Does where you write effect how you write?
When I was starting out writing screenplays, I read an interview with Patrick Sheane Duncan, screenwriter of the film Courage Under Fire, who said that he taught himself to write anywhere with a pad of paper and a pencil so that he could write whenever he was either inspired or required.
I’ve tried to follow that concept. For me, moments of inspiration are a special thing and I want to be able to write as quickly as possible after a moment of creative clarity. My past works are written on just about every type of paper/pencil/pen/computer screen/printer combination possible.
However, just because I can write anywhere, doesn’t mean I do my best writing anywhere.
Ideally, I like to write in a quiet location using a laptop with a responsive keyboard with soundtrack music playing in the background that mirrors the type of scene I am trying to write.
That works whether I’m trying to write a screenplay or novel or blog entry or Typecasting Tuesday.
I’ve recently moved from one house to another and my writing space has changed dramatically. In my old house I had constructed an office/movie room with a 100″ projection screen, rockers, surround sound, a small concession stand and a built in desk.
My new space is much smaller, which I like, and I am working to create a serene, productive writing locale. As I get older, I find myself drawn to older technology and mid-century pieces (typewriter, rotary phone, 30s fan, 40s light, etc.) which, somehow, open up my mind to the task of writing.
I’ve also purchased a 1940s wooden desk which is wonderfully made gives me ample space, both in storage and on the top of the desk, to do the vast amount of work that lie ahead.
I’ve also diminished my computer acreage. I used to have three monitors to manage all of my video editing and photo manipulation work, but I’ve shrunk that back down to a single monitor since the computer will be used for writing 90% of the time. And my expanded desk top (the real one, not the digital one) allows me to use my laptop on it as well, when required.
I have space on one of my walls to whiteboard ideas and another section of wall to tape up my 3×5 cards that flesh out the upcoming chapters in my book.
Finally, I’ve dotted the walls with various small accomplishments and awards, but I’ve learned from past experience to keep my pride buried as deep as possible.
I’m hopeful, in this new writing space, I’ll be able to bang out a lot of pages of my upcoming novels.
I’d love to hear what spaces allow you to be at your creative best.
Congrats on getting settled in at the new house! I hope it is feeling like home already.
I loved this post and the opportunity to think about my own ideal writing space. I have never had the luxury of creating a space just for writing. Our family computer is on a cluttered desk in a corner of our kitchen because that’s what works best for our family- so most often I write right in the middle of all the chaos of life.
I find that like our home schooling space has had to evolve over the years as our family has grown, so too my writing space has been different at different times. There is definitely value to being able to write wherever I can eek out a spot to put my notebook. 🙂
Blessings to you and your family this Advent!
May you have a wonderful Advent as well. I hope you’re able to carve out a nice writing space for yourself. It makes a lot of difference.