My writing deskMy writing space is my favorite room in the house. I made sure I decorated it so I loved it because I spend 8+ hours a day in it. Some of the time is writing fiction, the rest is doing my day job.
If this room were a person, it’d be my best friend. Really, there’s something about walking into it that’s calming and comforting and nurturing. You can be having a bad day ~ failed on the page or weather stinks or jeans won’t button ~ then walk into this room and, I don’t know how it works but it does, feel better afterward.
It’s amazing, too, what some windows and a warm color on the walls will do for your writing. The lightness in my writing ticked up a notch when I started working in here. Don’t believe me? Try writing in a basement, which is where I used to have my workspace. See how the tone of your work changes.
I’m actually not a neat freak ~ the rest of my house can attest to that ~ but I found when I’m writing that if I have papers everywhere, I get distracted too easily. So . . . the reason for the nice, neat desk. What you don’t see in the pictures are all the piles of paper in a ring around the floor and in boxes under the desk.
My reading chairThere’s a little collection of trinkets next to my computer that started 8 years ago when my son was 2 years old. He came toddling up to me one morning and handed me a seashell. He said, “Make you happy.” And so I’ve saved everything my kids have ever given me since. Here’s a sampling: a ceramic mushroom, a plastic Yoda from a Happy Meal, B.O.B. from Monsters vs. Aliens (which my youngest wouldn’t out right give to me, LOL, so we share it). All these tiny gifts make me smile and are a great little motivation, too, especially on the days when I’m tired and the writing’s tough and I’d rather be doing something easier, like watching TV.
Anyway, I’ve written two novels in this space and I’m going to be sad to see it go when we move in a few weeks. Hopefully, it’ll be a creative haven for the next owner, too.
What about your work space? What do you love about it? What about it inspires you? Please feel free to share your thoughts & experiences in the comment box below.
I like my work space because it is private enough that I can actually get things done, but I am still connected to what is going on in the house.
My room is bright and overlooks our pool and many large trees; the view is calming. Just now the walnut tree behind our house is dropping all its fruit, and I find this sight (and sound) uplifting.
My little office is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, but its advantages far outweigh its drawbacks. I could never work effectively in a basement!
Hi David. Your room sounds fabulous. I love this ~ “private enough that I can actually get things done, but I am still connected to what is going on in the house.” Mine too, now that I think about it. So even though I’m in my room, I still feel part of the family. 🙂
I love seeing where other writers write. Thanks for sharing this.
Hi V.V. I love seeing where other writers do their work, too!
I love this warmth and simplicity of your space! My space is a little office with a glass desk, a macbook pro, a window out to the street and a poster of the Rat Pack. It’s best described as my “get down to business” space!
Hi Jason. Thanks for sharing your space. Sounds wonderful ~ no distractions!
Hi Shelli!
Your writing space looks so light and airy. I love it. I also love my office space. Hubs (a.k.a. the Dragonslayer)set it all up for me in an “L” configuration. Like you, I have my printer right next to my computer monitor, but am looking for a small side table with a couple of shelves that can sit to the left of my main desk. I want the printer off the desk, so I have more space to keep frequently used reference texts, such as my medical dictionary, style guides, and synonym finder. I have to say it’s my second favorite room in the house. I love my bedroom….it’s our oasis from the beautiful chaos that is our children. What I like best about your space is the comfy looking reading chair. I need something like that in here. It’s important to take a quiet break away from the brilliance of the computer monitor (especially when my mind isn’t feeling so brilliant). Great post. Thank you for sharing your space with us. I have a home office organization category on the FWD site and am always looking for fresh posts for that section. If you ever wanna send one over, please do!
Hi Samantha! Thanks for sharing a little glimpse into your writing space, too. I love to hear about/see where other writers work. There’s nothing better than a comfy chair. I’ve had that particular chair for about 12 years ~ wow, now that I’m writing this, I realize it’s older than my children. I do love that chair, though. I will take a look at your site & see if I have anything to contribute ~ thanks for the offer!
Hi Shelli…
Sometimes my wife and I write in a shared office (but we have to agree to be quiet and let each other write!) But my private space is a huge desk surface because some of my writing involves research with books spread all over.
I also need space for a coffee mug and a cat. There are lots of pictures of my kids and grandkids, and special items, mostly gifts from my kids years ago, lying around. A notepad and pens are handy to one side.
I have a Macbook Pro and a 27″ monitor which I love for enlarging documents, comparing documents, having research and my W.I.P. open at the same time, or for collaborative work that I do sometimes with others joining me in looking at the screen.
