Can the smell of rotting apples help you to write? A tip from Friedrich Schiller to trigger a routine & how to use your sense of smell to support your writing.
I had the most fun writing this post - it's been on my mind for a year after reading Gretchen Rubin's 'Life in Five Senses'. It was meant to be a short tip - but I wrote too much - not all of it made it through to this post. I'm trying to focus on the joy of writing for Substack - so this one is a bit of an experiment combining a tip with a longer post. I hope you like it ❤️
When I was writing my first book, I'd light the same candle at my table everyday and had, nearby, a little rollerball of essential oils I thought might keep my senses and mind alert. Whether they worked or not, the ritual of scent did, I believe.
I've lost that ritual, over the years, but would love to bring it back! Thanks for the reminder.
Really fascinated by this idea of using smell as a way to "trigger a routine and associate pleasant experiences with our writing" (and of course delighted to see my books mentioned as inspiration). I am big on writing rituals but have never really paid attention to the olfactory component... now I'm going to think seriously about how I might start! 👃🙏
What a bonkers writing habit! I definitely bought a very fancy candle for my last WIP (beautiful, unique smell in a pretty green glass which made night sessions cozy). The just blown out candle started to smell like a successful writing session!
Reading the post made me recall the book I read long ago - “ Perfume” by German writer Patrick Suskind where the hero is born with a supernatural sense of smell that can distinguish different types of smell. A riveting read!
I had the most fun writing this post - it's been on my mind for a year after reading Gretchen Rubin's 'Life in Five Senses'. It was meant to be a short tip - but I wrote too much - not all of it made it through to this post. I'm trying to focus on the joy of writing for Substack - so this one is a bit of an experiment combining a tip with a longer post. I hope you like it ❤️
When I was writing my first book, I'd light the same candle at my table everyday and had, nearby, a little rollerball of essential oils I thought might keep my senses and mind alert. Whether they worked or not, the ritual of scent did, I believe.
I've lost that ritual, over the years, but would love to bring it back! Thanks for the reminder.
Really fascinated by this idea of using smell as a way to "trigger a routine and associate pleasant experiences with our writing" (and of course delighted to see my books mentioned as inspiration). I am big on writing rituals but have never really paid attention to the olfactory component... now I'm going to think seriously about how I might start! 👃🙏
What a bonkers writing habit! I definitely bought a very fancy candle for my last WIP (beautiful, unique smell in a pretty green glass which made night sessions cozy). The just blown out candle started to smell like a successful writing session!
Intriguing concept not often discussed!
Reading the post made me recall the book I read long ago - “ Perfume” by German writer Patrick Suskind where the hero is born with a supernatural sense of smell that can distinguish different types of smell. A riveting read!
For me lately: smell of insence at 2:00 am to 4:00am on a Thursday ❤️
Thus is superbly interesting ❤️
Always a mug of hot chocolate or fruity herbal tea to savour and sip while I write.