Where I like to write
We all have our favorite rooms, surroundings, atmosphere for writing. As I said in yesterday's post, occasionally I have to work downstairs at the dining room table, but I prefer my office. And I have found that I prefer my office pretty dark. Which isn't a problem since I'm usually writing up there at night. I have a desk lamp with a low-watt bulb, and a floor lamp with a dimmer switch. I rarely use the overhead light at all, unless I need to refer to reference material.
Occasionally I do light candles in my office. I haven't done it this summer because it's just too danged hot, but as the weather gets cooler, I'll start lighting the candles on my desk again. When you're writing fantasy in a quasi-renaissance setting, nothing says atmosphere like candles. I only use a few, and they're in a safe place away from anything flammable. Having the lights turned way down and the candles glowing, makes (at least for me), the ideal writing atmosphere. The brightest glow in the room is my computer screen. It really helps me focus.
Question for all you writers out there -- what's your favorite writing place, atmosphere, way to focus? Either respond to the blog or email me. I love to hear how other writers work.
BTW: About the recording I made of me reading from Chapter 1 of MLTF for you all to listen to -- I've changed my mind. I'm still going to do the reading, but it occurs to me (with inspiration from Mark Van Name's Monday blog) that I have a webcam on my computer. I should use it. I'll need to find the directions to work out the finer points, but yesterday I signed up for a YouTube account. I thought it'd be much more fun for you to be able to see me while I read. And I figure I can use it for other stuff too: holiday greetings, you can meet my dogs, I can tell you big news, and answer your questions. I think it'll be a lot of fun. Let me know what you think. ; )
Coming up tomorrow: I'll post my answer to the following question: How many books will there be in the Raine series? Is there an ending in sight? And if/when there is, have you considered writing another series or stand alone books?
Lisa
Occasionally I do light candles in my office. I haven't done it this summer because it's just too danged hot, but as the weather gets cooler, I'll start lighting the candles on my desk again. When you're writing fantasy in a quasi-renaissance setting, nothing says atmosphere like candles. I only use a few, and they're in a safe place away from anything flammable. Having the lights turned way down and the candles glowing, makes (at least for me), the ideal writing atmosphere. The brightest glow in the room is my computer screen. It really helps me focus.
Question for all you writers out there -- what's your favorite writing place, atmosphere, way to focus? Either respond to the blog or email me. I love to hear how other writers work.
BTW: About the recording I made of me reading from Chapter 1 of MLTF for you all to listen to -- I've changed my mind. I'm still going to do the reading, but it occurs to me (with inspiration from Mark Van Name's Monday blog) that I have a webcam on my computer. I should use it. I'll need to find the directions to work out the finer points, but yesterday I signed up for a YouTube account. I thought it'd be much more fun for you to be able to see me while I read. And I figure I can use it for other stuff too: holiday greetings, you can meet my dogs, I can tell you big news, and answer your questions. I think it'll be a lot of fun. Let me know what you think. ; )
Coming up tomorrow: I'll post my answer to the following question: How many books will there be in the Raine series? Is there an ending in sight? And if/when there is, have you considered writing another series or stand alone books?
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
7:50 AM
11 Comments:
I can write anywhere. I can jot down ideas at my desk at work as they occur to me. I can write on my Neo while lounging in the la-z-boy with my daughter playing beside me. I can take notes in the passenger seat during long car trips. And I can sit at my nice corner desk, feet popped up, hands on keyboard, staring at my monitor. You can interrupt me, and I can drop right back into the zone.
Having a special-needs child has made me very flexible. I write when the opportunity presents itself, and I can be surprisingly productive!
During the day I've found I need natural light to write. If I'm in the back of a coffee shop and the windows don't reach that far or in a library I find myself starting to fall asleep.
At night I can work just about anywhere as long as it's fairly quiet.
As for where, I prefer my desk, but the most important thing for me is that the table I'm writing at is the right height. There is nothing worse than a table that is too tall or too short.
Where I like to write depends on what kind of writing I'm doing. If I'm writing a paper for class, I have to be at my desk on my laptop with nothing around to distract me. If I'm writing a story, the desk is fine when I'm actually typing out chapters, but if I'm brainstorming or making outlines I like to lie on the floor with a legal pad. I can't write in public, I always have to be alone.
I like writing at my desk which has been set up to be exactly how I want it. I have a purple lampshade, speakers, a bookshelf of my favorite books beside me and an inspirational quote hanging above my memo board (Wish it, dream it, do it!)
I have written in a notebook on the road, but I mainly write at my home office. I use the room light, because the window is on the south side and doesn't always let in light, especially in the morning, which is when I write.
If anyone wants to see where I write, go to the 'links' page at my website. Yes, my desk is somewhat neat. If it gets too messy I lose stuff.
Oo, looking forward to tomorrow!
Writing - heh. I can write anywhere if I'm really in the zone. If I'm struggling to get into it though, I absolutely have to be somewhere tidy. The library at uni is good for that - wide, spacious, lots of natural lighting, a hum of background noise but nothing distracting, and no mess! The library is pretty ideal, actually...
The youtube idea sounds pretty cool, too :)
I do most of my writing in a home office. My main necessity for writing is quiet. Chaos I can live with, but not noise.
The walls have a poster titled "All I Need to Know About Life I Learned From Star Wars" and a series of framed quotes. One of my favorites is "The empires of the future are the empires of the mind." -Sir Winston Churchill
It also has collections of seashells, dragons and books. Lotsa books. My infamous Leaning Tower of TBR lives here.
Oh, and the YouTube is a great idea! I'd love to see that.
I can also write anywhere! Although I'm limited to a laptop/computer because I can't write very much due to health reasons. Which is why I'm hoping to invest in the smallest asus laptop so I can pop it in my handbag and write wherever I want!
I have found that I write better if I listen to video game soundtracks :) (final fantsay). Especially Advent children. I get quite productive then!
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I like to write in the living room. I sit on the couch, near the sliding door that looks out onto the balcony. I always sit there with my laptop when I'm writing a story. I also (usually) have a playlist in the background as I let my imagination run wild.
That's my favourite place to write, and the most productive one. :)
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