Does Totem Matter to Writers?
Maybe this is the inspiration you’ve been looking for
Totems can be a great source of inspiration for writers.
For me, for you, maybe it’s just an object. But for him/her it can be much more than an object.
When I analyzed the desks of some famous writers, I found that there are some similarities in all of them.
None of them has an empty desk and there is always something on it.
Many writers keep small objects on their desks or in their pockets to be used while writing.
Can you imagine how important totems are for them.
And they can certainly play an influential role in the process of inspiration.
A totem can help to inspire the writer, to put them in the mood to write and to fight writer’s block.
A writing totem can be anything;
It can be a piece of clothing, a picture, an object, fingerless gloves, a coffee cup, anything!
Totems are often found over the desk or around the computer.
For writers, these small objects have very different and big meanings.
They can create a feeling of comfort, calmness, inspiration…
These are the objects they associate with writing.
Totems help them to be more productive during the writing session or support them in difficult moments.
When we look at the totems of famous writers, we can see “special pens, notebooks, many figures, tiny objects, clothes, illustrations, paintings”.
While researching, I discovered that totems can be both physical and mental.
Some writers use affirmations before writing sessions. Others use visualizations.
Some use mental representations to get started.
Others have fixed routines that they follow in a certain order.
If any object is often touched while writing, this behavior may be related to totems.
A certain smell. A scented candle that the writer lights before a session.
A favorite background music.
Music to inspire or soothe.
Eating or drinking something before writing.
It can be a crazy consumption of coffee.
Totems are not limited to objects or senses. Some activities can also be associated with totems.
Sometimes we move on to rituals. One can walk the line between totem and ritual.
For example, Ernest Hemingway was a standing writer.
He was not the only one. Murakami always ran before writing.
Some write lying down, others in the bathroom.
Rituals and eccentric totems are very common among writers.
We all have our moments of relaxation and little rituals (or superstitions) that we may not be aware of.
I have two totems that I use when I write:
I don’t like to write uncontrollably for hours and find myself in word chaos.
Since I write regularly in multiple languages and on multiple platforms, I need to write in a regular and pre-planned time frame.
I use a digital cube to manage this.
On the cube there are numbers like 5–15–30–60.
The number facing up is detected by the Gyroscope sensor inside the cube and the time starts automatically counting down on the digital display.
This cube is always on my writing desk and I really like using it.
This little object is my time assistant.
It beeps at certain intervals to warn me to use my time correctly while writing.
My other totem is a digital tool. A while ago I discovered an application called “Endel Sound”.
It has a very minimalist interface and as soon as you open it, you are greeted by four main categories — “FOCUS, RELAX, SLEEP, MOVE”.
It offers one more option to adjust the intensity of concentration. I usually set it to “FOCUS → DEEP” mode when I write.
It is always fascinating for me to dive into other writers’ worlds.
I discover a lot of new things this way.
There is something I want to ask you.
- Do you have a totem?
- Physical — digital or mental?
- What does it look like?
If not, definitely find something.
These seemingly small things can make a big difference in your writing process.
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