Soon after my son left for college, I quit my career and decided to take the writing plunge. (I know, I know, this isn't logical, but that was all covered in an earlier post...) Like the infamous Three Bears, we live in a house that is just the right size for our family, everyone has their own room. It adequately meets our needs, but there was no extra space to create a writing office.
Well, unless I considered the college sons' room. Which I did. I waited a couple years of course, until his visits home decreased in frequency. Then I asked his permission to paint his once boyish room a lovely lemony yellow. And um, while I was doing just a wee bit of redecorating, might it be OK to pack up a few of his things and paint the shelves a new color and perhaps just add a few items of my own? Being a kind boy, he reassured me it was all right to make his bedroom into my writing office, but it still took me a couple of years to completely displace him without feeling guilty for being self-indulgent. 
Eventually, I forced myself past the guilt, and now I have an office I love. I revel in the space I have created. Claiming, for the first time in my adult, mommy life, a place in the house as completely my own has made the empty nest syndrome a bit easier to face. I had such fun thinking about how I want my office to look, how it could reflect me and be a space conducive to writing. It's my favorite place in the house now.
There is still a bed, and when my son is home I, of course, vacate the office and relocate so he feels at home.
Slowly, over time, with deliberate attention, my office has taken on a look and atmosphere I feel creative in.
- I have three vertical shelves that hold my essential writing books: The Chicago Manual of Style, The Writer's Market (quickly getting a little out of date), several books on creative fiction and nonfiction, and my shrine of Annie Dillard, Anne Lamott, Bill Bryson and Stephen King books on writing.
- The aforementioned girly lemony walls.
- My quirky 70's style clock radio and brass lamp (reminding me of every lamp in my house growing up).
- A bodacious violet providing bursts of pink flowers, year round.
- A scented candle.
- A refurbished, giant cork board with my writing projects, queries, and contests lined up.
- A shelf lined with precious memories: my dad's old camera and cigar boxes, my childhood worn and sagging teddy bear, and my Beatles White Album.
- And perhaps my favorite: my desk facing an uninterrupted view of layers of mountains. Talk about inspiration!
Some writers claim a comfy chair and table in the living room. Others have put stake on the dining table, claiming its big wide space. If you haven't designed a space, I encourage you to claim a little piece of your home and make it your own. A flower by your favorite writing area, or a lovely pillow, afghan, or a beautiful writing journal or pen, maybe a special lamp you found at a secondhand store. It needn't be ornate or expensive. But feeding your spirit through a lovely and inviting space is a wonderful way to nurture your writer's soul.
What about you? Have you put thought into your writing space? Does it feed your soul and inspire you, even if it's just a small corner in the house? What's your favorite part of your writing area?
Coreena and Samuel-- I agree- for me clutter although sometimes inevitable, is a distraction. As I wrote in a comment earlier, I'm not much of a kitsch person because clutter makes me a nervous. I'm a clean surface kind of gal for the most part, but every now and again...
Coreena and Samuel-- I agree- for me clutter although sometimes inevitable, is a distraction-- even clutter around my home.
I have to carve out space where I can with my laptop. I dream of a nice space one day. Clutter is also a big problem. I totally relate to the woman parting the papers on the desk...
Samuel-- It sounds like you've carved out a really nice space just for you. And I totally get the clutter bug on the desk. Every now and again I find myself parting the sea of papers so I can type!
Hi Sherrey--So glad you are inspired times two to find a nook for writing. What magazine did you find your ideas in? I am always on the lookout for new fun ideas.
Oh Sherida, now that is inspiration! Way to go!
My favorite part of my writing area? I framed the winner's certificate from my first contest. I hope to add many more to the walls.
The importance of a personal and private writing space was reinforced several times at a writers' conference I attended. I have been floating between the dining table and family room sofa or recliner. It's really not working for me, and the conference speaker's reinforcement of the need for privacy and a space of your own sent me home with sugar plum fairies -- oops, that's Christmas -- of a private writing corner to call my own.
Solution (in the works): Clean up and organize my sewing room (which has been mine all mine for several years) and use a corner of it as designated writing space. I even picked up a magazine yesterday with articles on organizing and creating shared spaces. But my sewing room is at the farthest end of the house and since hubs and I are empty nesting retirees and home together almost 24/7, well, farthest end of the house is good!
Loved this post! It has energized me even more than I already was!
Hi Adela-- me too-- so glad people shared pictures! I feel so inspired now.
I loved seeing all these spaces, big and small.
Lacey-- I really enjoyed hearing about your writing space and the difference for you from the "work" space to the "creative" space. As I was reading your comment, it occurred to me that when I write in my journal, I like to be in "my" chair in the living room, a blanket thrown over my legs and the morning sun coming through the window. I never really thought it before, but I don't like to write in my journal at my desk. I'm going to have to ponder the implication more. I'm glad you wrote your comment!
