My Writing Space
My writing space is one place and one place alone. Some writers sound like they’re very fluid when it comes to settling down to do their writing. I read social media posts of people writing in bed, on their patios, in their cars, on the beach. I wonder how they manage this. Me? I work in an office in my house. Working on a PC rather than my laptop does limit my locations, but I think I’ve actually psyched myself up to work only at my desk. My unwillingness to adapt to laptop keyboards has so far forced me to not venture into any other writing space.
I have everything I need around me, research books, dictionaries, scrapes of paper to make copious notes. Unfortunately I also have a lot of rubbish in my office that has no relation to writing. One day I’ll transfer it elsewhere in the house. Throw it out, you say? Shock, Horror! Still your tongue! I never manage to throw anything out. My daughter and son in law are making dire threats to encourage change from this hoarding mentality. But hey, they’re just scared they’ll have to clear it all out if I suddenly drop dead. And I ain’t planning on doing that any day soon. All this stuff might come in useful one day lol…
My Writing Space
One wall in my office has floor to ceiling bookshelves while the opposite wall has half the wall shelved and an inbuilt desk running from door to window. Behind my screen I have a notice board where I’ve stuck odd pieces. I have a list – courtesy of Margie Lawson – of 15 rhetorical devices, a page of tags and editing do’s and don’ts. Suggested words to strengthen SEO, a couple of strong verb word lists, contacts for local groups who engage speakers also adorn my notice board.
My Messy Notice Board
Why I have two chairs in my office is crazy. It encourages family and friends to pop in for a chat when I least want that. Perhaps this second chair should be the first thing to get removed? Recently I introduced playing cards on my computer to two grandchildren as a good way of passing the time between swims. That wasn’t a very smart move on my part, I now realise. I should never have introduced them to the game that they’re too young to play alone, but get so much enjoyment out of when they “win”. But shifting the second seat wouldn’t help, they’d just both balance on one of my knees each. Guess I’m going to have to be a grumpy old Nana at some time soon to discourage them instead.
Best of all, my office has a door. It is rarely closed, but sometimes being able to dull some of the noise in the house is a blessing in itself. It also has a little sign on the outside suggesting I shouldn’t be disturbed. Not that anyone takes any notice of that sign. But I can always live in hope.
A barrier to my writing space