shakespearemom

Okay, yes, I stole the title from Virginia Woolf…but, no, I’m not talking about whether women have the opportunity (and freedom) to devote their lives to writing, as men have had (in the past). In fact, I personally have much more freedom to write than my husband (although he does not have that inclination).

Rather, this blog examines my “perfect writing room,” the space that assists me with my writing by being comfortable, yet not distracting. I’ve received countless mailers about the Hawaii Writers Conference in August, and each time I was turned off by two things: the price (ye Gods!) and the idea of trying to write while surrounded by pristine beaches. I have trouble writing on sunny days sometimes, but, thankfully, those days are few and far between in the Seattle area (especially from September to May). I fear that having the ocean waves calling would make sitting down to write nearly impossible.

But the interior of the room matters, as well. I can’t say I need a window, although I prefer natural light both for painting and for writing. Yet I wrote much of my novel in my office in Sumter, SC, and the office had only a small slit of a window, which looked out onto a concrete wall. Yet that left me with no distractions to keep me from writing, and I did well.

I suppose, ideally, I would have a room with one window, through which I could see something green (tree leaves?). The room would be out of earshot of the rest of the house, and would be lined with bookshelves filled with books (not a problem, considering how many books I have). And I would need a recliner, not a desk (I write better and for longer when I’m reclining with my laptop). And my easel would be there as well, so I can choose, each day (or each moment) which pursuit I wish to take up. One might even inspire the other, for I could be painting possible book covers for my novel as I go. I would love to have my piano in the room, too, if only so that I could mix together all three loves (and perhaps plan out that musical novel I spoke about yesterday?).

To fit in all that, though, I might need a bigger space than I would like. And it might attract my kids a bit too much (and that distraction, though welcome, wouldn’t help me get anything done).

So, what is your ideal writing space? What do you need to write effectively? What distracts you?

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