I do most of my writing on my laptop computer upstairs in my office (also known as the Woman Cave). Sometimes, on sunny days, I take my laptop downstairs into my dining room where I can spread out books and pens and reading glasses over the large dining room table, be able to see outside the window onto the street in front of our house, and not feel so isolated as I do in my office.
When I travel I always have my notebook and favorite pens with me so I am prepared if I get an idea while sitting in the airport people-watching or sitting in the passenger seat of our Escape watching mile after mile of highway goes by.
I deliberately set aside time to write. I work a flexible schedule at my job that allows me to take every second Friday off; I always set aside a portion of those days for writing. Sometimes I take my laptop to Starbucks and, with my favorite beverage at hand, spend an hour or two writing. I like the ambiance of Starbucks and when I am in the writing zone the busyness of the place doesn’t bother me. In fact, I’m able to block out everything except what I’m working on yet still appreciate being in the place at the same time.
These days, you are more likely to find me working at my laptop in the quiet room of the library. I try to arrive early to get the table at the back of the room. I spread out my papers, pens, and books, open my Word document to the place where I last left off and enter the writing zone. Hours go by swiftly when I am working at the library.
For me the advantage of going somewhere away from home to write is two-fold: I am not distracted by laundry, my Yorkies, or other things I could be doing around the house, and the act of purposefully leaving my home and going somewhere to write is a signal to my subconscious that I am serious about my craft and I am able to hunker down and get into the story at a deeper level.
Today is my flex Friday and you will find me at 10:00 with a Starbucks in the quiet room of the Covington library. If you happen to be there, give me a wave when you come in but remember, shhhhh, it’s the quiet room.
Do you have a special place or places where you like to write?
I usually write in our living room (the mini-weenie dog does best in the living room!), but our library just re-opened after a major renovation. I went there yesterday and found it very refreshing!
I didn’t know you had a mini-weenie dog, Jill! I’m heading over to your blog to see if you have ever posted a picture!
I usually write right here at my desk with a great view through a very large picture window of my yard. Once in a while I’ll do a beach getaway by myself that allows me to concentrate on a bigger job. And of course, like most of us, I’m constantly writing in my head, or jotting notes everywhere all the time.
A beach getaway for some concentrated writing time sounds like a great idea!
I try to write at home whenever I can. Having a flexible schedule means I can sometimes write when my kids are at school and husband is at work! Other than that, I’m happy to write anywhere except in the beautiful outdoors. I find that way too distracting!