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?