Writing Better in the Morning: Warm Up Those Fingers, Eyes and Brains

Do you warm up before writing? Well, you wouldn't start off your work-out without it, would you? There's an interesting post over on Michael Stelzner's Writing White Papers Blog that's got people commenting on how they start their writing tasks.

Michael asks readers, "Do you immediately start writing with great quality and consistently? Or (if you are like me), do you need a little warm-up before those fingers start producing exceptional content?"

I like to play a few rounds of Majong Master while the coffee is brewing; this gets the hand-eye-fingers going on the keyboard and fires up the pattern recognition parts of the brain.

Then I try to avoid opening up email so as not to use fresh energy and brain power on mundane tasks. Once I have a good start on whatever piece I'm writing that day, then I'll go see what those pesky clients want...(If you are a client, I'm just kidding! I love hearing from you!)

What are your writing rituals? Do you just dive in, or warm up with exercises first?