Finding Your Writing Sanctuary

A writing space does not have to be a room of one's own as is often quoted because come on, with rent prices being as high as they are some of us are lucky enough to have a place of our own without three or four roommates sharing the bed and floor space of a one-bedroom apartment.

Your writing sanctuary is a dedicated place for you to bring your writing to life, and for you to put life on pause, and focus on your writing. 

Define Your Writing Goals 

Before setting up your writing sanctuary, it's important to define your writing goals and identify what you need from your space. 

If you plan on writing only a few hundred words then you could sit about anywhere, if you plan on writing say a chapter a day you're going to need somewhere with more back support.

Pick a place that will suit your goals and specific needs.

Find the Ideal Location

Your ideal location doesn't have to be anything fancy and you probably have one staring right back at you as you read this. Your ideal location can be anything from a spare room, a corner desk, a local cafe, or even just your favorite corner of the couch. 

Sure you can factor in things like necessary light, noise levels, and privacy, but for some such as parents or those who live near construction these may be factors you'll have to deal with in other ways such as earplugs and a cheap lamp - especially if you're going to be hiding out in a closet while your children watch some movie so you can get in a little writing time. 

Declutter and Organize:

When you choose your writing space you need to do the most critical step. 

Make it your writing space.

Remove anything that could count as a distraction, sure books may look nice on a writing desk, but then I find myself picking one up to just check on something for a reference, and the next thing I know an hour has passed and I've read five chapters completely forgetting what I was looking for in the first place. 

If it doesn't contribute to your writing process or in any way can hinder it - your phone is not essential to your writing space - remove it from sight. Turn the ringer on and place it five feet away from you well out of reach, but able to hear if there is an emergency. 

Personalize Your Space

Clutter and personality are two different things as I always tell my mom when she complains about the amount of coffee cups I have in the kitchen.

Artwork, quotes, photos, and things that inspire or motivate you are welcome in your writing space as long as they are not a distraction. Plants, candles, pens, notebooks, and things that take up space but also bring a sense of space are all good things to include. 

Optimize Ergonomics

Do. Not. Skimp. On. Your. Writing. Chair. 

A book takes a long time to write and if you are spending hours on end in the same chair, make sure it supports your back and you aren't straining anything while you are trying to write. 

The book you are writing now will probably not be enough to cover the chiropractor when you need your back realigned from sitting hunched over on the couch for days at a time.

Don't sit too close to a screen, take a break from staring at your document to focus on something 20 feet away every 20 minutes, and have good lighting and wrist support. 

Writing a book is not worth breaking yourself or causing you health issues down the road. 

Eliminate Digital Distractions

Sure your phone can be on the other side of the room, but we all know that a quick internet search for something we're sure is book-related can spin us down a long winding rabbit hole for hours on end before we return to our projects.

Mute notifications, use website blockers for sites you can't seem to stay away from and utilize productivity apps. 

My favorite tip I ever received was to have an open notebook on my desk during writing sessions and if I'm in the flow of witting but need to look something up I highlight the section and then make a note in the notebook about what color it was and what it is I need to look up before moving on and continuing with the scene or the session for the day. 

I've also had some people recommend turning off the internet while you write, but I need my playlist to block out the construction that always seems to be going on in my city. 

Establish a Writing Routine

When it comes to writing consistency is always going to be key. 

If you don't show up to your desk to write then it's not a writing desk, is it? It'll just be a giant dust collector or that place you sit every once in a while to scroll through social media. 

The reason writers need a space to write is that the commitment and repetition of having a place to write gives our mind a place to know that when we sit here it's time to write. Just like when you show up at work you know it's time to put on your customer service smile and put in the work, not scroll through your phone notifications. 

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Your writing sanctuary is your writing place. It's where you clock in daily to get in your words and bring your character to life even if it's only bit by bit each day in between loads of laundry sitting on the bathroom floor. If that's your place where you can write then go ahead and make it your place. Prop a pillow against the wall and place a blanket down to keep you comfortable, but most importantly - 

Write.

With love, 

B King xo xo

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