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Writing Space

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Creative Writing Corner
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Creative Writing Competitions or Creative Writing in general.
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Topic: Writing Space
Posted By: Stephaleph22
Subject: Writing Space
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 10:25pm
Just another anxious writer trying to pass the time. 

I am ferociously interested in the office spaces of fellow writers, and when I am bored or in a rut, I google the desks of famous (and lesser known) authors.  

For instance, my space is an extra room in my parents house. 
It has a small, ugly, yellow desk (I'm thinking of getting a bigger one) with a bowl of lit sage; 
a few donated bookshelves from one of my favorite college professors; 
an old brown couch;
and a lovely view of the pond and backwoods of Mississippi.
 On the walls, I've just put up a few small photos that my photographer friend took of me (including the one that is my avatar on here XD) 
All of this, and my quiet backroom, inspires me and keeps me motivated and focused. 

What does your space look like? What do you surround yourself with in order to write? 



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Replies:
Posted By: MattrickBT
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:11pm
My writing space is the same place I do pretty much everything else...watch movies, play games, read books. I write on my couch or in my chair with my TV as a monitor.

I also like to write on my deck during the summer.


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R2|H14 https://goo.gl/acQ5PE" rel="nofollow - The Hour


Posted By: jibwriter
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:15pm
Originally posted by Stephaleph22 Stephaleph22 wrote:

Just another anxious writer trying to pass the time. 

I am ferociously interested in the office spaces of fellow writers, and when I am bored or in a rut, I google the desks of famous (and lesser known) authors.  

For instance, my space is an extra room in my parents house. 
It has a small, ugly, yellow desk (I'm thinking of getting a bigger one) with a bowl of lit sage; 
a few donated bookshelves from one of my favorite college professors; 
an old brown couch;
and a lovely view of the pond and backwoods of Mississippi.
 On the walls, I've just put up a few small photos that my photographer friend took of me (including the one that is my avatar on here XD) 
All of this, and my quiet backroom, inspires me and keeps me motivated and focused. 

What does your space look like? What do you surround yourself with in order to write? 




There was a wonderful coffee shop I used to go to. Good coffee, not too expensive, good music and a good vibe. I could sit at the counter and look out the window when I needed a pause. I always enjoy the background noise of a cafe. It keeps the surface part of my brain occupied. Recently I moved and now I feel adrift. My home isn't really conducive to creative writing and the nearest cafe is a majorly pretentious hipster nightmare so I'll have to do some exploring to find my new "spot."

I read Mason Currey's book Daily Rituals and I highly recommend it. It's a compilation of the daily habits of famous creators and oddly fascinating. The only disappointment was the number of greats who seemed not to function without lots of drugs...


Posted By: Briana Una
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:25pm
I write in an office under-construction. My husband is currently painting it for me. I told him I wanted it to look like the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rDrKUb6bM" rel="nofollow - prologue scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast sounds , and he ran with it. He's got a purple-blue night sky on the ceiling, and crumbling fragments of stone wall all around. He's painted vines creeping everywhere, bells of Ireland to honor my dad (who just passed -- my husband made his casket spray, and bells of Ireland were prominent), delphiniums (painted the night I won a flash-fiction contest that I had been afraid to enter -- "Whenever you doubt your abilities, look at these delphiniums."), roses, and on and on -- and he's still working on it. He has done a lot of beautiful stage sets over the years, so this is up his alley and it's a labor of love.

I have a soft, light blue and gold rug from my dad's apartment, a French secretary desk, a bare but big window seat, and a nest-like daybed. 

It sounds more romantic than it is, because it really is under-construction: there are paint cans everywhere, and ladders, and bags of my dad's stuff in piles. But it's like this fantasy wilderness is growing up around me, and I really, really appreciate it.


Posted By: Stephaleph22
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:32pm
Originally posted by Briana Una Briana Una wrote:

I write in an office under-construction. My husband is currently painting it for me. I told him I wanted it to look like the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rDrKUb6bM" rel="nofollow - prologue scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast sounds , and he ran with it. He's got a purple-blue night sky on the ceiling, and crumbling fragments of stone wall all around. He's painted vines creeping everywhere, bells of Ireland to honor my dad (who just passed), delphiniums (painted the night I won a flash-fiction contest that I had been afraid to enter -- "Whenever you doubt your abilities, look at these delphiniums."), roses, and on and on -- and he's still working on it. He has done a lot of beautiful stage sets over the years, so this is up his alley and it's a labor of love.

