Every writer has a writing routine. Whether they write in the morning or late at night, in a special place, with music on or in perfect silence, the writing process seems productive if you follow a personal criterion.

As an inspiring writer, I have tried at first to follow a writing recipe. Do whatever the famous authors do in order to be more inspired and productive. I found out eventually that following a writing pattern might not suit everyone. Therefore, I have decided to create my own pattern and follow it as much as possible.

And I found out that my writing habits are no different than others. I like to write first thing in the morning or late at night, so that nobody and nothing could bother me. I like a quiet place, with little to no light, and everything tidy and in perfect order around me.

I wrote Whispered Tales during the summer nights of 2012, on an opened small balcony, surrounded by candle light, with seagulls crying their night song above me (yes, there are seagulls in the middle of Bucharest). That seemed to be my most productive period when it comes to writing. It was a beautiful, almost mystical experience. I couldn’t wait for the night to come. And even if I was having a tough day at work (I was working in an advertising agency at the time), the best way of chilling out was not partying in the clubs, as my fellow colleagues did. Not even in the weekends. My escape was writing at that small table, on that small balcony of that one room flat I was living in at the time. I was starting somewhere around 10 pm, going to bed at three or four in the morning. And not feeling tired at all the next morning when I had to go to work.

Music is also very important when I’m writing. Everything I write comes alive in my head. It’s like I watch my own movie and then music becomes the soundtrack. The most inspiring music seemed to be Celtic music, maybe because it has a dark, mysterious side which fitted perfectly with the eerie, strange stories I was writing.

Then there are those guilty pleasures which work so well with writing. I like a cup of hot chocolate, with a lot of cream. Or having chamomile tea in my favourite cup, the one with Romantic flowers painted on it, a gift from my mother. I also like home made chocolate in small bites. That means cleaning the keyboard of my laptop pretty often, I know.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter where you are writing. I’m writing this post from my little girl’s desk, since I no longer live in that one room flat with the balcony. I’m not obsessed anymore with the neat writing place. With two kids around, I don’t even have much time to write at all. So now writing is that indulgence that I’m enjoying whenever I can. And every time I’m writing, I’m having one hell of a time.