A place to write
“Keep a small can of WD-40 on your desk—away from any open flames—to remind yourself that if you don’t write daily, you will get rusty.”
George Singleton
You’ve always been an avid reader. You’ve had ideas floating around in your mind for years about the book you’d like to write. Maybe you have a notebook stuffed full of handwritten ideas and mind maps that you add to every night. Somewhere along the line though, the business of life has gotten in the way of sitting down somewhere and writing that very first paragraph, let alone the other 50,000 words. Pretty much every writer can relate to this, whether they’re writing a business book, a novel for children or a volume of poetry.
In this blog post, I want to give you some ideas for find your ideal place to write. Everyone has their own unique challenges or obstacles to getting their writing done, so there may be suggestions that I make that simply won’t work for you, but I hope there will be some worth a try.
First, think about your physical environment. Some people love writing in a busy, noisy place such as a café, while others simply can’t write a word without complete silence in a soundproofed room! In addition, think about the type of book you are writing. Do you need to do lots of research? This is a crucial point to consider. For example, writers of historical novels are famous for the meticulousness of their research.
Maybe just having access to the internet will do, but if not, you might need to think about working in a library. Many writers favour their local library, where a copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook is close to hand, and they can borrow and reserve books free of charge. Others sign up to a library membership, such as to the London Library. Obviously, cost is a factor here – you’re looking at the equivalent of the cost of a gym membership each month. If you think you’d like to work in a library and there is a fee involved, you’ll need to decide if this is a sensible investment in the long run – maybe consider it once the second book in the trilogy has hit the bookshops!
If you are going to spend most of time writing at home, consider:
· What kind of screen you will use. A larger monitor rather than a small laptop screen will be easier on your eyes.
· Whether you have a room (such as an office or ‘writing shed’) dedicated to your writing. Setting up in the corner of the living room might result in too many distractions, but maybe it’s the hustle and bustle that inspires you?
· Ergonomic factors such as your chair, your keyboard, your mouse etc. Will you have a standard desk to sit at or a standing desk?
· Whether your chair is comfortable enough. Consider buying one from a specialist business chair supplier. You should have a good posture when sitting in front of your computer and it should give you sufficient back support.
· The speed of your internet. If you need to constantly refer to lots of different websites for your research, will your internet connection be up to the task?
· The level of concentration you can maintain at home. Perhaps you could put your smartphone in a drawer, put a ‘don’t disturb’ sign on the door, or do your writing late at night or very early while other members of the household are fast asleep?
Maybe having creature comforts around you, such as a kettle to make a cuppa, is important to you. Other writers might need a completely minimal and sparse environment in which to work. The important thing is to try to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. Try out two or three different spaces, such as a ‘writing shed’, a library and a café. Keep a word count. Which space turned out to be the most productive for you? This isn’t the be-all and end-all, as a high word count doesn’t always equate to high quality, but it should give you a rough idea.
Hopefully this blog post has given you a few ideas about different spaces to work in and how you can find that ‘sweet spot’. I wish you lots of success with finding that ideal place for writing. Let me know through LinkedIn which places work or don’t work for you.