Many writers have an idea of what their dream writing space looks like. Maybe it's in a specific location like sitting on the beach with a strawberry daiquiri in hand or sitting on a train with the hills of Scotland rolling by, or just how we'd like to make over a room in our current or future home if time and money were of no object.
A lot of us, however, make do with where we are, whether we are bouncing between spaces or able to write in one spot that isn't great but is serviceable enough.
But just because your physical space may not be ideal, there are ways to make your headspace more conducive to writing.
These days, I'm primarily holed up at a tiny desk in my bedroom trying to make the most of the little space I've got for writing. And while I certainly have aspirations for my future writing spaces, I'm making the best of my current corner.
Here are a few tiny things I've done to make a big difference in my writing headspace.
Music And Ambient Noise
As I've mentioned a handful of times on the blog, music is a significant part of my writing process. Among the first orders of business when it comes to a new project is curating a playlist inspired by the idea.
It's not just for assigning theme songs for each character or putting together the soundtrack that would be playing in the background of certain scenes, though! It can also be helpful for getting into the right mindset. You might want to blast some ominous film scores as you're gearing up to write the villain's grand entrance or play to some soft-rock ballads while writing the scene in which your protagonist confesses their love to their childhood friend.
Some writers use music as a means to cut down on distractions. If you live in a busy house or are writing in a crowded coffee shop and aren't able to focus, you may find that listening to some chill lofi or jazz keeps you focused on your WIP (to which I say make sure you're still aware of your surroundings and being safe, and also not disrupting others).
I'll often listen to the music one may have heard at a Regency Era ball when I'm writing a scene set at a party or in the assembly rooms. It makes it easier to capture the ambiance of the moment and envision how my characters fit within it.
Music can be a powerful tool when you need to settle into the emotions or environment of a scene, and it can make your less-than-ideal environment a teeny bit easier to write in.
But if music doesn't boost your creativity but you still want to incorporate sound in your setup, consider ambient noise such as rainfall or a crackling fireplace.
Don't Answer The Call To Distraction
I feel like I say this every time productivity comes up, but with good reason. And this time around is no exception.
Imagine you've just turned on your computer with every intention to write but your phone goes off. When you go to dismiss it, you accidentally load the app it's from and lo and behold, you end up scrolling through reels on Instagram for thirty minutes instead of writing.
We've all been there. So how do we prevent it?
It may be enough to put your phone on silent, Do Not Disturb, or even airplane mode while you're writing (though if you need to be reachable for family and such, no sweat). Some writers keep the sound on but put it in their back pocket or stash it in a drawer or some other place temptation cannot reach as easily. And if you really struggle with distractions, there are apps and in-browser tools that can block certain websites and keep you on task.
Eliminating distractions makes it easier to concentrate on your writing. Of that, I am wholly certain.
Making Scents Of Things
Whether it's a candle, a room spray, incense, or wax melts, fragrance can make your writing spot feel a little more cozy.
I have a wax warmer on my desk, and my go-to scent at the moment is coffee. It helps create the atmosphere of writing in a cute little indie cafe that we don't have many of in my neck of the woods (but I would be visiting it at least once a week if we did). I'm also a fan of pine for those nights I wish I were in a log cabin up in the mountains.
But it's not only good for envisioning where you wish you could be writing, but where you're writing about. Bayberry is a scent I keep an eye out for because it's reminiscent of the Regency Era in general, but on a more specific note it's also what I imagine Zach's bookshop smells like in Bound to the Heart—plus a hint of leather and oak. On days I'm working on A Tided Love, I might go for something a little more beachy.
Scents can be seasonal, as well. You may find it challenging to write a scene set on a snowy Christmas morning when you're broaching 90 degrees in the middle of summer. It may seem a little odd to be firing up a pumpkin spice candle or melting down a cube of wax that smells of peppermint, cranberries, sugar cookies, and vanilla buttercream that time of year, but if it works, it works!
Our sense of smell is one of the most evocative, so why not embrace that in your surroundings?
Meditation
If you're sitting down to write after a busy day, it might take your mind a while to settle. You might still be mulling over something that happened at the day job or running through your list of things to get done tomorrow. No matter what's on your mind, it can be difficult to shift gears and focus on writing.
Meditation is something that's still new to me and my writing routine, but so far I've found it to help reset my focus.
I've been trying to get into a better habit since a NaNoWriMo event I attended, which began with a meditation session prior to the first write-in of the challenge.
I'll be perfectly frank here: I've struggled with meditation in the past. Being alone with my thoughts for extended lengths of time hasn't exactly been great for my mental health as I find myself going down unfavorable trails that are difficult to pull myself back from. And as a result, I was pretty resistant to the idea of incorporating meditation into my writing process.
Guided meditations, however, are a different story. I've found that they help me break away from those tumultuous thoughts and whirlwinds of distraction so I can recenter myself as I get ready to write.
There are plenty of guided meditations to be found across YouTube and in various apps that are designed around creativity finding a sense of peace and tranquility before writing. I tend to go for ones that are 5-10 minutes in length most often, but there are much longer ones out there, too.
I'll sometimes sit with a bit of sodalite in my palm if I'm not presently wearing any of my sodalite jewelry. Known as The Writer's Stone, it's a pretty deep blue color with white and striations and specks that I have a fair amount of. It's said to enhance creativity and communication and heighten inner trust while anchoring emotions. It's something to focus on other than everything else around me, which in turn makes it easier to focus on my writing.
Whether you're a fledgling writer just starting out or a seasoned author with a dozen bestsellers to your name, getting into the right headspace is important when you sit down to work on your book. Easier said than done sometimes, especially when your surroundings don't feel all that inspiring or conducive for writing.
There are ways to make the most of what you've got to work with, though! Through small techniques and adjustments, it doesn't take much to create a writing zone that works for you. It might take a little trial and error, but that's just part of the fun.
Comments