I have a soft, light blue and gold rug from my dad's apartment, a French secretary desk, a bare but big window seat, and a nest-like daybed. 

It sounds more romantic than it is, because it really is under-construction: there are paint cans everywhere, and ladders, and bags of my dad's stuff in piles. But it's like this fantasy wilderness is growing up around me, and I really, really appreciate it.




Ummm...your husband sounds amazing, where can I get one?
That's so beautiful about your dad. I love the vision of being surrounded by wilderness and history.
I dig it.

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https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic34653_post360625.html#360625" rel="nofollow - 100 word Microfiction: R2 G11 "A Pocket Full of Rosy" (action/adventure)


Posted By: vanwijk88
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:38pm
Funnily enough, to write seriously, I normally take a rare retreat from the comfort of my bedroom to take a seat at my family's dining table. With an open plan lounge and kitchen rolled into the dining area, and my totally mad family (two younger siblings, two dogs and my parents being super childish), it's an area of total chaos. Perhaps I somehow find peace in the storm. XD

Otherwise, I'll sometime write on my laptop from the comfort of my bed but often, I just can't motivate myself the same way.


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"I intend to live forever or die trying."


Posted By: Briana Una
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:42pm
Originally posted by Stephaleph22 Stephaleph22 wrote:

Originally posted by Briana Una Briana Una wrote:

I write in an office under-construction. My husband is currently painting it for me. I told him I wanted it to look like the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rDrKUb6bM" rel="nofollow - prologue scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast sounds , and he ran with it. He's got a purple-blue night sky on the ceiling, and crumbling fragments of stone wall all around. He's painted vines creeping everywhere, bells of Ireland to honor my dad (who just passed), delphiniums (painted the night I won a flash-fiction contest that I had been afraid to enter -- "Whenever you doubt your abilities, look at these delphiniums."), roses, and on and on -- and he's still working on it. He has done a lot of beautiful stage sets over the years, so this is up his alley and it's a labor of love.

I have a soft, light blue and gold rug from my dad's apartment, a French secretary desk, a bare but big window seat, and a nest-like daybed. 

It sounds more romantic than it is, because it really is under-construction: there are paint cans everywhere, and ladders, and bags of my dad's stuff in piles. But it's like this fantasy wilderness is growing up around me, and I really, really appreciate it.




Ummm...your husband sounds amazing, where can I get one?
That's so beautiful about your dad. I love the vision of being surrounded by wilderness and history.
I dig it.

He is such a wonderful human being. Good-hearted, and when you squeeze him art comes out -- whether it's painting, cooking, baking, or something else. 

And yes -- more than anything else, seeing the room reflect our lives as it grows more and more complex is empowering, somehow.   


Posted By: Stephaleph22
Date Posted: 09 Apr 2018 at 11:54pm
Originally posted by Briana Una Briana Una wrote:

 when you squeeze him art comes out 


I laughed so hard, thank you for that gem of a line! 


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https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic34653_post360625.html#360625" rel="nofollow - 100 word Microfiction: R2 G11 "A Pocket Full of Rosy" (action/adventure)


Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 1:11am
Part of my open plan living/kitchen facing a lot of windows to interesting landscape on a desk bought purposely large to hold everything: laptop, monitor, printer and all my fidgeting stuff.


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https://shorturl.at/sxQU6" rel="nofollow - SS Drama/ A Touch of Humanity


Posted By: chrissie0707
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 9:14am
I write either on the couch with a show I've watched a million times as background noise, or in my spare bedroom at a desk covered with inspirational writing quotes and nerdy little trinkets. Mostly the couch. :P

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FFC#1 https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic42474_post440210.html#440210" rel="nofollow - Accident-Prone
FFC #2 Magic Hour


Posted By: Schrifty
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 10:38am
Oh dear... so I recently moved into a new condo with a second bedroom so I could use it specifically as an office.  And then I had friends over before I had finished moving in so everything I didn't have space for got shoved inside and I haven't been in there in... like 3 months.  Been writing at my new kitchen table, which is awesome and I love it but also I need to clean it off because it's full of  gaming stuff at the moment.


