Yesterday I posted that I could be a lot more productive in my writing if I could get my office looking nice and uncluttered. You know, so it doesn’t feel like the walls (and the junk) are closing in on me.
The first step was to get rid of the television that was in the floor of the room. It was one of the big ones, not the flat screen. It weighed about 200 lbs., lol. My mother decided she wanted it, so she and my brother came to get it. Hubby had already put his shoes on to help my brother carry it because hubby said it was a two man job. My brother picked it up like it was nothing and carried it out. 🙂
The next step will be to get rid of the Bowflex, which is taking up more room than anything else in the office. I haven’t used it in forever, preferring the weights at the gym where I don’t have to change a bunch of stuff around for the next exercise. I thought someone where hubby worked was going to buy it, but he didn’t. I would be willing to give it away, but hubby probably won’t.
I would really love to put a different floor in there. The carpet is light blue, and it used to be my oldest son’s bedroom. Need I say more? But that will have to come later. When I can afford it.
What about the rest of you? Do you have a writing spot that helps, or do you just write wherever you can? Does the atmosphere where you write affect your writing?
lauralynnelliott.com 
It’s terrible, because they say you should never do this, but I swear I write best when I’m on my bed. Sleeping and working shouldn’t take place in the same spot, but I think that’s just where my creative center lies. I try to get a nice dedicated office space together, but it just won’t do it for me. Ah, well. Some of the best rules are made to be broken, I guess.
Good luck with your own office endeavors, Lauralynn!,
Hey, welcome back, L.S.!
You know, even though an office atmosphere works better for a lot of people, you have to write where you feel most creative. If that’s in the bed for you, then that’s where you should write. If I wrote on my bed, I would fall asleep. Besides, my headboard is an open shelf, so there’s really nowhere to prop up my back anyway.
Are there actually rules for writing??? Hahahahahaha.
Good luck on your office project. We just have a desk in the corner of our living room. So, that’s where I write. Don’t have any extra rooms for an office(though I certainly wish I could have my own space). I think that’s why I usually get most of my writing done before any one else is up. It almost feels like I do have my own space. Or at least I can pretend. Right now my daughter is watching cartoons and playing just a few feet away, but I have my music on and headphones in to help keep me focused unless she needs something.
Thanks, Fallon. If my oldest son wasn’t out of the house, I wouldn’t have an office, either. My youngest son used to be out of the house, too, but he’s been back now for a couple of years. 🙂
I write on the couch 🙂
The TV is always on, so I have trouble writing on the couch. By the time hubby goes to work at night, it’s my bedtime.
The most important thing to me is that I’m alone and no one talks to me, but that could be anywhere, since where I really am is in the book.
A lot of the reason for writing at my desk in my office is comfort. When I have the laptop in my lap, first I have my legs crossed, then I stretch them out on the coffee table, then I cross them again. No comfort. Plus, it’s too loud with the TV going. And hubby always watches TV. So I can’t get into the book until it’s quiet and comfortable.
Just got my first laptop in years, so the Recliner of Awesome calls to me–even though I have a lovely office nook in the master bedroom where my desktop is. But between the Ninja Katz and my back, the recliner is where I’m most comfortable. Plug in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and voila! Instant productivity, just add coffee. 😀
Cate, i’ve been looking for some good headphones (I find ear buds uncomfortable) on Amazon since my son gave me a nice gift certificate from there. I’m leaning toward the Skull Candy ones since someone I know has some that are good. Wish I could afford Bose….
And coffee! Yes!
My Ear Candies broke rather easily, but the D.S. (Darling Spouse) bought me a really nice pair that actually goes to my keyboard. It came with an adapter so I can use it in standard jacks as well. I’ll find out what brand they are and let you know. 🙂
Uncluttering your office is a good idea. Less distractions for the mind! When we bought our house, I commandeered one of the bedrooms to make into my writing nook and place to put put my treadmill and tons of books and clothes. There is way too much stuff in here, and in 2013 I’m working on paring down. It’s nice to have a writing spot, but I hate being a hermit in here so much. We have a couple of new “Recliners of Awesome”, but even if I had a functioning laptop, I just couldn’t concentrate around the t.v. and other distractions in the main living area (How many times a day do cats need fed anyway??? They think they’re starving if it’s not every 20 minutes!). Please share any future writing space simplification tips with us. I could always use new ideas!
I went to the home of a writer friend not long ago, and she had really made herself a great space to work. She put colorful circles (i think they are vinyl) on the wall, and she has a desk for the business part of the writing, and a chaise for the creative part of the writing. It’s a neat office. One thing I do need right now is a comfortable chair. My office chair has very little padding, and I can’t raise it up anymore, so I have to use cushions.
As far as being a hermit, I just make sure I don’t spend more than an hour in there. Unless, of course, creative juices are overflowing. But usually, an hour is all I can write because my hands hurt after more than that.
Just getting rid of stuff I don’t need in there will help a bunch!
I don’t have any specific place to write. All first drafts are done with pen and paper which can go anywhere: work, beach, bed, couch. Then it’s on to my laptop which can also go anywhere. Before finishing off either at work or in my office/computer room. I just need music and to be left alone, and more importantly, to ignore the urge to surf the internet for ‘research’ or browse through a book for ‘research’. Research always leads me to interesting little allyways of distraction.
Although, I really do need to redecorate and paint my office/computer room. Maybe this summer when I plan on doing all my other home repairs (unless research gets in the way again).
Pen and paper? Man, I would never do that. My hands just wouldn’t hold up.
I need to be left alone, but I don’t usually play music. Too bad we can’t time storms. Wouldn’t it be cool to write a nice murder mystery while thunder and lightning was happening outside the window. *shivers*
You know, there are a lot of authors that say they get caught up in the internet while they are doing research, then they end up on Facebook or Twitter. That’s one problem I never have. If I’m writing, and I have to do research, I just do the research, then get right back into my book. I guess we all have our strengths and weaknesses…and distractions.
Good luck with your home repairs. And your research.
I used to write “wherever.” Not good!
My desk is in the living room, but it’s pushed into the alcove of our bay window. I love it! I’m able to be a part of the family without all the distractions, plus I like the natural light.
I have a big window right beside my desk, so that’s really nice. I think it’s good to have a place just to write. Even though this is a creative business, it’s still a business and should be treated as such. Having a specific place to write seems more professional to me. Where you’re at your desk, then that’s time to work, not play. Does that make sense?
I can’t concentrate at all if the house is a mess. I have to stop everything I’m doing and clean up before I can write, so I understand the sensation of the walls closing in on you.
Good luck on getting your office cleaned up, and I hope you are able to get the flooring you want. It’s the small stuff that can make a room look a lot better. 😀
That room is kind of a mess and too cluttered. First thing, I need the new chair. Then the exercise equipment needs to go. I think I can live with just those changes for awhile.