May 31, 2010

When it comes to a writer’s work space, one size does NOT fit all.

Some writers are like Anita Brookner: “I need noise and interruptions…The loneliness of doing it any other way would kill me.” On the other hand, William Styron says, “The actual process of writing…demands complete, noiseless privacy, without even music.”

What makes the subject even more confusing is that often the same writer needs a variety of writing spaces. Being secluded in your tiny closet-turned-office might be a requirement in order to focus inwardly and produce a rough draft out of thin air. Then, for revising, you may feel claustrophobic in your closet and need the background noise and food of a local Starbucks.

Not only do personalities differ, but our own personal preferences change, depending on many things. Sometimes a cure for writer’s block requires nothing more than a change of scenery. “We need to have the luxury of having more than one writing setting, depending on our mood and the type of writing to be done that particular day,” says Karen E. Peterson, PH.D. in Write: 10 Days to Overcome Writer’s Block. Period.

Everyone’s Different

My first “office” was in a tiny walk-in closet that I painted orange. That has been my all-time favorite office, though it was barely big enough to hold my desk and chair. But it gave me the same feeling I had as a child, when I found privacy from my siblings by hiding in the bedroom closet to read and write my stories.

Back then it was my special private treat (and retreat), so my similar adult writing “closet” gave me a sense of stolen pleasure and fun too–despite being very cramped. I loved it anyway! Sometimes our preferences aren’t logical–but when trying to break a writing block, logic rarely wins.

Chaos and Clutter

Some love chaos, and some hate it. For most of us, clutter in our environment creates clutter in our minds, which makes creativity twice as difficult.  Apparently our highly visual right brain is distracted by all the papers, notes, books, etc. cluttering our work environment. “Our ability to focus on a given writing task literally gets lost in the shuffle,”says Karen Peterson.

I would have to agree. And yet, when writing, I need a lot of the “stuff” at my fingertips–not filed away in a cabinet. Peterson gives a great solution–and I’ve found it very helpful myself. She suggests vertical files to replace your piles and reduce clutter.

There are stepwise mesh vertical files and plastic-tray vertical files–both work great. You can still see what you’ve placed there, even though it has technically been “filed.”  (Yes, they’re just vertical piles now, instead of horizontal piles, but it’s both organized and at your fingertips.)

Writing Zones: Private and Public

You may need different sites for writing on different days, depending on your mood, the type of writing to do, your mental state, how much sleep you’ve had, and other things. Sometimes you need total privacy, quiet, no food or drink, and a laptop. However, sometimes that combination will make you want to run away and hide.

Other days your mood may require fresh air, bright lights, the buzz of people in the background, coffee and a bagel, and a purple gel pen on a yellow legal pad. We are different writers with different needs on different days.

Don’t ignore or fight it. Forcing yourself to write in isolation when you’re desperately lonely and bored won’t help. Instead, brainstorm with yourself about a place in which you could imagine writing with ease. Then duplicate the characterists of such a place.

I Have No Choice!

Some of you–especially those of you with small children or retired husbands at home–may feel like you have little choice about where to write. To some extent, that’s probably true. When I started writing, I had a baby and two toddlers, and there was no “going to write at Starbucks” option!

However, I learned to write in a closet during naps, in a spiral notebook at the lake, and on a clipboard at the picnic table while they played. I did the best I could within my constraints to create several writing environments. You can too.

The Key: Be Flexible

You may start out your writing stint happily typing alone in your spartan office. After two hours, you may be itching to get away from your office–yet have writing left to do. Be flexible. Try going outside, or to a local diner, and write by hand for another hour or two. You might be surprised what a change in scenery will do to jumpstart your creative block.

As Karen Peterson says, “The trick is to make a decision on what you need for that particular day, and then go for it, rather than sitting immobilized.” I would agree.

What are some of YOUR favorite writing spots? Has a change of scenery ever solved writer’s block for you?

6 Comments »

1. 

   Kristi, God has blessed me with a great writer’s hangout. It’s one of the bedrooms in our home turned into office. I enjoy a nice front yard view and I’m surrounded by books, binders and paper. I have to agree that clutter is not very condusive to creativity, but it is the challenge I face most of the time. While music in nice, most of the time I work to the sound of my fingers on the keyboard.

   Comment by Sue Tornai — May 31, 2010 @ 2:44 pm

2. 

   Love your closet story. All coccooned. It’s so true thta you have to make do with what you have, not worry about the “perfect” situation.

   I’m a homie … and now I have a home office. Having research materials nearby helps. I also write in my rocker in my bedroom, and outside when the weather is nice. Writing in my notebook is where I figure things out — plot probelms, character contradictions, etc. And this notebook goes everywhere with me because you never know when you’ll need a scrap of paper to jot down thoughts.

   Comment by Vijaya — May 31, 2010 @ 3:42 pm

3. 

   Some of my favorite writing spots are in the library at school on my lunch break, in the parent area at my son’s gymnastics, and in my office at home. My latest change of scenery was the addition of a 3rd desk (one devoted solely to my laptop and my writing). No bills, no husband, no food, no toys, no daily lists or pictures of children to sort through. Just writing. When I finally get organized, I hope it will help me to focus and be more productive.

   Comment by Christie Wright Wild — May 31, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

4. 

   I grew up on a river-front home that was tucked quietly in the forest of pine trees. The gentle babble of the river and the song of the birds made me feel alive and so peaceful in so many ways – years later, I can return to that weathered log by the river for reflection and inspiration. But in between those times, I hide in my garden – weather permitting. But mostly, I sit at my desk that rests against the wall and the fridge, the most vocal-central place in my home, and while I listen to the hum of the fridge, the clatter of the drier and the swishing of the dishwasher, I steal a few moments during naps, after bed time or during the day when I can keep an ear tuned to the beautiful music composed and sung by my own little heavenly quartet. Truly, can life be filled with better inspiration than that which comes from God?

   Comment by Andrea — May 31, 2010 @ 9:25 pm

5. 

   I’ve discovered that two hours alone in a study room at the local library helps me focus. I’m aiming for a regular, once-a-week visit.

   Comment by Deanna — May 31, 2010 @ 10:11 pm

6. 

   Thank you all for your ideas! I picked up a couple of ideas here that I’m going to try myself. It’s interesting how much the mood of our writing areas means to us–and how it affects us. Great ideas here!
   

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 3, 2010 @ 8:55 am

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