Wednesday Writer's Spotlight: Where's your Writing Space?
With today's technology, writers can write just about anywhere. However, some writers like to have a permanent space to write with files and inspiration. Others like to be free to move where they'd like. We asked our Inkspell authors to tell us about where they write. Could you guess which stories were written where? Which authors like a neat desk while others scatter their items to the four winds?
T. Michelle Nelson:I require a certain amount of comfort to think creatively and to make the chapters flow. Oh, who am I kidding? I just like to be in bed. I'd say 90% of Life & Death of Lily Drake was written from the comfort of my favorite sheets and fluffy pillows. However, there is rarely a time that I get the bed to myself. Typically at least one fur baby is snuggled in next to me, sometimes more than one. I usually don't mind, as long as they stay off the laptop!
This is actually a real picture of my messy desk! And yes, that's Jack Sparrow running around between my notebooks. Some post-its are quotes from great writers, others are reminders of who to email and thank in my acknowledgments, and others are plot points I'm afraid I'll forget about. One notebook is every single chapter of my Minstrel's Serenade manuscript along with the POV to make sure I rotate it back and forth equally, and another notebook is a list of the blogs I have scheduled on this blog. The notebook to the right is my word count notebook where I keep tabs everyday.
I have an office that I share with my husband inside our Pittsburgh home. I wold love to be able to kick him out and make this space my own, but I'll take my 5 x 9 spot for the time being! I've got a large wall for planning out work and a view of a window, even though it's father away than I'd like. Must haves in the office space are my Mac Book, markers, and planning paper. I'll be painting over the holidays and putting up a dry erase wall, so I'm pretty excited about that! Here's a pick of me at my desk with my planning sheet for The Fallen Stars after pulling an editing all-nighter.
With Christmas approaching for us, my office sometimes moves downstairs in front of the tree. It's a nice cozy place to be, when you're writing epic fantasy battles.
I have yet to carve myself out a "private" nook at the house to do my writing and when I consider doing it, I always feel a stab of guilt over shutting out the family I already don't see enough thanks to a FT job and an hour commute. So, to keep peace within myself and my family, who misses me so much when I am not about (awww), I do the lion's share of my writing while sitting on the bed in my room. This way the kids can find me when they need me and I still feel like I am part of the family, even when my mind may be a million miles away. There may come a time when I feel I can't get enough accomplished this way, and I may change the writing set-up I am using, but for now, it works for me.
I have an office just off my library that my husband and I share. And, I have to admit, it’s where I spend most of my time. My books are handy and I have over fifteen gigs of music sorted into various “mood” playlists ready to go on my computer. I’ve grown so accustomed to my little work area, I find it difficult (but not impossible) to write anywhere else!