I wanted to share this post to let you in on a little secret: I don’t have an ideal writing set-up. However, that doesn’t stop me from taking my writing seriously every single day.
Sometimes it’s easy to feel like things have to be perfect before we start a project. I’ve definitely bemoaned a lack of space in the past, or a lack of quiet. Especially when I get stuck on my novel I blame external factors - not having a study, no space for a proper filing system or too much background noise. And while having a room of one’s own would help, it’s not the showstopper I think it is.
I also remember reading that Agatha Christie never had a study until late in her career, and thought the need for a special writing room a little egotistical:
“I never had a definite place which was my room or where I retired specially to write. All I needed was a steady table and a typewriter. A marble-topped bedroom washstand table made a good place to write; the dining-room table between meals was also suitable.”
So, in the spirit of Dame Agatha, here’s a wee insight into the places I write from.
My desk. This is where I write from most days. I share the desk with my boyfriend so have one drawer where I keep my writer’s notebook, materials and novel bullet journal. I like to shred all my notes every now and then to keep this drawer tidy and orderly (I’m actually not a very organised writer!). Above the desk is a bookshelf. I’m considering rearranging it so that I have inspiring novels and books on writing craft within easy reach. A painting of snowy mountains sits on the top shelf, reminding me of my favourite season. Trinkets collected from nature, like shells and deer skulls, also line the shelves. I recently bought fairy lights to make the space cosier but they didn’t look right, so I twined them around my bed instead until I find something more suitable. This is the spot I write at every morning, for 3-4 hours. I find it easiest to get into a creative flow in the mornings. The biggest draw (and distraction) of this writing place is the window. My flat is Victorian so the windows are huge, letting in plenty light. The downside is I get distracted by what’s happening in the street outside. Typically this involves assessing the cakes and beverages of customers using the outdoor seating of the cafe below.
My bed. I love sitting here in the afternoon because it’s comfortable, cosy and I sometimes surprise myself with how much I get done. Other times it’s too comfy, and I start feeling sleepy or worse - can’t sleep at night because I’ve spent too long ‘in bed’. This is often the case in winter it’s too chilly to sit by the window (the downside of a Victorian home!). Pros? The aforementioned comfort and the less distracting but equally beautiful view of the fireplace, strewn with feathers, paper stars and my Grandad’s antique books. I’m not usually an evening writer but now that I’ve twined fairy lights around the bedstead I might try some evening sprints or editing sessions here.
The floor. Spot number three is a recent discovery. Seeking a solution to ‘writing in bed = no sleep at night’, I thought this spot on the floor next to my other bookcase might give me a change of scene. I arrange pillows, set up the coffee table and tap away. This spot lends itself to writing sprints but not brainstorming sessions, for some reason. Cons? Hard floorboards under the carpet turns my arse numb after half an hour.
Cafes. Although this writing place varies a lot it deserves a special mention. All the aforementioned writing spots took place in one room: my bedroom. After a while even the trick of moving from spot to spot doesn’t change things up enough and I need a proper change of scene. Usually I’ll pop into the cafe downstairs because it serves the best coffee in town and everyone there is lovely. Sometimes I’ll go around the corner if it’s busy to another quiet spot with big windows. If I really need to spread my wings I’ll drive twenty minutes to my favourite town and set up shop in the art’s centre. I suppose the only downside to cafe writing is that I’m paying for coffee or food while I’m there, but I don’t do it often and the treat often makes me feel happy and more settled to work. Because writing is such a solitary pursuit I enjoy interacting with the folk working at the cafe and other customers (even though I’m awkward as hell). Especially if I’m stuck at a point in my novel getting out of the flat reminds me that there is another world beyond my current project. You can’t really put a price on that.
I hope this insight into my writing routine proves that you don’t need an ‘Instagram perfect’ desk situation in order to write. In life I’ve often told myself ‘I can’t’, so I don’t. I told myself. “I can’t work unless it’s in absolute silence”, “I can’t work from cafes”. But once I started experimenting with the places I write from I discovered that I could actually write from anywhere. All I needed was pen, paper and my imagination.