Desktop Wallpapers, Screensavers and Ficathon Prompts

[brightknightie]

Whenever I'm writing a ficathon story, I switch the desktop wallpapers and screensaver images on all my computers, both work and home, to relate to the new story. I like to imagine that this keeps some gear far back in my brain clicking on that task while I'm accomplishing other things.

For example, for last year's fkficfest/fkficfest, I used Google image search to stock up on images of Tuscany to nudge along that Renaissance Florence story for Batdina's prompt. For this spring's rarewomen, I found a recent screenshot of Claire Rankin and a teenager in some horror movie, and manipulated it into a rough representation of Fleur and her daughter to address FalconHorus's prompt. This summer, for this year's FKFicFest, it's Toronto.

What, if anything, do you like to do to contextualize your works-in-progress?

Comments

[pj1228]

Actually I don't do anything like that. I like the idea though. Currently I do have a desktop wallpaper of Geraint in this season's production of Antony and Cleopatra to drool over on my computer at work. That works well for inspiration. ;)

What I did though is instead of using *** to mark the end of a scene in my story, I switched to **** (4 stars) in acknowledgement of the 4th soccer world championship we achieved.:) That's totally off topic of course.

[falcon_horus]

Were I to change my desktop to featuring Claire Rankin at all times, I'd get nothing done. :P

I visualize in my head, and run scenarios. Or I get ideas at the weirdest of places (like a ride in that themepark I went to -- elves are involved). Or just lying in the grass, staring up at the sky, clearing my head and it'll fill up with stuff...

Music also works inspirational -- a lot actually. When I need to set a romantic mood, or an angsty one, or emotional one in general, I turn to my large collection of soundtracks (preferably orchestral) and listen for hours on end to the same tracks.