Do you need a place to write?
Today’s post is an excerpt from 10 Core Practices for Better Writing. This comes from “Chapter Eight: Tools and Resources,” and it examines a writer’s need for a place to write.
A Place to Write
“You want to be a writer, don’t know how or when? Find a quiet place, use a humble pen.” — Paul Simon
Many books I’ve read on the craft of writing say that you should start by creating a special place where you can write. It can be an entire room or just a desk in a corner. Maybe you like to write at a local café or park.
It’s not a bad idea. A dedicated writing space can be free of distractions. If you can manage an entire room (some writers set up in a closet), you can keep others out when you’re doing your work (just put a sign on the door: “writer at work, do not disturb”). You can fill your space with the tools and resources you need (pens, notebooks, laptop, reference materials, etc.) and it can be decorated with whatever inspires you.
But that’s not realistic for everyone. Personally, I’ve never been able to set up a place just for my creative writing. When I write in a notebook, I usually curl up on the couch or sprawl out on my bed. When I work on the computer, I sit at my work desk, which is where I perform my day job and do lots of other things, from paying the bills to watching my favorite TV shows.
A dedicated writing space is nice but limiting. You’ll end up writing in a single location to the exclusion of all other places you could write. You might even become dependent on your own special writing space. If you’re ever away from it or if you have to give it up, it could negatively affect your productivity. You’ll be far more creative and productive if you train yourself to do the exact opposite: write anywhere and everywhere—on the bus or train, at your desk, or in a bustling café.
You can set up a special space too, but try to avoid relying on it for all your writing sessions.
- A busy, crowded café might seem distracting, but maybe you’ll be inspired by the people you see there.
- A quiet room may sound ideal, but is it too isolated? Some writers work better with some background noise.
- Think about your writing environment. Are there things to look at when you’re thinking through a problem? Do these things distract you, inspire you, or help you focus?
As you experiment with writing in different locations, pay attention to how each location affects your work. You might do your best work when you’re riding the bus or relaxing on the front porch.
I used to let the idea of needing a dedicated writing space limit my writing time. I’d think, “Oh, I don’t have a private writing space, therefore I cannot write.” Now, I write anywhere I can, so long as it’s relatively quiet. I usually write at home or in the library, but I’ve also written in a notebook at the park (during the warmer months) and in coffee shops.
That’s awesome, Erica. You freed yourself to write anywhere! I think a dedicated writing space is a nice idea but not very practical for most of us. Keep writing!
I don’t really have a place to write without getting interputed by my siblings (I’m the youngest of five) and sometimes I write in the schools libray or in the room that I no longer share at my dads( my sister stopped coming over after she turned sixteen, claims that she works almost every day and doesn’t have time to drive that far). My dad got me a desk to write at, and a nice chair. anyway I still don’t much time to write, plus I find that since I can never sleep i just end up getting out my computer and write. Right now my favorite place to write is in my closet, but it doesn’t have much room to spread out. do you know any good ideas of where i could write ( keep in mind that I’m only in eighth grade and don’r want to ask my dad to drive me anywhere).
thank you!
It sounds like you’re chugging along with your writing even though you sometimes find it difficult to get the privacy you want. It also sounds like when you’re at your dad’s you don’t need him to drive you anywhere, because you have a desk and a room at his place that you can use. The closet is a great idea. Mostly, though, remember that soon you’ll have more control over your environment. When you get a little older, you’ll be able to go to a library, a cafe, or a park whenever you want. We live in a world with lots of other people, and the reality is that we have to learn how to work within that world. Sometimes that means we get interrupted or distracted (this even happens to adult writers who own their own homes and control their own space) or we have to grab quiet time when and where we can. But what matters the most is that we don’t give up. Don’t let minor inconveniences or frustrations derail you from what you love or from you goals. Keep writing!
I have yet put ink to paper, you have answered one of the stepping stones.
What a good advice not becoming dependend on a dedicated writing space. For years i had this issue, and without sitting in this room my thoughts fled around the world.
Yes, it’s good to learn how to be flexible and adaptable, in many situations!