What Is a Dedicated Writing Space and How Can You Find Yours?
Do you need a whole room or is the coffee table ok?
What Is a Dedicated Writing Space?
One thing that we've talked about in previous articles is a dedicated writing space, but what is this place exactly?
Is it a room with a large wooden desk, windows overlooking the garden, and surrounded by shelves and shelves of books?
Or is it the end of the couch furthest from the TV with a pillow plopped on your lap to hold your laptop?
It's both and neither at the same time as no two writers will ever have the same ideal writing space, sure they can share some similarities, but what each writer needs truly is a "room" or writing space of their own.
This writing space is going to be a designated area exclusively reserved for your writing time and if you don't have one here are a few tips and tricks to find it.
Distraction Free
Sure your writing space can be at the end of the couch furthest from the TV, but if you're too tempted to turn that TV on then it's not going to be your ideal space - unless you maybe hide the remote.
Your space needs to be far away from any distractions that could break you away from your writing, no cell phone, household chores, and no abundance of nearby snacks. I have tried working in my kitchen several times only to be stopping every few minutes or so to grab something else to eat or drink as I procrastinate my writing.
Comfortability and Sight
Your writing space has to be somewhere that you can sit without fidgeting, adjusting, or ending your writing time with a sore back as well as being somewhere you won't be straining to see your screen or your writing instrument of choice.
You can choose your space to be either sitting or standing, but make sure you are not injuring yourself or overly fatiguing yourself in your writing time.
Personalized For Perfection
My writing space has a place for my tea cup, a dry-erase board to track my novel progress, a place to stick all my checklists and reminders, as well as little notes my partner leaves for me when he thinks I need the added support.
And of course, some small snacks and a bottle of water so I don't use being hungry or thirsty as an excuse to procrastinate.
Your place should have some mementos or tokens and just little things that either aid you in your writing or help guide you in your writing journey.
Be careful not to clutter the space as this can just lead to more distractions and the need to find your keyboard with a shovel.
Flexibility
As much as I love writing at my desk, I often find myself grabbing my laptop and having the need to write elsewhere some days. Changing up your writing space can also give you fresh ideas for your story or bring you a reprieve from distractions that may be lingering too close to your writing space.
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A space dedicated solely to writing is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as a writer because it shows not just to you, but also to friends and family, that you are dedicated to your craft and are serious about it as well.
You don't need to go out and buy an expensive desk or chair to have a true writing space, all you need is a space that you can dedicate to writing either in an existing nook in your home or by making one your own.
No matter how your writing space comes to be make it your own and then get to writing.
With love,
B.K. xo xo
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About the Creator
Elise L. Blake
Elise is a full-time writing coach and novelist. She is a recent college graduate from Southern New Hampshire University where she earned her BA in Creative Writing.
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Comments (1)
More important than people think: Hemingway wrote standing up; Flaubert stared at a wall. Others need light or just quiet. I usually have music and the table I dragged to my house after finding it abandoned in front of an apartment.