This post is all about romanticizing the writing process so you can make writing your novel feel more inspiring, enjoyable, immersive, and memorable.
Writing a book is not an easy process. It takes time, dedication, and many hours spent returning to your manuscript. But there are a few simple steps you can take to make your writing journey feel much more magical, inspiring, and fun. And one of the best ways to do that is by romanticizing the writing process.
In this post, I’ll share four simple tips you can use to make your writing sessions feel more special, immerse yourself more deeply in your story, and enjoy the time you spend bringing your book to life. If you prefer the video version, check out the YouTube video below for tips on how to romanticize the writing process.
Romanticize the writing process by turning it into a special ritual
Having your own special ritual for your writing session, or even for the moments before it begins, is a great way to romanticize the writing process. Make this ritual as much fun as possible so it feels like you’re stepping into a charming writing atmosphere, an atmosphere that enhances your identity as a writer, just like the writers you see portrayed in movies.
So what could your writing ritual include? Here are a few suggestions.
You could have a coffee or tea by your side in a special cup that’s dedicated only to your writing session drink. I think that beautiful china teacups create a feeling of being immersed in a more romantic and cosy atmosphere.
Lighting can also play a big part in romanticizing your writing ritual. Doesn’t it feel much cozier and more magical to write in a room lit by candles or fairy lights than under a bright white light?
Then there’s the music and sounds you listen to only during your writing sessions. It could be a special playlist, or a sound ambiance that helps you feel closer to your manuscript. I usually listen to the Ravenclaw Common Room sound atmosphere from ambient-mixer.com. Whenever I hear that, I immediately feel like it’s time to write.
Whatever ritual you choose, make sure it creates the writing atmosphere that feels the most magical and most special to you. That way, your writing sessions will become something you eagerly look forward to.
Create an atmosphere that matches your story
This point is connected to the previous one, but it goes a little deeper by creating a stronger connection between your surrounding atmosphere and the type of story you’re writing. You can use sound, visual elements, as well as scents to bring your story’s atmosphere into your writing space.
The sound atmosphere
In the previous point, we talked about using a sound atmosphere that romanticizes the writing process. But you can take this idea even further by choosing sounds that are connected to your story.
Create a playlist that matches the genre you’re writing in, or maybe one that’s inspired by your main character. If you’re writing a fantasy story, maybe you can listen to a Lord or the Rings playlist. Or if you think of your main characters, which movie characters do they remind you of? Listen to the soundtrack from that movie to feel even more inspired when you write your character’s story.
But sound isn’t the only part of your surroundings that you can connect to your manuscript.
The visual atmosphere
You can surround yourself with objects and images that are closely connected to the story you’re writing. Maybe there are certain objects that have special meaning to one of your characters. You could display a printed image that represents an important setting from your novel.
What I like to do is think about which of my favorite characters from movies and TV shows has a personality that’s most similar to that of my main character. I then create my character’s full bio in Campfire and add a picture of the actor or actress who played that character. And when I write, I often like to look at their pictures and think about how my own characters might react in the scene I’m writing.
But you can also print their pictures and keep them close by when you write about them. When you surround yourself with all these visual reminders of your story, it almost feels like you are living inside your story while you’re writing it.
The scent atmosphere
You can also romanticize the writing process by using scents that help you immerse yourself even more deeply in the atmosphere of your book. Whether you use scented candles, an essential oil diffuser, or incense sticks, each option can deepen the atmosphere of your story by bringing in scents you associate with its different settings.
Why not try to match the scent to the scene you’re currently writing? Are you working on a scene set inside a small-town bakery, where your protagonist has just baked a batch of her special pastries? Then you can use a cinnamon stick, a pumpkin banana scone, or even a pumpkin maple crème caramel Yankee candle.
Are you writing a scene that takes place in a forest? Then a canyon pine candle or a eucalyptus or pine-scented essential oil could work wonders in helping you immerse yourself in that setting.
Or why not just go and write that scene in a place that closely resembles the location of your scene? A cosy café with its own bakery can provide the exact scents and sounds you were trying to recreate with candles. You could also take your laptop to a forest and write from a bench while surrounded by the trees, sounds, and fresh air of the setting itself.
RELATED POST: How Writing in a Café Increases Writing Productivity and Creativity
Use whatever is most accessible, enjoyable, and inspiring to you. The goal is to help you feel immersed in your story from the moment you sit down to write.
Give every stage of the writing process its own charm
When we think about romanticizing the writing process, we often focus only on writing the first draft. But you can totally romanticize all aspects of writing.
Let’s start with outlining. How about viewing the outlining stage as building a roadmap for the adventure your characters are about to embark on? But of course, if you’re a pantser, feel free to skip this stage and discover the road as you go.
Then comes the first draft, which is the biggest adventure not only for your characters but also for you. They’re not the only ones who get to live that adventure. You’re right there with them all the way to the end.
So instead of viewing your first draft only through the word-count targets you need to reach that day, think of it as time spent in adventure land. How cool is it that, as writers, we get the chance to experience so many adventures? That’s such an exciting life! Enjoy it! And be happy that once your story is ready, your readers will also get the chance to enjoy that adventure.
Then there’s revising your manuscript. While this is definitely my least favorite part of writing, trying to romanticize it makes the revision stage feel a little easier. Thinking of revision as the stage where I make the adventure clearer, something that will help my readers become even more immersed in my story world and deepen their connection with my characters makes me dread the revision process a little less.
So try changing the way you view the revision process. That small mindset shift might help you feel more excited about revising your manuscript, too.
Turn your writing progress into lasting memories
Finally, another way to romanticize the writing process is by appreciating it. Start by acknowledging your progress. But I’m not talking here about simply writing down your word count for each sprint or writing session. I’m talking about recording your progress in a way that feels visually appealing and special.
You could use a pretty notebook with beautifully decorated pages where you track your progress and reward yourself with pretty stickers whenever you reach a new milestone. To help you with this, I created a free word count tracker printable that you can use to romanticize your writing process and make your writing sprints feel even more special. You can download the PDF using the link in the form below.
If you do keep a notebook to track your progress, I also suggest adding there snippets of your writing. You could add there a paragraph you’re especially proud of, a funny or an emotional moment from your writing that day, something you enjoyed about the adventure, or a funny or motivational line one of your characters said.
All these little details can help you romanticize the writing process, enjoy it more, and create beautiful memories of your writing journey along the way.
This post was all about romanticizing the writing process so you can enjoy your writing sessions more. If you enjoyed it, you might also enjoy this post:
How to Romanticize Your Life as a Writer
Now it’s your turn. What methods do you use to romanticize your writing process? Let me know in the comments.
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