Deciding Where To Write - The Creative Process

DECIDING WHERE TO WRITE

I thought that I would start a new series talking about the where, when, how and such of writing. I've have been someone who's written in an number of different places, including bed, coffee shops, my desk, as well as on trains, in hotels, and all of that. I feel like a lot of the time the emphasis is placed very much of how much you write rather than maybe having a think about where is comfortable for you to write.

If you're new to writing, you might find yourself thinking that all you have to think about is putting words on the page, and while that's true, sometimes solving the issue of where you write is a good way to ensure that you consistently show up to put those words on the page. Like I said, I've gone between places. When I was first starting out at nineteen, I wrote at a table in the living room, and I did it by hand (which I'll discuss in another piece) and then typed things up in the evening at my desk in my tiny room. That remained the case for a number of years because laptops and the like either didn't exist or were too expensive for me to own.

So I thought I would give you some tips on how you decide and find that place to write that is just right for you and your way of working. Some of them might not apply to you or might not work for you, and that's okay, everyone is different, and everyone approaches writing differently.

#1: COMFORT IS KEY
The one big thing, for me at least, about deciding where I'm going to write, is knowing that wherever that may be, I have to be comfortable. Otherwise I'm going to be shifting and moving and just not want to write a single word. It's one of the reasons that I've written in bed on bad days because that is the only way for me to be physically comfortable, and of course if you're not, it has an impact on your writing.

So when it comes to making that decision about where to write, keep in mind that you're going to be there for a while. Even if you're a super fast writer, it's going to be a position and place you'll be in for a session of writing at least. I don't mean that you have to sit there for however long it takes to write 10K words, but that if you're wanting to sit in a coffee shop, for example, you want to be able to actually get something done, so it makes sense to have a comfortable chair, not be too hold/cold and just be able to somewhat relax into what you're doing.

#2: ATMOSPHERE MATTERS
Going back to that coffee shop, if you're someone who has their own playlist while they write, then so long as you have headphones and the like, then you're golden to set that atmosphere. However, if, like me, you're someone who prefers mostly silence, then a coffee shop isn't going to bring you into that good place to actually write.

I've written in them before, and this was also before I had good noise cancelling headphones, and while I did manage to get something done, it felt like my focus was all over the place and whatever I did manage to write could've been better. Atmosphere surrounding your writing time is a very important thing. For some people they want to be able to write in loose fitting clothes and while it might be possible to do this in public, it would not be something everyone would be okay with. So be sure to keep that in mind, think about what you like to do, and how your comfort is measured, so that you can be sure you have the right setting and atmosphere to help you get in those words.

#3: TIMING CAN HELP
I will be doing a piece on when to write, but for now I'll keep this short and sweet. In deciding where to write, and assuming that somewhere is out of your house, you need to be thinking about the timing of it all. Like certain days of the week, bookshop cafes and the like are quieter than during others. If you need more silence or even that playlist to be able to really work, then you're not going to want to be there during the height of after school play, because that will put a dampener on your time.

So be aware of the timing, even if you don't think it matters all that much, just keep in mind that choosing the right time can be a good thing when it comes to getting the right place as well.

So there we go, my three big things when it comes to choosing where to write. I've been lucky enough to have my own office the past decade or so which makes my life a whole lot easier, and while I do write, sometimes, but rarely, out of the house, it's nice to know that it's an option should I choose to do so.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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