How Important Is Your Writing WorkSpace To You?

/ Marcia Meara

desk1
One corner of my writing area.  Nothing fancy, but it makes me love my workspace.

I’m always curious about where writers work. Can you write anywhere you happen to be? Jotting down dialogue or scene descriptions on an old envelope, beside your meal at dinner? Do you plop down with your laptop, in front of the tv, or out on your patio, ignoring the distractions of game shows or bird songs? Or do you, like me, prefer a work area designed for comfort and conducive to concentration? And if you have a designated work area, are you compulsive about keeping it organized, or a bit on the haphazard side? Do you like to be surrounded by things that make you smile, or soothe your senses? Or are you so involved in your work, you don’t notice your surroundings?

I have a writing table/desk that is part of a floor to ceiling bookshelf my husband built for my library. (It sounds so grand, but it’s really very non-formal and casual. I love it because it’s the first place I’ve ever lived with a room that could be an actual dedicated library. No rolling ladders or leather-bound first editions, but plenty of shelves on every wall, and no tv or other distractions.)

My desk isn’t large, but it accommodates my computer in a nook covered with cork, where I pin photos of places and people that inspire me as I write. And I’ll confess, I like “pretty.” So I have a lovely framed photo of a rose given to me by my friend and cover designer, Nicki Forde, with a quote by Emerson on it. And I have a little vase beside it where I almost always have a fresh cut rose or other flower from my garden. I found some smallish “mercury glass” vases to hold pens and pencils, and some gorgeous boxes at Michael’s for stashing all manner of other stuff. It’s flowery and shiny, and it makes me happy. And I definitely get more writing done when I’m happy. (BTW, those really aren’t naked men under glass and on the bulletin board. Or at least, they aren’t totally naked. But how can I be expected to describe  my hero’s bare chest if I don’t have an image nearby for comparison? It’s RESEARCH, you know!)

Now this might not be a look or feel that inspires you to write, but I’ll bet if you take the time to make your workspace comfortable and fill it with things that make you smile, as well, you’ll enjoy working there a lot more. If you’re going to be sitting somewhere eight hours a day, shouldn’t you be surrounded by things that make you happy? And inspire you?

What’s your writing area look like? Does it make you feel good as soon as you sit down? Or are you able to function just fine with the bare necessities, whatever those are for you?

9 thoughts on “How Important Is Your Writing WorkSpace To You?”

  1. Actually it is better to have “working place”, because working at the kitchen table makes you, well, hungry. I find it best in the local Starbucks: there’s internet, good coffee, background music and you look silly when you’re simply playing an online game. I’m slowly turning my kitchen into a similar environment with good coffee and flowers. I never eat there anyways.

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    • Sounds like a good plan. If you never eat there, then you wouldn’t have to worry about it making you hungry. 🙂 I couldn’t possibly write at Starbucks, though. I’d be way too busy people watching. I don’t like any distractions when I write. No tv, not even music. I prefer to be “there,” with my characters. I do know a lot of writers enjoy music, in particular, but it makes my mind wander. I can write, and I can listen to music, but apparently I can’t do both at the same time. 😉

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    • Hahaha…I love that picture. But lest you feel I don’t have a creative bone in my body, let me hasten to assure you that my photography is VERY selective! You’ll notice nothing but ONE corner of my desk is in the photo. 😀 I do tend to keep the workspace clean, but the rest of the room looks like a bomb went off in it. And then there are the dogs…my dachshunds spend every waking minute in this room with me, and it’s a good thing they sleep buried under their blankies most of that time. Because when they are out, the room becomes even worse. 😯

      But…and here’s the BEST part…it doesn’t matter, because when I’m facing my computer, that’s all behind me…completely out of sight. And as everyone knows, “out of sight is out of mind.” So, in MY MIND, my whole room looks just as pretty as my desk. That’s my story, an’ I’m stickin’ to it! 😀

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    • I like having something pretty to rest my eyes on when I look up…and to greet me when I start my day. But no music for me, either. I write in complete silence. Music would really distract me, and the tv would drive me insane. When Mark is home, he watches tv in the living room, with the pocket doors closed, so I can’t hear it. I have to listen to what my characters are saying. 😀

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  4. I love your little corner…I actually have three work places, my desk in my home office and yes I am compulsive to keep it a certain way, my home office also doubles as a craft room so I have my beloved fabrics and quilts hanging around. I also love to take my lap top/iPad on my deck when the weather is nice I have a comfy table and chairs and then the old stand by my kitchen table when I have need of a larger workplace. Good idea for a post when I get back on track after a busy Sept. I like comfort when I write. 🙂

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    • Me, too. And I just like to be surrounded by my favorite things. I have a framed print of artist Chris McGrath’s Harry Dresden book cover, White Night nearby. I have family photos on the wall to my right, and one of my cats is usually always sleeping on the bookshelf right over my computer. Favorite things! They make me feel good, and when I feel good, I’m more productive. Thanks for stopping by, Patty.

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