How I Approach My Writing Routine As A Disabled Person
My left hand moves across a keyboard while my right hand clenches a purple sensory cube
I can’t focus on writing with lyrical music playing in the background. However, I do need a wall of wordless sound blaring from a speaker. Jazz. Ambient. Electronic tunes. Something noisy if I haven’t had a second cup of coffee yet.
Lately, I found an ideal writing rhythm with the instrumental post-metal group Pelican chugging along while I write about disability and parenthood. They give a boost when I’m in need of more caffeine.
It’s been rewarding to write every day, but I’m still figuring out the best ways to be productive and comfortable in my creative space.
I write facing a sun-streaked window with a Yeti mug, Sonos speaker and baby monitor beside me. My left hand moves quickly across the keyboard. My right hand clenches a purple sensory cube a few inches from the computer. I’ve typed these essays and a completed memoir using one hand as I’m a disabled writer with cerebral palsy of the right side.
Finishing these essays takes time and patience with breaks in between paragraphs since my left hand aches from overextending on the keyboard. My right hand aches from clenching while the other side of my body is in motion. Although, my right hand has been more comfortable as I mash keys recently. I’ve been holding a sensory toy called Nice Cube NeeDoh in my right hand which has relaxed clenched fingers as the left hand types. I found the cube when Lisa and I put a mini version of one in Noah’s Christmas stocking thinking it might occupy him on short car rides. The cube ended up in my hands more than Noah’s and now we have four of them — all different sizes.
Read more of my work here:
New York Times: With a Baby on the Way, It Was Time to Embrace My Disability
Writer’s Digest: Adaptations I Learned Writing a Memoir With Cerebral Palsy
USA Today: 'Dadda is disabled': How I teach my son about my cerebral palsy
I’m constantly looking for practices to keep my right hand comfortable while I’m working and this squishy cube is an item I wish I had starting my career in a newsroom, commuting into New York City and on long drives. I write. That’s what I do but it’s only been the past few years I started listening to my body while I’m in front of a computer. I hid my disability when I worked in a local newsroom sticking my right hand underneath a desk writing breaking news headlines. My right hand suffered.
However, my disability is a major consideration figuring out the best workspace set up these days. My left hand still hurts after aggressively tapping keys for this piece you’re reading now. The fidget cube and stretching help.
Thursdays are my creative days. Those mornings and afternoons I get the most writing done with Noah at daycare and no one else at home. Otherwise, I write in between his naps and after washing dishes. I’ll carry my coffee, smoothie and seltzer cups from my desk to the kitchen table at nap time so I won’t wake him. I look forward to brainstorming new essays early in the week and writing them in chunks until they’re nearly done on Sunday.
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Sunday nights are for editing where Lisa revises and helps me shape these posts into their final versions for publication on Tuesday. I’m re-writing until I hit “Send To Everyone Now.” These essays are often a collaboration with Lisa who helps me solidify my ideas and snaps the well-lit photos (that one above and another below!) Lisa is my first reader and an essay isn’t done until she catches an error.
Throughout the week, I’m also updating my writing playlist. I’ve never seen value in those pre-made playlists filled with AI music. I’ll add new and old songs to the rotation. Honestly, that’s often how I unwind. I’ll update the writing playlist and one called Gym Death that I reconfigure multiple times a week. I created that playlist back when I actually went to my local YMCA gym pre-pandemic that’s sadly now closed. Instead, I ride a workout bike before Lisa and I get Noah ready for the day.
I try to match the mood of the essay I’m writing with an otherworldly soundscape. Somber pieces pair well with ambient and neoclassical. Lively essays are set to the wonderful noise of Merzbow. Gym Death is all chaos with plenty of grindcore, industrial and doom.
On writing breaks during the day, I do need someone else’s words in my head. Usually words I can’t understand. I like to walk around the apartment with hardcore and death metal in my headphones while I pull right fingers from my palm and try to extend a tense arm for a few minutes in between sentences.
This is my creative routine for the past few months. I know it will change as I look to be more productive with more noisy songs and less breaks.
Noah’s favorite song this week: A brief respite before Noah and I dance around the apartment to the new Turnstile record Friday.
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Thanks for sharing your process, your routine and how you have managed your disability. Look forwrd to reading your articles and glad I found you today.
Love this post! I too am still working on comfortable positioning and music (also can’t do lyrical tunes) when I write. Thanks so much for writing this, Chris!