I love having a place in which to put all my writing "stuff" -- writing books, drafts of manuscripts, etc., and most of that all resides in the office I share with my husband (where I also work-from-home on paid writing and editing work, which has different needs and is less intimate than my creative work.) Before I got married, I enjoyed remodeling a second bedroom in my house into my office -- after coming from a studio apartment, I was SO thrilled to have a whole room for my work and my writing!
And yet, aside from a place to store all the "stuff," I find that I drift away from my writing space and hardly ever do creative writing there. Perhaps that's because, as a freelancer, I have trouble disassociating those places with "work" and really letting go to be creative. I tried to combat that in my old office by having two desks, one for work and one for creativity -- but still I found myself writing at the dining room table, on the couch, at the kitchen counter, at the library -- essentially, ANYWHERE except my designated writing space. So I guess for me I like to have a writing "homebase," but changes of scenery seem to spur my creativity more. (Of course, if our room did have just *one* more room, I know exactly what I'd do with it ...)
It's boring, and doesn't reflect me at all. I keep it neat because directly to my right is the front door. And yes, that's the new puter :) It's been working overtime LOL!
I like! And is that the new 'puter? Oooo and ahhhh. Looks so... neat.
I have a corner where a table should be LOL Next to the kitchen, but my back to the TV. Card tables used as desks. See pic :)
Hi TJ--It's definitely a comforting space for me. No magic bullet for writing but a nice space to feel creative in. But hey, you get new counters! Where do you write?
I dream of my own space :) Yours is gorgeous, and definitely reflects your personality.
Emilie- I love that you find inspiration in your crafts.
Adrian- A shared space might be tough if your work styles are different. At least is a place you love!
Daphne- Someone below said they used a folding screen to create a space in their living room. Finding any kind of corner or nook is wonderful! Ahh and an outdoor spot is one of my favorite too.
Julie... I love your room, first of all. Creating a creative space is so important. I have done that in my room in Berkeley. I've set it up so it's my writer's corner. I also hike up to this big rock when I want to think. When you have places like this, it makes the writing process so much easier.
Julie, this is so funny. I came to our office (note; "our") took a seat in "our" chair and said outloud how much I loved this space. Trouble is, it is "our". I don't have a "my" space. Rarely do I get to have away time alone to write. It usually happens in my head around 10pm or so when drifting off to sleep. I am shocked right now to be typing this without hearing my name called out. That is just being a mom! I love your space! Love the view! I am completely envious. So when I do get some time, I thoroughly enjoy our office and find it a very workable space. Unfortunately, I stare at a wall. Would much rather have a flowing river with a treeline. Now THAT would be wonderful.
Yep! It's both a craft and writing room. I tend to get ideas as I'm playing with beads, textiles or polymer, so it makes sense for me to combine the room.
I actually had to work pretty hard to get as organized as I am. Beware our closets, though. They're slightly dangerous if you open their doors too suddenly.
I don't think you can see it very clearly in the picture, but the drawers are actually made out of clear plastic, so when I want to grab something, I can just go for it without searching. They're really great if you're a line-of-sight person like I am. I picked them up quite a while ago from Big Lots, but I've seen them in places like Target, too.
Inspiration boards are such fun to make! I hope you get the chance to make one of your own.
That's awesome about the clock! My mom got mine for me and it really freaks out one of my friends every time she sees it.
Naturally, I make sure to take her into this room every time she's over.
Emilie-- this is so fun! I love all your containers-- you're an organizer. Is this both a craft and writing room? (Wondering what all the fun little drawers are for on your desk-- maybe it's something I need). I like the idea of an inspiration board. I may have to copy that idea. Ohhh and the cat clock! I had a Felix clock like that when I was little (yeah, that gives my age away).
Oops. The inspiration board is on the upper LEFT side of the picture.
I'm sorry, I still have problems with left and right sometimes.
What fantastic spaces, and the stories behind them are great. I love the huge windows.
Several months ago, I left a job which was slowly killing me to work on my writing and craft skills. Before I quit, I was able to spiff up our spare room into something more fitting for work and play. It's still very much a work in progress, and I may just pick up a cork board the next time I'm perusing thrift stores.
This picture was taken shortly after I finished.
The cluster of pictures in the upper right side of the picture is my inspiration board. On it is a collection of quotes, images and a few other things that keep me going.
Bobbie, at least you have space? I don't do well with clutter in any part of my house. I tend to be a person who needs the calm of a sparse setting, but I think some personalities are more apt to keep, collect and pile. Maybe a donation to your library would help. :)
I love your writing place. I have the place I write in a small bedroom, too many books, too many books to writes things down like pass words, printer, phone, my coffee- is there ever enough room?
For those of you working at a dining room or kitchen table - take heart. I understand that this is how James Joyce worked, at the kitchen table, right in the middle of his boisterous family. Place, as Becky points out, is secondary to inspiration/production.