Finding the Best Place to Write

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Trying to write in the midst of papers, files, writing and research books became too distracting for me, so I decided—before beginning another book—to clean my writing space. Some people might feel at home surrounded by friendly clutter, but not me. I need order in my life to get inspired and focus properly. Time to reorganize! This, of course, got me thinking about writers and their writing spaces.

Every writer needs a spot to write, whether it’s a corner of a room, a favorite park bench, or café/coffee shop where entrance to the “writing zone” is possible. Places to write are as varied as writers.

Stephen King traded his big, beautiful desk for a smaller one. His quote: “It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.”

Virginia Woolf insists: “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”

J.K. Rowling wrote most of Harry Potter in a café, where she found, for her, the perfect atmosphere to work.

I wrote my first book in our roughly finished attic in Illinois. An inexpensive desk from Ikea and voila! A writing corner. For inspiration (and to christen the attic corner as writing space) I taped photos and quotes from my favorite authors all over the slanted ceiling. Now I’m lucky enough to have a dedicated (and at the moment, messy) writing office. Like Amy Tan, I surround myself with objects that have great meaning for me—a robot clock that dances to its own techno-music, a “Sword in the Stone” letter opener, a bag of runes carved out of moonstones, a Jane Austen action figure, a Wonder Woman Barbie, a photo of Steven King with the line beneath claiming “…wrote a 1,200 page novel while you were reading this caption”—things that remind me I’m on a creative journey that requires inspiration and hard work.

Some find energy in the company of other writers, while other writers need isolation and inward focus. However you access your creativity, make it happen.

Love the energy of other writers? Plan some “write-ins” and invite other writers to join you.

Need some quiet? Try a library or write outside in nature.

What about complete silence? Wait until after everyone has gone to bed or in the morning before anyone gets up.

No room of your own? Bring out your creative objects and turn a corner of your house into your writing nook.

If you get stuck in your writing, try moving somewhere else. Sometimes all you need is a fresh point of view. Find out where you write best, claim your space, and write!

So where is your favorite place to write?

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://howtowriteshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/KathyColum.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Award-winning novelist Kathy Steffen teaches fiction writing and speaks at writing programs across the country. Additionally, Kathy is also published in short fiction and pens a monthly writing column, Between the Lines. Her books, FIRST THERE IS A RIVER, JASPER MOUNTAIN and THEATER OF ILLUSION are available online and at bookstores everywhere. Check out more at www.kathysteffen.com[/author_info] [/author]

10 Comments

  1. I used to have total quiet and the house to myself to write. Now that my husband is home all day, I’ve miraculously learned how to work with him not just in the house, but often times in the same room. I guess, where there’s a will there’s a way.

  2. My husband and I (both authors) share an office. We each have a desk at opposite ends of the room and seem to manage well with that. In the past, we both worked in cubicles, perhaps that is why we can work in a shared space.

    For us, time is more important then location. He is a late night writer, when the house is quiet; I, on the other hand, am more productive early mornings and during the day.

    Finding space and time is paramount. Each author must find both.

  3. My writing place is that zone in my head. It may take a few minutes to get there, but then I’m off. I can work in utter chaos, well-taught from when I had to write copy for an advertising/marketing firm in the production bull-pen. (Note: graphic artists are not quiet!) They would laugh at me because once in the zone, I didn’t hear a word they said, even zingers directed right at me!

  4. Julie, that is a great point! If writing is important enough in a person’s life, it will find a way no matter what! So good to hear a story of “adaptation” 🙂

  5. Jane, what an interesting configuration! I love the thought of two authors sharing space:) My husband and I share a basement studio (his side music–my side, stained and fused glass)but I am lucky enough have my own office. I’m with you, time of day varies by writer and my creative writing time is definitely in the morning!

  6. Linda, how wonderful that you can access your zone like that. My husband worked in an ad agency, and now he is a writer in a creative department and he, like you, has an off button for chaos surrounding him. How funny that you didn’t even hear direct zingers–what terrific focus! That is an excellent skill to have! Keep hold of it 🙂

  7. I’m currently in Mexico, happy to sit and tap away after an early morning walk and a swim. For me, exercise and a connection with nature (i.e something bigger than me) first thing in the morning enhances my productivity enormously!

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