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MFC2019: https://shorturl.at/oyJX9" rel="nofollow - R2 G16: Second Chances (SciFi)


Posted By: HeatherL
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 11:07am
Originally posted by Briana Una Briana Una wrote:

I write in an office under-construction. My husband is currently painting it for me. I told him I wanted it to look like the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2rDrKUb6bM" rel="nofollow - prologue scene in Disney's Beauty and the Beast sounds , and he ran with it. He's got a purple-blue night sky on the ceiling, and crumbling fragments of stone wall all around. He's painted vines creeping everywhere, bells of Ireland to honor my dad (who just passed -- my husband made his casket spray, and bells of Ireland were prominent), delphiniums (painted the night I won a flash-fiction contest that I had been afraid to enter -- "Whenever you doubt your abilities, look at these delphiniums."), roses, and on and on -- and he's still working on it. He has done a lot of beautiful stage sets over the years, so this is up his alley and it's a labor of love.

I have a soft, light blue and gold rug from my dad's apartment, a French secretary desk, a bare but big window seat, and a nest-like daybed. 

It sounds more romantic than it is, because it really is under-construction: there are paint cans everywhere, and ladders, and bags of my dad's stuff in piles. But it's like this fantasy wilderness is growing up around me, and I really, really appreciate it.

I want one!!! That sounds amazing! Kudos to your hubs!



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https://forums.nycmidnight.com/round-1-heat-29-whalesong_topic20364.html" rel="nofollow - 2019 SSC Challenge 1 Heat 29 Romance WhaleSong


Posted By: HeatherL
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 11:14am
I write in my office at work sometimes when I have free time...my job oscillates between insanity and boredom. I also write at home with my laptop wherever I can find a place to sit. I am working on creating a space for writing at home, but between commuting 3 hours each day, kid sports etc it's a crap shoot. Or just crap. lol

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Posted By: LyndaD
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 11:17am
I write at the desk my dad refinished for me for my 8th grade graduation (yes, it's battered, but I love it) facing a blank wall.  All the chaos is behind me. There's a chair piled with clothes and random stuff, books on a bookshelf and stacked on the floor, and a pile of pillows. House plants sit on the window seat, overlooking a rather wild unkempt backyard. My background noise is the gurgle and whir of three aquariums -- a 5 gallon, a 40 gallon and an 80 gallon. When I get stuck, I turn around and watch the fish swim or stray cats roaming through the backyard.

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Posted By: roccapia
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 7:21pm
if I want to do some serious writing, I get out of the house. We have a coffee shop with a great view of the bay, and I've spent many a Saturday morning in there. Second option is lounging on the couch. We're in the middle of putting in a nice deck in our back yard, and I'm hoping that'll be my office this summer. We'll see.
 
A few years ago, I went and bought a writing desk specially for writing. It now holds the printer, a box of sewing patterns, and an odd assortment of clothing that hasn't made it to the wash yet. I'm definitely not a desk writer, by any means.


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Posted By: Mickey T
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2018 at 7:36pm
I have a recording studio and usually write there. Or in bed. 

However, it's more about how I write than where. Like Capote, I consider myself a "horizontal author" and do my best writing lying down. Fine at home; not so suitable for coffee shops or other public places!


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Microfiction 2020 - Round 2: https://bit.ly/3sE0Gh2" rel="nofollow - The Bearer
Microfiction 2020 - Round 1: https://bit.ly/3nRH3in" rel="nofollow - Old Dog


Posted By: zeggybobleggy
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 2:03am
I'd love an office space but as we have a tiny, 1 bed flat for my partner, myself and the dog there's just no space. So my writing spot is the sofa, my Mac and my lap.
In an ideal world I would have an uncluttered, bright office with lots of houseplants. All those things help me focus (and good lord, I need help with focus!)

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Posted By: JanetM
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 7:07pm
Briana, your room (and your husband) sounds awesome!

I've been writing on a laptop, so in various spots around my house- mainly on my living room couch- the non-TV room.. I feel like I could write in a coffee shop, too. 



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Micro250 http://tinyurl.com/5n6k3rns" rel="nofollow - The Younger Man HM
R2 G10 Rhyming The Substitute HM


Posted By: chrissie0707
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 7:10pm
A couple of you have said you've had success writing away from home, in coffee shops and the like. Man, I wish I could make that work. I might just be so helplessly introverted that I can't settle and focus on my writing when I'm away from my home base. I've had some success doing word sprints with a group during NaNoWriMo, but if I try it on my own, I end up so twitchy I can't buckle down and get anything written.

