1. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Personal Writing Space

    Discussion in 'General Writing' started by jannert, Jan 11, 2015.

    Just for fun, I just googled "writing space photos" and got this. Amazing. The real writers, for the most part, seem work in incredibly cluttered and non-designed spaces. Most of the 'neat, well-designed' photos turn out to be layouts for possible writing spaces, not the ones writers actually use. Love it. I feel right at home with mine, now. Mind you, it would be nice to have a view—but what I MUST have is a door that I can shut, and I've got one. So no complaints. I feel lucky, actually.

    https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=writing space photos&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=m1ayVNbTO8n2UtGogPgH&ved=0CCIQsAQ&biw=1093&bih=798#tbm=isch&q=writing space photos&imgdii=_
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2015
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  2. Tesoro

    Tesoro Contributor Contributor

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    Wow, those are lovely pictures. So much inspiration for my own writing space (that could definitely use a make-over...) :)
     
  3. Glasswindows

    Glasswindows Member

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    I guess they've mostly taken pictures of things worth noting. I'd think there are some more moderate places, if a place really at all.
     
  4. ChaosReigns

    ChaosReigns Ov The Left Hand Path Contributor

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    they look great - makes me feel less bad over the state of my desk
     
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  5. stevesh

    stevesh Banned Contributor

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    Amazing. Something that impresses me about most of those spaces is their size. My reading/writing room is 7 X 9 feet, and the only way I could even take a picture of would be to stand outside the window.
     
  6. DeadMoon

    DeadMoon The light side of the dark side Contributor

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    My space is wherever I can plop down with my lab top. small house with four cats, one dog, a 7 month old and a wife doesn't leave much room for a writing space.
     
  7. SwampDog

    SwampDog Senior Member

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    Didn't King write in a corridor or under the stairs at times?

    So writing is in the head, and minimum space required for transcribing.
     
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  8. kfmiller

    kfmiller Active Member

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    Someone should start a thread where members post pictures of their writing space!

    @SwampDog there is a picture of Stephen King in one of his earlier writing spaces in the link- 6 rows down the black and white picture with the corgi (?) is him.
     
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  9. SwampDog

    SwampDog Senior Member

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    Seventh row, yes. And the quote from On Writing ties it in.
     
  10. kfmiller

    kfmiller Active Member

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    I meant to also add 6 rows down on my Macbook Air so may be different on yours ;)
     
  11. peachalulu

    peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

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    Wow, Will Self loves his sticky notes. Looks like he's got every sentence planned out.

    My writing space isn't as artfully junky as any of these. Just junky.
     
  12. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I do have a writing space, fully equipped with ironing board and shelves full of junk. There's also a bed for the cat in there too! :-D
     
  13. archerfenris

    archerfenris Active Member

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    Gotta say, my space is like a holy temple compared to some. Then again, I write on the same computer I game on. It's always tempting to take a "quick" break from chapter three when your joystick is saying "come, fly me!"
     
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  14. Lancie

    Lancie Senior Member

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    Just the sofa for me. I'm lucky if I can reach the laptop over pushy little dogs.

    Where I work there are a lot of homeworkers, myself included, and they ran a 'festive desk competition' in December. Interesting to see peoples work spaces. It did make me wonder just how genuine they were- and how much time people have on their hands.
     
  15. Okon

    Okon Contributor Contributor

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    Seeing those pictures made me realize (further) how much I procrastinate. My desk and sleeping quarters are spotless, which means I do cleaning instead of writing. The pics of successful writers show cluttered spaces because those men and women are busy writing instead of fudging around. I admire that.
     
  16. Chinspinner

    Chinspinner Contributor Contributor

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    Yeah, looking at some of them I get the impression of people pretentiously concocting an appropriately bohemian writing space. Something they can show-off to their friends and neighbours- "this is where I write. Oh, you didn't know I write? Yes I am a very creative soul". Twat.
     
  17. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    I have a messy desk/study. Every so often I seriously de-clutter and clean it. Within three days, it's messy again. :meh:
     
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  18. cutecat22

    cutecat22 The Strange One Contributor

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    We've talked about writing spaces, private versus the sofa, messy versus tidy but what about other things like rituals (and I don't mean drinking blood from an upturned skull, save that for the masons ... :) ).

    Is there anything you do out of habit while you write?

    I listen to music (all different kinds)
    If I'm writing in the study, then I light a candle.
    I prefer to write by a very dim light or lamp and I have my laptop screen brightness set to the lowest point.
    And I have a favourite coffee mug!

    (Yeah, I know, you don't need to tell me I'm strange, I'm a writer, being strange is a prerequisite!) :)
     
  19. A.M.P.

    A.M.P. People Buy My Books for the Bio Photo Contributor

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    I generally listen to thunderstorms on youtube to keep me focused.
     
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  20. aikoaiko

    aikoaiko Senior Member

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    Love it! Especially the ones with bookshelves floor to ceiling. Nothing says home and inspiration like wall-to-wall books.:D
     
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  21. jaebird

    jaebird Active Member

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    Lots of music. I can't have anything to eat or drink with me, it's too much of a distraction. And I gotta have my feet propped up on something.
     
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  22. Chinspinner

    Chinspinner Contributor Contributor

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    I goose step once around the room at the end of each paragraph.
     
  23. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    ...This is a very interesting side of you I've learned today. :p
     
  24. Renee J

    Renee J Senior Member

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    I write on my bed with a laptop. I think I should write somewhere else, though. I tend to get sleepy.
     
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  25. kfmiller

    kfmiller Active Member

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    LOL I love this. I remember seeing a picture of someone on another writer forum in her "writing space." She was sitting on the floor in a t-shirt and long legs, surrounded by bookcases of books, and the pages of her novel flying in the air, writing on paper and looking contemplatively off into the distance. You have summed up perfectly what I thought looking at that picture.

    As to my own writing space- it's the chair in my living room or in my office downstairs.. but in my defense I'm a realtor so it's my legit at-home work space and the writing is a secondary use.
     
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