My Work Place

This week we’re sharing our writing spaces. I have several, and I’ll share pictures of a few.

I do most of my writing at the dining room table. During the day, it’s bright in this room due to the sunshine coming through the skylights and I keep an office chair there. There’s plenty of room to spread out with my coffee, my handwritten notes, my phone, and any reference books I need. Unfortunately, it leaves me open to the biggest distraction: my husband. Yes, he’s a stud-muffin, but he has two distracting hobbies: TV watching and cooking!

 

 

My hubby likes to watch TV, and when I’m struggling with a plot line or desperately trying to meet a deadline I can’t concentrate with the noise and dialogue from whatever show he’s watching. So I either put on headphones and play Baroque music to stay on task, or I escape to my bedroom, where I have a sewing table set up. I move my machine to the back of the table and set up shop there. I can get a lot of work done back here, as long as I clear away my unfinished sewing projects before I try to start writing!

 

I have a bad back, so I can’t sit for long periods of time. Occasionally I need to stand up and write at the kitchen counter or the breakfast counter behind the stove. Maybe one of these days I’ll invest in a standing desk, or else an adjustable one. But for now, the countertop is a nice compromise. And it gives a change of scenery. But when hubby starts to cook, I get distracted, so I need to move again! I mean, who can concentrate on editing when there’s a pan full of apple crisp coming out of the oven?

 

Every now and then I’ll write while sitting in my recliner. But not for very long. Since my lap seems to be too low, I have to cross my legs and perch the laptop on a computer lap pad. That gets uncomfortable after a few minutes. And sometimes I need to get away from all the distractions in my house and go somewhere else. There’s a nice coffee shop about a mile and a half away, and on a weekday morning I can get a booth, pay $2 for an iced tea (with refills) and work all morning without distractions. I may have to go there more often as my end-of-the-year deadlines start looming!

I suppose it would be nice to have a dedicated office, but I’m not convinced I’d be any more productive than I am now. If I have internet access, I’m going to be distracted by unrelated “research.” If I’m still in my house, I’m going to be distracted by chores left undone. And if I’m accessible by phone, my family can still ask me to babysit or pick things up for them. So I’ll make do with what I have.

Do you have a favorite spot place where you can get things done?

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