A Writer's Home
Close your eyes, and picture yourself writing… where are you?
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Close your eyes, and picture yourself writing… where are you?
When I close my eyes and allow myself to paint a perfect picture, I see a large wooden desk. My desk is imperfect, the surface is uneven and is scattered with small stains and pen marks. On top of the desk are piles of notebooks, books, and pen pots. I have fresh flowers, and a coaster with a fresh cup of tea, gently steaming. I sit back in a comfy chair with a cushion tucked into the small of my back. My computer screen before me, with multiple tabs open with endless inspiration offered in each. My notebook is open, and my pen glides across the page as the words fall from my mind and land on each inviting line. On the other side of the window, the gentle hum of the outside world, a breeze shakes the leaves in the nearby tree, and sunshine teases from behind the clouds. A candle flickers in the corner or my eye, and a delicate scent fills the room.
Oh, how I wish this was my writing space… it is not. I don’t have a desk or an office at home. I tend to sit on the sofa with my laptop, surrounded by books and my journals. Beside me on the sofa, I have a shelf full of books, journals, notebooks, coursebooks and workbooks- so everything is within arm’s reach. I always light a candle as part of my writing ritual and make a fresh coffee or tea. I put on some coffee shop jazz music on YouTube. Pull a blanket over my legs and get writing.
This may not be as ‘perfect’ as my first vision, but it works, and it has been working.
After hosting my own foodie/lifestyle blog (www.generosityofspirit.co.uk) for a little over three years, I reached what I see now as a natural end to the foodie content I had been so focussed on for so many years. At the time, it felt more like a ‘writer’s block’, as I struggled to tune into my creativity. I took a long break from writing.
This summer, I made a silent promise to myself to simply write something every day. I started off with no agenda, no concept, no thought, or plan as to what I wanted to write. I simply, made a pact with myself to ‘write something’.
I joined and started posting on Substack in August this year, and the words have been flowing ever since. I can see now that I had placed myself and my writing into a box with my original blog, and I had grown out of it. I love food and cooking. I am extremely passionate about vegan food, and I love inspiring people to cook. I get a real boost when someone uses one of my recipes, and I still want to write my very own plant based recipe book one day! However, I knew I couldn’t just keep writing about food – I needed to be free. I had to let my creativity be free. Since landing here on Substack, I have allowed myself to explore and write about my experiences, and particularly my love of slow and gentle living. It has felt wonderful.
Creating a Writing Space
‘your writing room should be private, a place where you go to dream’ Stephen King
During the summer, my main motivation came from not over thinking and just writing, but now I have grown a little in confidence, and dare I say it ambition … I now find myself wondering if I could create a more effective writer’s space for myself.
After watching a few idyllic ‘writer’s desk’ tours on YouTube, and going down a Pinterest rabbit hole, I started thinking about how to create an inspiring writing space, and how I could enhance my own little writer’s home.
Having a dedicated space and some personal writing rituals will encourage creativity and productivity. Whether you have a dedicated room to convert into your home office, or you just have a tiny corner in your home where you can work, having an inspirational workspace will have a positive impact on you and the work you produce.
The more I researched, the more I realised that while you can write anywhere, a better writing space can help you write more efficiently, channel your creativity with more ease and make the whole process more unique to you and in turn more fun! If you cultivate a writer’s space that promotes comfort, focus and inspiration, it is easier to get into your flow state, and ultimately the hope is – you will write better.
A Writer’s Environment
Finding the right spot to create your writer’s environment is different for everyone. I certainly found myself more than a little envious of all the perfect offices and desk spaces I saw online. But, ultimately the size of your workspace is less important than the feeling it evokes. As I have said, I don’t have an office and at the moment my dedicated workspace is sitting on my corner sofa with my laptop – it is far from perfect but it has shown me I have everything I need to create my own writer’s environment.
Good Lighting – gentle lighting and candles are a must!
Ambiance – cosy vibes help me relax and channel my creativity. I love listening to music while I write. I cannot write in silence.
Inspiration – I like to be surrounded by my books, I like everything to be within arms reach. While the lounge is not an office, most of my books are on built in bookshelves and my notebooks are all easy to get to.
Writing Supplies – laptop charger, pens, notebooks everything is on hand – I do have a couple of pen pots and some different coloured pens and pencils. When in my ‘flow state’ my preference is to type, but I am often writing in notebooks, and I like to incorporate colour when I can.
Comfort – I always start writing with a hot drink, coffee or tea and one benefit of writing from the sofa is the comfort, and the blanket I inevitably pull over me.
Rituals – I inadvertently started to form writing rituals, which I now cherish and really help get me into the right mindset for writing. Lighting a candle, playing some music and making myself a hot drink are all part of my writing ritual. I work part time, and my work schedule does vary, so I do write at all times of the day, but I have found my sweet spot is in the afternoon after a little lunch.
It is so important to find a writing-friendly environment at home where you can be creative and focused. A place you enjoy being, and look forward to working in. The goal is to find somewhere you can work free of distractions and somewhere that feels like an extension of you.
Enjoy The Journey
‘writing, like life itself, is a voyage of discovery’ Henry Miller
My lounge is certainly not the most perfect place to work, and I’d love the dream set up I opened today’s letter with, but I have realised that I am making my space work for me, and I am loving every moment. I am surrounded by things that motivate me and help me stay focused and inspired. I love writing, and I also love my writer’s home.
Creating writing spaces is part of the fun of being a writer. Creating a space that reflects who you are, and what you love, whilst making you feel comfortable and relaxed. Hitting that sweet spot of motivation, inspiration, and focus. It feels a bit like magic.
I started reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic this week and this quote really stood out to me,
‘the universe buries strange jewels deep with us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them. The hunt to uncover those jewels – that’s creative living. The courage to go on that hunt in the first place – that’s what separates a mundane existence from a more enchanted one. The often-surprising results of that hunt- that’s what I call Big Magic’.
Elizabeth Gilbert Big Magic
I have realised that your writer’s home doesn’t have to be perfect. Your workspace, the rituals you create, your desk (or lack thereof!), your writing routine, the countless drafts, your notebooks, the endless ‘to be read’ pile it is all part of this wonderful creative writer’s life.
It is the beautiful journey and life of a writer we love, alongside the sense of achievement when we produce something we are proud of. Writing regularly, cultivating your own unique writing space, and committing to the practice feels amazing, and as Elizabeth says… you never know when you will find that jewel.
I’d love to hear about your writer’s space… do you have an office? Or a snatched place in the house? Is it your dream set up? How do you make the space your own? Can you see ways you could improve your environment?
With Light & Love
Emily xxx
I have a lovely writing space but then I end up on the sofa and don’t use the space that I created 🙈
I don’t have an office either, but I set up a small desk in my bedroom. It’s tucked away inside a nook, and I put up some art prints on the wall for inspiration. The desk is so small that I’m only able to use a notebook and pen to scribble my story drafts in. When I want to type up what I’ve written, I use my laptop table and sit in the living room. I watch YouTube on my tv (at this time of year, I like the cozy ambience videos with a crackling fireplace). I can’t write in silence either -- I need soft instrumental music or the sound of rain. I’m still trying to find a writing routine that works best for me. That’s what I’ll be aiming for next year -- having set times and daily rituals to support my creativity.
Your newsletter is wonderful by the way, I’m finding it both helpful and enjoyable 😊 Thank you for sharing with us!