I do not have the luxury of being especially twee about my writing space. For various logistical reasons, I do not have a permanent desk or workspace. So I’ve got to be a writing nomad, moving to whatever flat surface I can find. That’s what I’ve gotten used to, and I’ve managed to make it work for me, even though it can be rather frustrating at times.
So, for me to get into the creative headspace, it takes a certain degree of focus. Distractions or interruptions tend to knock me out, and I need to start over again. So I do my best to minimize them. Oddly, working in public can be a good thing for me, as long as it’s a public space where I’m not expected to interact much. Coffee shops are good.
BUT, I need the focus, and that means a good set of headphones.
Nothing is more critical in terms of centering me, regardless of where I’m working. If I can drown out the world and give myself a good dramatic score or thumping baseline, then everything comes together.
That’s it. As long as I have the comfortable place to sit and the outside world can be shut out with a good beat? I can work miracles. Everything else? That’s extra.
(Not that I don’t want an office of my own. I so do. I will also happily accept any offers for writing retreats, if anyone wants to make them. The advantage of being a Writing Nomad is I can easily go anywhere, including a remote lakeside cabin in the mountains. If, you know, you’ve got one of those.)
And speaking of, new works won’t write themselves. Time to get to work.