Thank you, Franjessaca, for requesting a guest post for today, and giving me the opportunity to share a few thoughts with your readers.
   
Do Writers’ have Rituals?

If anyone had asked me four or five months ago if I had a writer’s ritual, I would have denied it. Since traveling four or more days a week to my daughter’s house to walk her dog, and spend time with her while my daughter’s at work, however, I find I cannot write there without pushing myself, and I do mean pushing myself.

Although I’ve left a laptop to my daughter’s house, and carry thumb drives back and forth, with the intention of writing, I can never settle down to it – good thing I’d finished In the Shadow of Vesuvius before the dog walking, talking, playing, bathing, brushing, praising, cuddling, and tummy rubbing started (the dog’s tummy rubs, not mine).  

Who could resist this little darling?

Before this I could take my netbook along to a local coffee shop, order lunch (always the same thing) and write. The staff soon got to know me there, topped up my cup when it got empty, and removed plates and cutlery unobtrusively. They also played the disc I copied and gave to the owner - guess they figured it was my favourite writing-to music CD. It wasn’t, but it suited as background music for a coffee shop, which helped to dull the chatter of other patrons.
When I closed the netbook and went to the cash register to pay, the staff would ask if much writing had been done and, when was the film coming out. This was a carry over from the day a friend, who was to meet me there, phoned to tell me she would be late getting there – my mobile/cell phone was turned off. The manager came over to me with his phone, calling out as he came, ‘Hollywood calling.’ Didn’t I wish?
 Now I have to face it: I do have a writing ritual when at home: First I have my morning shower, followed by breakfast and checking and replying to emails – who can do anything until the emails are attended to? Then, depending on what I’m writing, it’s either on with Mp3 earphones, or put on a CD. For the In the Shadow of Vesuvius, I mostly played stirring classical music – louder than I normally like, but not so loud it brought the neighbours banging on my door. For a paranormal I’m writing, it’s classical, something haunting, or with a hint of mystery.
 It would be interesting to see what rituals others have, whether writers or not.  

Although born in Scotland and spent time in other countries, Liz is now happily settled in Melbourne, Australia.
She is an editor as well as a writer and avid reader - especially historical fiction - who loves researching, though she can get so caught up in research she forgets about the story she's researching for.
Liz also draws and paints for relaxation, and will do illustrations for her books whenever possible. She walks her daughter's dog because both need the exercise.
She has a Dip. Art(Professional Writing and Editing), and taught writing and editing for two years until the need to concentrate fully on her own writing took over again.
Her favourite authors, in no particular order, are: Sue Monk Kidd, Sara Donati, Geraldine Brooks, Vanora Bennett, Sarah Dunant, Cormac McCarthy, Markus Suzak, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Robert Harris. For Crime: Michael Connelly, Minette Walters, Jeffrey Deaver, and Dean Koontz for his crime with humour. Newest favourite authors are Anne Obrien and Pauline Gedge - writers of historical fiction, of course.
The book trailer for In the Shadow of Vesuvius was made by Chuck Pride of "American Pride Productions"