A simple way to deal with all of this is to have a desingated writing area. I know what you're thinking, I can't afford that, there's nowhere for me to put such a space... there are a lot of reasons why not, I've said them myself, and the reasons why are far more important.
For a lot of us, our writing career is a source of income which we use to pay the dreaded day to day bills. To be able to have the time and space to write is key to getting works out there. Without a space to create, we feel the impact on our wallet.
Having a designated writing space is a benefit often over looked. The benefits of having one, include an area where you can retreat to, where writing is the primary endevour and productivity is increased. It is also a space where your boundaries come into play. You know the ones which say"Writing here - disturb at your own risk -
It's a space set aside strictly for your creative brain to engage, and the outside distractions fade way. Carving out the niche for your office space can be a challenge, but it is well worth it.
I read a lot of articles about creating a space for myself and while a number of them indicated the space needed to be big, I don't feel it needs to be. Perhaps, because I've never lived in a home where there was a lot of extra space, so I've learned how to use the space available.
Keeping in mind, there has to be space for you to spread out, for your printer, research material, notes, computer, etc. Living in a confined area, you will need to think outside of the box. If you have the spare square footage to create an office, it still pays to be creative.
This leads to the big question of: How can one utilize the area they have? Cross-purposing comes in handy for those of us who live in a small home or apartment. As well, you can think vertically when it comes to some things. A wall can become the landing zone for all your notes, books, etc. Sticky Tac, or pins work well for this. A small shelf above the desk can hold things like your highlighters, pens, pencils, flashdrives, and any other tool you may need. I've heard of offices in basements, even a walk in closet where the author could close the door, and surround themselves with plants, light, and music as they wrote. This, to me would have two benefits. A: you can shut out the outside distractions and write with ease, and no worries. B: You won't be limited to time of day when you write. For some of us, writing during the day is a necessity, but if you're a night owl, or you work during the day, having a space you can retreat to when everyone else is in bed allows you to still meet the word count goals you set for yourself.
Once you have figured out the where you're going to put your writing space, then comes the how and when which I'll touch base on in the next blog post.
I know where I would find my ideal space for a home office if I could pick...how about you? Where would you find your creative space?
