Behind the Scenes Writing Tag

Is there a certain snack you like to eat while writing?

Not particularly. If I'm hungry, I nibble on whatever we have in the house. But typically food is not on my brain while I'm writing.

When do you normally write? Night, afternoon, or morning?

Whenever I get the chance. This may be early in the morning...or sometime in the afternoon...or late after everyone else has gone to bed.

Where do you write?

Most of my writing is done at the computer in a corner separated from the kitchen by a thin wall. Which means that writing just before or after a meal is difficult due to the lively conversations right next to my ear.

How often do you write a new novel?

Thanks to Rooglewood, I write at least one new short story every year. My full-length novels take longer, and I haven't been doing this long enough to give you a good estimate on time.

Do you listen to music while you write?

Not usually. It's a rare thing. Theoretically, listening to music sounds like a great idea. But when I'm doing creative writing, the mood of my writing changes with the scenes and the characters. If I spend time to find the right music for the scene (which seems like a waste of time), then the song is either too short or too long. And then I have to find another song for the next scene. <exasperated sigh>
Music moves me. Writing moves me. And if they aren't moving in the same direction at the same time, then I feel torn.
So, no, I don't usually listen to music while I write.

What do you write on? Laptop or paper?

Mostly computer. My brain moves too fast for my pencil to keep up, which I find frustrating. But sometimes I write on paper -- when I can convince my brain to slow down a little.  
For the record, though, my private journal is on paper.

Is there a special ritual you have before or after you write?

Stretching, maybe? Lol.
I don't have any planned rituals, but sometimes things happen. Like kinks from hunching over a computer.

What do you do to get into the mood to write?

Do you need to be in a particular mood? I think I could always write, no matter what frame of mind I am in. Writing is the way I think, sometimes.
That being said, there are sometimes certain moods you are going for in the story. There are a couple writers who write in styles completely different from my own, but they write with excellence. I read them to inspire myself to greatness.
Pinterest sparks new stories for me. I see a picture and a potential story attacks my brain. Don't laugh -- it probably happens to you, too. ;)
And pretending to be a character, turning myself into them before I start writing, sometimes helps me bring the right flavor to a scene.

What is always near the place you write?

My faithful, loyal companions (my dogs -- their idea, not mine).

Do you have a reward system for your word count?

Making a blog post about it. That feels rewarding to me.

Is there anything about your writing process that others might not know about?

I have a callous on my finger, and the other day I was trying to figure out where it came from. Lo, and behold, I have discovered that I bite my finger when I'm deep in thought. I didn't even realize I was doing it. But, thanks to SPINDLE (who was being very difficult for a while there), I now have a nice callous.
So, is there something about my writing process that others might not know about? Yes - I didn't even know about it. But, apparently, biting my finger is an integral part of plot development for me.

Thank you, Emily Putzke, for the tag!