Anyone else carry over habits to when they DON'T draw or write?

Choosybeggar 2016-01-18 22:58:40 UTC #1

In the theme of the threads about what you do when you're drawing or writing . . . .

What sorts of weird habits do you have when you're NOT doing anything creative externally? When that genius thought hits you and you're filled with the surge of creativity and you're hammering out that great idea! When you're deep in the throes of writer's/artist's super-focus and you can't see anything around you. Or when you need to write something down for later, but you don't have anything to write with!

Or just whenever. Anything you do that's funny or weird to you or other people.

I often go out in the living room and just sit or lie around, deadpan or smiling to myself and making all the funny faces characters in my head might make. I'll do it for hours. I don't even stop for very long when someone notices! Someone's described it like I'm a huge energy in the room and they're not sure whether to engage with or ignore me. (I prefer to be ignored)

rainbowolfe 2016-01-19 01:38:41 UTC #2

Generally, if whatever I'm currently doing is boring(so usually when I'm in class), I focus the idea and start day dreaming different scenarios. Eventually, I just fall asleep and dream about it, and that usually makes sure the idea stays with me until I can write it down somewhere.

At this point, I can't tell if teachers don't realize if I'm sleeping or if they just don't care anymore. People always laugh when I fall asleep XP and/or try to wake me up.

AnnaLandin 2016-01-19 07:05:05 UTC #3

I talk to myself. I talk myself through the plotline of a story, I speak the dialogue out loud - often repeating myself until it sounds right - I work on plot-issues by literally talking myself through them.

I act out the story, pretty much, playing the parts of all of my characters - the dialogue, as mentioned, but also the choreography of the fight-scenes, the facial expressions of the characters, etc., etc. I've always done this - tell stories out loud to myself, I mean. Some people sing in the shower - I tell stories.

I do my best not to do this in public where other people can see me - mostly because I choreographed a fight-scene at a bus stop once, and turned around to find a very concerned-looking old lady watching me - but as soon as I have some peace and quiet, I can't seem to NOT do it.

demthorshie 2016-01-19 09:18:15 UTC #4

A really bad habit I have when i'm not working or creating comics is binging on delicious junk food while marathoning video games for hours. It's a horrible habit that I have kicked for the most part (for now) since I haven't really had any lapses in a while x.x!

zetina 2016-01-19 10:55:29 UTC #5

i'm pretty self-contained so i just space out sometimes.
but sometimes when i'm really pumped about an idea, i'll just... walk around a lot. i pace about the whole flat, back and forth, while daydreaming the scenarios.

igneriss 2016-01-19 11:37:39 UTC #6

Depending on where I am when the creativity hits, I start daydreaming or/and singing CX I play the story in my head, already plan panels and dialogues, not really paying attention to my surrounding. I can just sit and look at the wall for 30 minutes while my thoughts are running.
As for singing, it's when I get this sudden energy and urge to do something, but no drawing tools around. I need to start singing/humming/dancing to get rid of it CX

: D I'd love to see that : DDD

AnnaLandin 2016-01-19 11:45:49 UTC #7

Hahahahaha! XD I was walking my way through a sword-fighting scene, and had just done a super-cool spin-slash thing - and when I turn around, there's this little old lady standing there looking like o.O. I just sort of pretended nothing had happened, and she spent the rest of the wait for the bus standing as far away from me as possible. XD

The funny thing is it never would have happened if I hadn't had my headphones on - I didn't hear her approaching!

Silerna 2016-01-19 12:12:40 UTC #8

i brainstorm whole day. "oh that might be good to draw!" or "hey that might be cool for my comic!" thought going through my head whole time.Making poses and expressions I could save for later or already making another story in my head that I already forgot within the next minute.

kambreapratt 2016-01-19 12:19:59 UTC #9

Yep. I zone out when I write, but I also do it when I am online, watching TV, reading. If I am into something I am really really into it.

Doubtcent 2016-01-19 16:48:23 UTC #10

I monologue about the things wrong in this world or I play Phoenix Wright.
I don't do much else other than comics during my free time.
...
What is wrong with me?

zoonland 2016-01-19 17:08:23 UTC #11

I talk to myself or, if some funny idea comes to my mind, I start smiling or laughing. It often happens when I am surrounded by a lot of people, so you can imagine how they look at me.
Sometimes I just need to write the idea and, worried about losing it due to my weak memory, I take the first piece of paper I can find and write it down. Problem is when I write it very quickly and sometimes I can't even... ahem, "translate" what I wrote.

Ringarune 2016-01-19 18:10:10 UTC #12

Externally i don't think I do anything that people would consider weird, but whenever I'm bored, especially in my classes, I try to come up with more, or better, scenarios for my characters in my comic. Whenever I get a really good idea, I can't focus on anything for the rest of the day XD

shazzbaa 2016-01-19 18:18:54 UTC #13

I have caught myself whispering dialogue in-character to myself while out walking, with varying degrees of intensity. BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT. xD

Choosybeggar 2016-01-19 23:51:03 UTC #14

@zetina @igneriss Yeah, when the energy of ideas hits me I start moving. The faster I think, the faster I walk in circles or generally flail!

@vincentprendick You sure you wouldn't rather watch Phoenix Wright monologue about the things wrong with it?

@zoonland There's always times when I random snort or laugh about something I'm running through my head. It's something I've never seen in other people, so I turned to you guys to get that companionship of fellow artists with similar traits!

demthorshie 2016-01-20 04:30:56 UTC #15

Heehee! I do this too from time to time xD I don't feel as embarrassed about knowing i'm not alone!

carloswebcomic 2016-01-20 05:31:13 UTC #16

Yup. I work out my dialogue like that, usually in the car.
So people see me talking to myself in the car.
Just waiting for the day when the cops pull me over because they think I'm talking on the phone while driving.

stephanielopez 2016-01-20 09:37:54 UTC #17

I can be working on hw or cleaning and then I start thinking about my story's plot line or a character's part in the whole story. Then I just sit or stand (depending what I am doing at that moment) still and start muttering words. Then I go back to doing whatever I was doing and the thought process starts again. It either starts something new or picks up where I left off

Doubtcent 2016-01-20 14:06:09 UTC #18

Soon. The anime is coming out soon. SOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

niinasalmelin 2016-01-20 14:19:02 UTC #19

I take longgg walks (or just walk around my room for hours) and watch a lot of movies. I should read more books tho.

Waterdrain 2016-01-20 15:37:23 UTC #20

I pace things out when I get a really good idea. I really can't help it, even when I'm in class or at work I feel the need to get up and walk around. I also make faces while I'm working.