My space must be quiet from distractions (but music always on!) and I love icy-cool temperature.
Hi Bill. Thanks for sharing your space. It sounds fabulous (except for the icy-cool temp. ~ lol). I especially love this ~ “I also need space for a coffee mug and a cat.” Me, too. Well, the coffee mug as we no longer have a cat. 🙂
My writing space right now is my dining room table with two laptops (One for writing, one for web surfing)a dictionary, a thesaurus, my notebooks,and my computer speakers for listening to music to inspire 🙂 Love your space!
Hi Karen. I remember those days before I had kids when my writing space was out in the open ~ in the living room, spread out all over the couch. You have the advantage: you can eat and work at the same time ~ lol. Thanks for sharing your space.
My favorite thing about my office is that it’s mine. I can look out the window to my right and see a small part of the huge evergreen tree and bird feeder (which is cool in the winter because it attracts Cardinals). Mostly though, I just like that fact that it’s my space.
Hi Kristy. I love this ~ “My favorite thing about my office is that it’s mine.” Me, too. Well, that and a door I can close so I can be alone. 🙂
I don’t have a ‘room’ as such, but I have a mocha-coloured recliner. It’s really part of our lounge-room setting, but it’s comfy and the armrest is of perfect height for me to rest my paper to be scribbled on vigorously. It’s a central place too, overlooking the span of the house, and it’s right next to my husband’s ‘work desk’.
Hi Maria! Your recliner & its location (plus the color!) sounds wonderful. We have a beat-up old recliner in our living room & it’s my favorite place to sit when I’m in there. 🙂
I love the fact that I now get to sit at my father’s desk – something forbidden when we were children. He would be so pleased to know how I now use my desk to write books! I also get to see the warm afternoon light and have a prism on my windowsill. At 4pm on sunny days I have a rainbow floating on my wall!
Hi Susan! What a lovely space. I love this, too: “I now get to sit at my father’s desk – something forbidden when we were children.” I’m sure your dad would be happy to know his desk is being put to good use. 🙂
I imagine you will miss that lovely space, Shelli. My space is a humongous L-shaped desk that I’ve had since 1990. I have a huge window to watch the crows and rabbits. On my wall over my desk is an Ansel Adams print, a snow scene, and “Angel of the Storm” (a painting on paper found by the artist after Hurricane Katrina). My thinking objects: a snow globe and a wooden bowl full of geocaching coins, agates, rocks from my travels, a piece of fabric blessed by my dying mother, a tiny star ornament. This is home.
Hi Sherry! Your space sounds fabulous, especially the huge window & the Ansel Adams print (one of my favorite artists). I love this especially: “This is home.” That’s what my writing space (even my new one) feels like to me, too. 🙂
Ah, you’ve given me a great idea for a blog post! I’d love to showcase where I write, too. 🙂 My office, which I call a studio because I also paint in there, is actually a FROG (finished room over garage). It’s huge, and I have my desk by the windows so I get every bit of sunlight. My three-year-old daughter helped me pick the color of my accent wall (purple, lol), and it just cheers me up to be in there. 🙂 I love your “trinkets”!
Hi Adriana! I love seeing where writers do their work. Your space sounds awesome. Huge & sunlight & purple!! What more could you ask for? 🙂
You’re sad to be losing your writing space and I am sad for you!
Circumstances have (more often than not) prevented me from having a personal writing space that is truly “mine” in every sense of the word, and I know that my work, inspiration and creativity have suffered as a result.
We are so influenced by our surroundings that it’s critical to actively subject ourselves to positive stimuli. After seeing what you will be leaving behind, I’m convinced your writing space in your new home will be up and running in no time!
Hi Hilary! I was sad to see it go, for sure, but I have a nice tucked-away space in my new house. I absolutely agree that having a writing space that is truly yours makes a big, positive difference in your creativity, at least it does mine. 🙂
Your space looks very awesome. I know you’re probably sad to leave it behind, but I’m sure you’ll have a great space in your new place that you like just as much.
Hi Mike! *waves* Thanks, it was awesome. I was sad, but then I made a lovely space in my new house, so I’m happy once again. 🙂
Very nice. I am “sharing” my space with my 4-year-old granddaughter this summer. I love the colors and esp your reading chair. My reading chair is now full of Barbies! I always like to see where other writers write, you have inspired me to get the Barbies their own reading chair, so I can take mine back.
Hi Kat! *waves* I love that your chair is full of Barbies, that made me laugh. But, yes, I agree, they do need their own chair. 😀 “Sharing” your space with your granddaughter, though, does sound lovely. Hope you’re having fun. Cheers!