Maura Pierlot
Usually, I ignore it. I'm a moody writer and prefer to pound the keyboard when I'm inspired, energised and in the zone. Otherwise, I'm likely to be non-productive and too inside my head (and it's already way too crowded there). I admire people who are self-disciplined and can sit and produce. I used to be consumed by ideas and characters; writing was often a kind of compulsion for me – a way to make sense of the world. I've had to train myself to strive for balance, taking a break, when needed, rather than writing for so long that my limbs (and mind) are numb. I'll often go for a walk, call a friend, cook, garden, paint – anything to get away from the screen. I know many authors who write to a word count each day then edit and pare back much later. I tend to 'live' with characters for months and, when they're truly well formed, they're often bursting to come out. That's when the ideas really flow. So in a sense, I find writing to be a somewhat mystical, not rational, practice.
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