Every Writer Needs a Place

I’ve been having a bit of a hard time with blog posts lately and largely I think that’s because I’ve been stressing out so much with trying to have enough income to support myself so I can stay in my apartment that is, very much, home to me. I got a promotion at work and I’m currently 2IC at an outlet store with a fantabulous manager and a great team. I was a little hesitant to move because my old store was so close to me, but now I’m so damn glad that I was able to do it. I’m much happier and life is a little shiny around the edges.

What does that mean for the blog? I’m glad you’ve asked. I’m stripping back. I’m starting right back at the start. I’m going to get rid of a lot of the old posts, bit by bit. Today though, we’re getting back to the basics. What does every writer need? What do they crave?

I spent Good Friday (because my easter is next week) cleaning my office. I had a big grand idea that I wanted to move my desk so that is sat in front of the window, which was good in theory, but when it faced the morning sun…it’s not so good, also trying to move a glass desk by yourself…too hard. So I decided the next best thing. I added some pictures to the window and left my desk where it was but I did a major declutter.

I realised I had all this stuff on my desk that really didn’t need to be there because I didn’t use it. I just got into a habit of using my desk as a storage place vs a place I actually write, to mention that most of my novels are written with me being cross legged on a bed or the couch. I also came to the realisation that I had never really had a room of my own. My desk was always my bed, or in my room, I never had a chance to have an entire room to myself. It’s freaking amazing. I don’t know if I want to change that.

The importance of a place to write (a room of your own) is infinite. You get a place to rest your toosh and have some sort of good posture so you don’t hurt yourself, but there’s more. You have a chance to make magic happen in one room, in one place, day after day. If you want to be in a room, then you will sit your arse down and you will write that blog post or that novel. Writing takes practice, sitting a desk to write takes courage. Could you do it, day after day and still feel like you were a writer? Yes!

[Tweet “It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around – Stephen King”]

Here are some famous authors and their little writing spaces, what do you think? Clutter and chaos or perfection?

As you can see it’s important to have a desk to write on, but it’s equally important to be able to be mobile as well. JK Rowling is well known for her writing in cafes, like any cliched writer would be. What you need to be able to do that is a writing practice, which I’ll cover in detail in the coming weeks. Today we started with getting our space ready and raring to go for what’s to come.

So what you need is a desk and a writing instrument, this could include a laptop/desktop/tablet/pen and paper. Then you’re going to sit yourself at that desk and feel for what you need. Don’t think too much into it, feel. Do you need a pot of pens and a whole lot of stationery? Or maybe you need some crystals and a salt lamp. Whatever it is you need, write it down, write it all down. Again, make sure that you’re not thinking too much into it. Now sit down and write something, anything. How does it feel? Are you missing something? Again just feel for what you’re missing. Write it down.

You should have a neat little list of what you feel you need. If it’s ridiculously long, look at it and ask yourself: Does it serve me? Will it make me happy? Can I get things done with it around? If there’s a yes to every question than damn well keep it.

So let’s start making your desk just that: yours. Put pretty things on it, take your time with it. I want to see it. I really do. So I have a little give away and you’ll be getting this sweet little bundle picture below.

I’ve been hunting at Typo and the lucky winner will receive the following: Pen, A5 notebook (lined), A4 notebook (lined), journal (you write a line for three years!), 1 x weekly planner. To enter all you need to do is this: Upload a picture of your writing space onto instagram and use the hashtag #officemusedfa, follow me: @mandikont. To get an extra spot in the draw leave me a comment below with what you can’t live without when it comes to writing (make sure you quote your instaname) and share the giveaway around by reposting it. You can get up to three entries. You have until the 20th of April and I’ll announce the winner in my monthly newsletter, so make sure you sign up using the form below or the one at the top. What are you waiting for?

** This has been extended until the 27th of April, so get going guys!