Where I Write

This is a continuation on the topic of my personal writing process and tips that I have found to keep the motivation and stamina going from the first word to the last.
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I feel that where I write can be just as important as when I write. I am a type-A personality, so I love structure and routine. I thrive in an environment where things are organized, and life works within a structured time frame. But life isn’t that way. No matter what, and especially so if you add kids to the mix. As of late, we’ve also added homeschooling and now chicken farming.

During NaNo 2019, I dedicated myself to 50k words and made my desk my home writing place. It was just easier to get up before anyone else and spend a couple of hours getting down those 1667 words per day. There were a few occasions, however, when my laptop went with me to the car rider line or to one of the kid’s doctor’s appointments, but for the most part, my writing happened at my desk.

I didn’t typically have an issue with getting the imagination flowing and music always helped, but sometimes my desk just wouldn’t cut it. There were a few times when I took to the library. There’s just something inspiring about being around thousands of books as you eke out your own. Other times, I sat at the park and surprisingly, if you find a quiet spot, the simple sounds of nature can be thought provoking. No other music needed. A coffee shop, though sometimes busy, gives the perfect ambiance for creativity. I believe it’s simply the aroma of teas and coffees. Far better are the coffee shops inside bookstores. It’s next level, adding the feel of a library with the delicious scents of coffee, chocolates, and caramels.
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In my creative writing class I teach, I specify that sometimes when we are stuck or simply need motivation, a change in scenery might just get the creative juices flowing again. Some may even prefer the noisiest of places, as people watching may invoke new ideas or fresh characters. I’ve always been easily distracted, so I have to keep myself in a focus-inducing environment, but I certainly wouldn’t be against giving it a try. You never know what might help until you do.

A.S. Hardin

Builder of worlds, creator of people, aspiring author or more realistically an avid reader and skilled procrastinator. From sci-fi to horror, I've explored it all. As of late, I find myself diving into the depths of rare and out-of-print sci-fi and fantasy. Join me on this literary journey!