Writing Spaces

The rest of this month we're going to focus on external writing factors--your writing space, colors, rituals, attire--you name it! How do our surroundings affect our writing? Can we tweak them to improve our flow?


Where do you write?
A dedicated spot for writing is very important. By claiming one area of your home as your writer domain, you tell your family and the world that writing is important to you. It may be a corner, a closet, an abandoned bedroom, or a covered porch. Plant a flag and declare it yours. You won't regret it.

I've lived in several homes over the years. My writing space depends on our lodgings. I've written at a card table, our kitchen table, and any other space I could spread my notes and laptop on. I've learned I'm more productive, and a nicer person, when I have my own space, a place to leave all of my writing related goodies. Currently, I've claimed our fourth bedroom as my office. My Office. Has a nice ring, doesn't it?

Let's get real about "my office." Is it really mine? Uh...no. I share it with an active, and sometimes noisy, guinea-pig, my cat's litter box (don't ask), and a clunky treadmill. The family computer also sits on one massive desk where the family crumbs and clutter tend to accumulate.
The other desk houses my laptop and other writing paraphanalia. No one is allowed to touch my laptop. Hey, a girl needs to set some boundaries!

I really must describe the student desk for you to fully appreciate it. My parents gifted me with the beaut when I was in high school. It's a standard, wooden, out-of-date desk. I loved it from day one. It made me feel grown-up, on top of things. It's moved everywhere I have but is showing age. The front edge boasts teeth marks from a not-to-be-named toddler. The drawers are rather cluttered, but I can find what I need. Someday, I'll have a streamlined, matching office set, but my chipped, dull brown desk is perfect for now.

The rest of the office? Builder-white walls, several random pictures, two mismatched office chairs. A large closet, a few bookshelves, and tons of books. Files spill out of every nook and cranny. Stacks of notepads, a bulletin board, and a big window overlooking the backyard complete the room.

Oh, there are handweights too, because yeah, I'm always doing bicep curls--ha! ha! Let's just say the dust on those bad boys is about an inch thick, much like the treadmill.

My office is unpretentious, mismatched, and homey. If a host of an HGTV show came in, she would shake her head and declare it an ugly, if tidy, disaster. Next year, I'd like to clear it out, paint it, and only put office related items in, but something tells me the guinea pig and cat-litter won't budge. Take that HGTV!

What about you? Do you have a space to leave your writing tools? Do you have an area dedicated to you, the writer? If yes, does it work for you? If no, do you feel you'd be more productive if you had one?

Join me on Wednesday when we'll look at what I have on my writing desk.

And...

Get Motivated! It's Monday!

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