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FFC #2 Magic Hour


Posted By: stephenmatlock
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2018 at 12:33am
We turned a bedroom into my office. I have two monitors, a wraparound corner desk, some great pictures on the wall, and there's a window facing east to the mountain four blocks away. A small coral bark maple is outside the window, along with two bird feeders (suet and seed), so I get lots to look at if I want. But mostly when I write I tune everything out and just write, so I can write almost anywhere. My first novel was written mostly on the bus ride between home and work and back again.


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Pithy sayings are for the apt. For a longer message, you need a condo.



Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2018 at 2:15am
Originally posted by stephenmatlock stephenmatlock wrote:

We turned a bedroom into my office. I have two monitors, a wraparound corner desk, some great pictures on the wall, and there's a window facing east to the mountain four blocks away. A small coral bark maple is outside the window, along with two bird feeders (suet and seed), so I get lots to look at if I want. But mostly when I write I tune everything out and just write, so I can write almost anywhere. My first novel was written mostly on the bus ride between home and work and back again.


I like the interesting view for the between times of inspiration and putting it down.


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Posted By: nod1v1ng
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2018 at 9:19am
Originally posted by chrissie0707 chrissie0707 wrote:

A couple of you have said you've had success writing away from home, in coffee shops and the like. Man, I wish I could make that work. I might just be so helplessly introverted that I can't settle and focus on my writing when I'm away from my home base. 

I'm the same way - coffee shops and public places are way too distracting for me. I don't need to be home, per say, I've accomplished lost of good words while on vacations (on the lanai at a beach house, on the deck of a mountain cabin, etc) but I cannot focus when there are bunch of coming and goings and strangers milling about.



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Posted By: chrissie0707
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2018 at 9:23am
Originally posted by nod1v1ng nod1v1ng wrote:

I've accomplished lost of good words while on vacations



Ohhhhh yes. My husband and I took a cruise last October and I spent most of the week on our balcony with a glass of wine (or several :P) prepping for NaNoWriMo. That was amazing.

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FFC#1 https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic42474_post440210.html#440210" rel="nofollow - Accident-Prone
FFC #2 Magic Hour


Posted By: lgeverdell
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2018 at 12:37pm
I've painted my office orange. The colour of baked peaches. The guy who painted it was... suspicious. But it turned out amazing. It's warm and enlivening and inspiring. It's up in the eaves and I've covered the sloping walls in posters that say things like "it isn't going to write itself." So everywhere I look there's something that reminds me to stop staring at the walls and get back to writing. Plus it has a stable door and the top half opens up to look out over the valley our village nestles in. It's something else! It reminds me to feel lucky, even (especially) when my work is kicking my a*se.  

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Micro24 R2 G25 Remember (Ghost)


Posted By: jennifer.quail
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2018 at 3:06pm
I have a tray table that fits my laptop and I'm usually in the living room, though at times when I have deadline pressure or just didn't feel I got enough done, I write in bed. Train trips are great for writing, but between flying internationally and wanting to actually have a vacation where I, well, vacate, I am NOT taking my laptop this summer. Notebooks will have to do.

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SSC R1: https://bit.ly/49hAP39" rel="nofollow - Dissolution


Posted By: kjumhoefer
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2018 at 3:40pm
Originally posted by Stephaleph22 Stephaleph22 wrote:



...[W]hen I am bored or in a rut, I google the desks of famous (and lesser known) authors.  


If I am lesser-known enough for you, my writing space is the backdrop for my website. Just in case I am breaking some sort of rule by mentioning it, I'll say if you asked me what it is, I would answer: "thenashvilleamerican dot com."
It is a standing desk, but more often than not, I sit in a leather office chair with my feet on an exersize ball as a footrest. And a keyboard plugged into the USB port, of course. Oh, and this is crucial: I have the screen zoomed in to 200%.

Also: there is a book about this, somewhere, about famous writers...It's so interesting to see how each writer finds their own ideal setting. Good topic!


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Kevin Umhoefer
http://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic17121_post208784.html#208784" rel="nofollow - R1:Keep It Simple
R2:Catharsis



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