My chair broke yesterday. It suddenly decided that leaning forward and trying to tip me out and to the right would be a fun thing to do.) Staying in the chair–let alone trying to write–was impossible. So, as you do, I got another one. And a funny thing happened.
I couldn’t write.
Why?
Because suddenly my writing environment wasn’t right. The temporary chair was just an ordinary, everyday chair–comfortable to sit on, but nothing to get excited about. But sitting on it at my desk just felt wrong. And even now, with my freshly purchased comfy office chair in place, it still doesn’t feel quite right. Of course, there’s no going back to the old chair, so I’ll just have to adjust.
But it got me thinking about our writing environments, and just how ‘set’ we sometimes get in our ways as writers. My ‘environment’ is a rather messy one. I have a huge desk that is chock full with paperwork, notes, pens, various dictionaries and an odd assortment of vampire figurines. I always have music blasting when I’m writing and I always have a cup of tea close to hand. My feet are up on a footstool (its actually one of those little wooden chairs from a child’s chair and table set) and my chair is usually tilted backwards. Not brilliant posture but it works for me. Oh, and my keyboard is one of those Microsoft sweeping ergonomic ones. I have written like this for more than twenty years and, apparently, I’ve become very set in my ways.
Is this a good thing? I’d have to say no–not when something as simple as breaking my chair can upset the writing apple cart! But it’s also something of a fact that I now find writing elsewhere difficult. Going to conferences and trying to put words onto page feels as pleasant as pulling teeth. And yet, as a writer, there’s plenty of times when you do have to write outside your own comfortable little cell.
So I thought I’d pose a question–what tips and tricks have you got for writing outside your normal arena? Do you, like me, get stuck, or are you one of those lucky people who can write anywhere and everywhere?
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Oh my God, I know exactly what you mean! I really have to write when I’m at my desk, in my office. Not downstairs; not on the train. Yeah, okay, I can write in other places, but it just doesn’t feel right.
I guess I’m lucky. I can write wherever(when I can write at all). I’ve written in airports, hotel rooms, college dorms, my room, at a desk, in bed, in a chair, in a car, on the couch, even sitting on the grass in the park. One time, when I was feeling particularly pretentious, I wrote sitting on a tree branch. The discomfort far outweighed the poetic atmosphere. The one place I cannot write is on horseback, or maybe in the pool.
I guess one of the reasons I can manage this is because I never got into a particular routine. I don’t schedule specific blocks of my day, and often, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I suppose I’ve been trained by necessity.
The only tip I can think of is to start switching it up. Decide to write somewhere new, or in a new medium. It seems to me that a required writing environment is a thing of habit, and while habits can be hard to change, at least you know it’s possible.
I can write anywhere, as long as I’ve got my ipod.
I know exactly what you mean. I started writing at the kitchen table then when I got a (Gulp) desk had to move 10 feet to write in a completely different space. All I could do was stare at the laptop and play Spider Solitaire until the story fairy decided she could talk to me waaaaay over here. There is a step down, you know.
story fairy…i like that!
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I get stuck too Keri. I’m not comfortable. Usually I write in the privacy of my room on my computer, but if I bring it elsewhere to write, I can’t do it with other people around for some reason. It might have to do with very few people I know and very few people that I see read urban fantasy–getting it all confused as a “Twilight thing” so I get self-conscious about it.
But I do carry a notebook around with me almost everywhere or at least paper and pen so I can put it in said notebook later to jot down ideas for my novels/WIPs. That I have no problem with because to an outsider the notes won’t make much sense and the order is chaotic, because different ideas come in for different WIPs and there is no order or organization to my notebook. I do go back later and color tab it all to mark what note goes with what novel though.
Huh. I’ve never thought of this before. I guess I’m more comfortable at home, btu sometimes, like now, I’m not at home and I should write. So I just do…usually.
I wouldn’t say I can write anywhere, but I sometimes *have* to move in order to write. I’ll write along happily in one location for a few days, and then all of a sudden I’ve got nothing – unless I move downstairs, or upstairs, or sit on the floor, or on the porch…
I can write anywhere, any time, if my mind is right. That’s my problem. But if I’m distracted or if my mindset is off, I’m screwed. Today? I was screwed.
I too have one of those crazy microsoft ergo keyboards.
I love it.
If I have some music and my own laptop I can pretty much write anywhere. I do write best at my own desk but if I can distract myself enough then I do ok.
Also loving the “Story Fairy”
I’m not a writer, but as I read this, I couldn’t help seeing this scene:
An editor explaining as to why an author isn’t meeting her deadlines:
Editor: “My author’s chair broke.”
Boss: “And…..?”
Editor: “Well, she bought another chair, but it doesn’t feel right yet.”
I do understand the feeling though. Any new thing can throw you out of whack, from a new mattress or sheets to a new computer or keyboard.
Good luck!
I can write much easier anywhere other than at home. There’s too many distractions for me. I love coffee shops, long bus rides, or work/school breaks.
I do really want an ergonomic chair, though. I already have scoliosis and a tiny frame so I have a hard time getting back support.
Also like the story fairy…
I have the hardest time writing with other people around. It’s like their thoughts and heads are intruding into mine. When I moved and had no space to call my own I all but became nocturnal to get that ‘quiet’ where the world seems to stand still and I could hear the clear buzzing of the words in my head bugging me to be written down.
Even with music as a bandage to the problem, and ear plugs beneath headphones, and firing range ear protection to block out the world it can be difficult…
Yet when I do write, everything else just naturally fades away and I wonder why I even needed the stuff. I am THERE. At that point it’s just my keeping my body well-fueled enough to keep up with my head. I have fallen victim WAY to much of people coming up and scaring me because I’m just on another planet… story land.
Favorite place to write. Where I’m ALONE. Then the ghosts are cozy coming out of the woodwork to cheerlead the writing.