Creating Your Writing Space

 Photo credit: sotontab.co.uk

Contrary to both ends of the stick of extremities, authors do not have to write in a) beautiful garden sheds overlooking a floral garden at the crack of dawn, and b) a haphazard, pathetic excuse of an office, like shown above. My writing space (which I use to write the yet unfinished cozy mystery I am working on) falls comfortably in the middle, and it’s easy to make yours suitable for your own needs too.

One tip is to mix alluring and boring objects. If your whole space is filled with the softest teddy bears ever imported from Switzerland that beckon you to touch them all day, I can guarantee you that not a lot of writing will get completed:

      Photo credit: cnsolartoy.com

However, if your entire room is filled with nothing but sterile-looking and empty billboards,

chances are, you won’t get much work done in that scenario either because of sheer boredom and despair. You want to throw in a few ‘comfort’ objects, as I like to call them, along with some that might not be so tempting. That way, you can still feel satisfied without being lured to procrastinating while writing.

Make yourself comfortable! Surprisingly, this is the one most authors surpass when envisioning the big picture—I admit to making this mistake myself. The first step to make sure you are settled in snugly is to get yourself a roomy, plush chair. Avoid stiff-backed or very rigid seating arrangements—not only will your back begin to hurt, but you will also want to leave the room as soon as possible and therefore abandon your writing as well. If you know you’re going to want to keep your feet up, find a soft, upholstered ottoman or something like that and place it underneath your desk, so you can prop your feet up whenever you feel the desire.

Soothe your senses rather than distract them. While aromatherapy is amazing, an overpowering scent of jasmine in every millimeter of the room is likely to hinder you. Try a more neutral scent, such as a few sprays of freshly pressed linen. This goes for your eyes, too. While you want to play around a little bit with your writing space (after all, it is your personal haven), try not to overdo the superbly flashy color scheme. I would suggest keeping your walls baby pink, baby blue, or if you get distracted really easily, beige/cream. Of course, your hearing is also another one of your senses, so try to play sounds of nature rather than music. For example, I particularly like listening to the sounds of a waterfall on very low volume while I’m tapping away at the keyboard. If you must listen to a rhythm or tune, go with classical music so soft it’s almost muted.

Have your space represent you. I don’t know if it’s our sentimental values instilled into our brains since childhood, or if we simply have huge egos, but humans, in general, like to be reminded how completely and utterly amazing they are. A few photos of you won’t hurt, especially if they’re not in your direct vision while you are writing. Same goes for any awards you may have won, or certificates you may have attained.

Don’t make it so clean that a single ink-stain will make you go crazy. I know for a fact that when the scene I’m writing is leaning on dull and I’m struggling to get through it, I’ll snack on something to spark my muse again and to refresh my senses. Don’t turn your writing space into a kitchen, but make sure a few food splotches here and there won’t kill the atmosphere.

Make limited technology available to you. Do not place a phone extension or even cell phone anywhere near where you’re writing—I know from firsthand experience that it is way too tempting to even try. If possible, keep the ringer very low while working so that someone else in another room can pick it up without it ever bothering you. Similarly, do not have a Palm Pilot, Nintendo DS, camera, or any other form of electronic material except for your trusty computer nearby.

Keep a notebook on hand. Typing up random notes on the computer just isn’t as fun as jotting inspirational phrases of shorthand you may have thought of as you look around. Keep this notebook nearby so you can write down inklings of ideas whenever one may occur.

Preferably have a window somewhere near you. Nature is very soothing, and sometimes, a pretty panoramic view of beautiful, leafy trees and lush flora is just what you need to spark your muse that’s struggling through writer’s block. My own window has provided me with several jolts of inspiration when I really needed it.

Try creating your own writing space and let me know if this post helped. Good luck!