Why rituals work when your writing brain says, “NO!”

I’m a Breaking Bad superfan. It’s brilliantly written and acted. And it’s one of the near perfect story arcs I’ve ever seen in a series. (You can’t change my mind. Don’t even try.)

I was a little late to the party in 2008. I didn’t even watch the first 2 seasons immediately. But it was slaying at all the industry awards. The buzz was deafening.

I took notice.

So I watched the pilot and got hooked immediately. I binge-watched that baby. In fact, I’ve watched the entire series 5 times. (That’s about 250 hours of pure commitment.)

If you know the story, the dorky chemistry teacher, Walter White, transforms into a ruthless drug kingpin named Heisenberg.

His alter ego exudes power and confidence. And you could literally see the shift in his personality as soon as he put on his famous porkpie hat.

(This is an oil painting by my fellow superfan, Lauri Quinn Loewenberg)

That hat wasn’t just part of his wardrobe. It was his talisman. His switch, if you will.

Writers have these switches, too.

John Carlton used to stalk his desk like it was the enemy.

I’ve got my cowboy hat.

And my little dragon plushie, Zot.

Sounds kinda silly, but researchers have found there really is power in rituals (even small ones) to get our brains into focus mode.

1. Rituals calm your brain and sharpen your aim
Just calling a simple action a ritual makes your nervous system chill out. It sets the vibe for what’s coming.

So performance levels go up. I didn’t make this up…it’s a scientific fact.

I do the same thing when I’m training my horse.

I tell myself, “When I’m calm, Han is calm.”

What can I say? Since I’ve been doing that, we progress much faster.

2. Rituals let you take the wheel
Having a ritual is kinda like a superpower.

For example, there were some researchers who gave some karaoke singers a little ritual before they went on stage. They had them draw a shape, sprinkle salt, and then toss it.

Sounds silly on paper, but the results didn’t lie.

They sang stronger than the folks waiting in line for their turn.

3. Writers cash in on routine
Psychologist Ronald Kellogg showed that consistent pre-writing habits lower stress.

The greats knew it, too. Hemingway wrote mornings and stopped in the middle of a sentence, so the next day was easier to jump back in.

Maya Angelou booked a hotel room and wrote out her books longhand.

When he writes, Stephen King writes in the same spot at the same time with a daily word target.

Now, you don’t NEED a plushie, a hat, or a sacred chant.

You just need something repeatable that signals to your brain that it’s writing time.

I’m not talking about a woo-woo shift. Rituals are tactical, psychological, and proven.

And when you can get into the flow faster, you publish more often. And that’s where sales come from.

Ready to create your own writing talisman?

On Wednesday, May 20th 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern, I’m hosting a special LIVE session called the Zotling Ritual Incubator ($197 value) where you’ll define your own writing ritual.

Think of it as your personal “writing switch.” We’ll build it together, so it belongs to you and only you.

It’s free to attend when you’re a paid subscriber.

Imagine starting every writing session with your personalized ritual that flips you into focus and confidence. It’s not magic. It’s a habit.

Keep it rodeo,
Lorrie “Lo” Morgan

P.S. If you’re teetering between becoming an annual subscriber versus a founding member, let me give you a little preview of what’s ahead…

In June, I’m hosting a live workshop called Edit the Sh!t Out of Your AI Lab for $197. I’ll show you tricks of the trade to get your AI generated content to sound human…and convert. And as a founder, you get to attend for free.