions in the Sky.”
Are there set times of day in which writing or even editing feels more natural?
“Night-time is the one time of day my thoughts really feel clear. I feel like that speaks to me being a creative. I’m not a morning person.”
Name a handful of vices you use to get going each day…
“I don’t drink caffeine which probably makes things a bit harder sometimes. I like to start my day with either peanut butter and a banana or scrambled eggs. Protein is necessary for me to feel like I can concentrate.”
Many writers find it hard to sit in a chair and stare at a screen all day. Do your writing rituals include anything physical to help discover or build ideas?
“I can’t sit in one spot. Generally when I’m not able to concentrate I work out or go for a walk or take a shower to clear my head. Sometimes I’ll take a break and watch a TV show or make a snack.”
Finish this sentence: When I get stuck or feel frustrated writing, I…
“…try to do something that isn’t work-related.”
Does your writing routine or the rituals you perform remain the same each day or does it vary from time to time?
“My writing rituals tend to vary aside from being the best writer at night and on my couch. It depends on the assignment, really, and how stressed I am about it.”
Are there obstacles you face each day when you sit down to write? How do you try to overcome them or avoid distraction?
“I often feel like because I have anxiety and depression, I get brain fog. That can be an uphill battle, so I do try to be self-aware in the sense that I recognize when I need to get up from my computer.”
What’s the first thing you do when you see a blank page?
“Stare at it for another two hours. Kidding, well, sometimes. Generally, write the lead of my story or write an outline.”
Do you have a writing quote you live by or that inspires you each day?
“Write what you know.”