It has been said by numerous authors and creatives that changing things up around them results in them being more productive. Whether it be a switching from writing on a computer to writing on a legal pad or writing in your car instead of your office (or whatever you claim as your work space), they recommend that you change things up every once in a while so you do not get bored of the same old settings, mediums, etc. But don’t they also say that routine is good as well? Won’t sitting down in the same place at the same time each day tell your mind that it is time to be creative? Perhaps; but change is needed. I didn’t realize this until today when I made a drastic change that will affect my everyday life.
I got a new keyboard for my laptop. Yes, you heard right. I have a Microsoft Surface Pro which includes a detachable keyboard. I had my old keyboard ever since I got my computer, which was almost a year and a half ago. Needless to say, it was getting a little worn. The corners were fraying and the keys were getting dirty. The keyboard was made of cloth, you see. On Friday, I ordered a new keyboard. This one has real keys, and they even light up! Go ahead and laugh at me if you so wish, but I am quite excited about it.
It is now 10:15 at night, and I am sitting here on the floor in my room (I don’t have a desk– one of the cons of sharing a small room with another human being) and can happily say that I wrote a little ober 2,500 words in my work-in-progress. I have not written that many words in a very long time, and I couldn’t help but wonder why I had written so much. It quickly dawned on me: I had a new keyboard. I was excited about my new keyboard and therefore was excited to use it. What better way to use it than to work on my novel, yeah?
It was change, you see. The change of a keyboard reignited the passion for my story. If something as simple as a keyboard can inspire me and awaken my muse, what other simple things can I change every day or every week to keep myself inspired and my muse from drowsing back into a peaceful slumber? A different candle for each week that I would light only when I am writing? A different room in which I work each day? I now see that the familiar can soon become plain, resulting in a creative or inspirational drought, so I must change it up.
What about you? Do you get tired of the familiar? What do you do to change it up? If you are one of those who prefer the familiar, tell me also.
Evan W.S. Morgan 
I like the flexibility of being able to set my own writing times. If I want to get up at 4am and write, I do. If I want to stay up until midnight and write, I do. If I want to ignore mealtimes and write right through to two or three hours after I usually eat, and *then* go and find something to eat… I do (except when it annoys people around me, which is one of the drawbacks of living with other people. 😛 )
I sometimes skip meals as well if I am writing. One time, I wrote 6,000 words on a Saturday, and my mother had to demand that I come downstairs to have dinner.
Oh, I SO believe in the power of “changing it up.” Sometimes it’s as little as going to Starbucks and writing (I’m an extrovert and love background noise because it helps me concentrate) and even standing instead of sitting!
I love standing up while working every now and then! It really helps the blood flow and give me a new perspective (Get it?!).