Dungeon. Man cave. Broom closet. The table at the back of the coffee shop with the gimpy tilt. That is where the magic happens. The space. You could call the place where a writer writes an idea farm, a sort of blue collar place where they can get to the focused business of doing. That’s where, once they step into it, their mind and body recognizes that it’s time to shift into work mode.
But, the question comes up, “Do I really need a place where I go specifically to write?” Well, it depends. Everyone is different, but my experience (and that of many of my friends) is the same: if you ever hope to be a productive writer, you will eventually need somewhere to which you can disappear even if it’s just for moments at a time. And the reason is pretty simple: the world around us belches out a chronic smog of distraction and noise. Because of that it’s inhospitable to the fragile seeds of inspiration and creativity you’re trying to cultivate in the narrow slice of time that you have. So my answer is “yes, you should have a place to go if at all possible.”
I use my friends Eric Wilson, Chris Well, and Matt Bronleewe as examples a lot when speaking to writers. All three of these guys are fantastic creatives who have learned to get it done despite busy schedules and the crazy distractions of life. Every one of them has a place where they go for work. Eric has a desk that he normally works from, Chris has a home office, and Matt has an office over his garage. My escape is a home studio I set up in our basement, affectionately dubbed the “man cave” by my wife. It’s a simple office spread: my computer, an extra monitor, a nice desk and chair. Then I’ve got an old, reclaimed elm table and sitting area for reading, lights on a dimmer to control mood and, most importantly, a door I can close. No TV. No email, Twitter, or Facebook.
I usually disappear into the man cave at 9p, after my daughter has gone to bed and after I’ve spent time with my wife. But once I’m downstairs that is my world. There are some nights when it seems I accomplish more in 2 hours than I did all day in my regular office. That’s because the man cave is almost a distraction-free zone. My mind has the chance to lock in. For me, quiet is vital because distractions like noise, TV’s, and the like absolutely cripple my ability to really produce. I’m not a coffee shop writer (man, I wish I was because that’s so cool), so I’m thankful for the cave.
Bottom line is you’ve got to find what works for you. You may thrive on the hustle and bustle of the coffee shop. That may energize you. If so, you are the minority. Chances are that you need, like most writers, a place where you can shut yourself in and shut the world out for awhile. Writing is tough enough without having to fight just to concentrate. Make it easy on yourself, if you can, and find a specific place that is your writing space. It’s one of the best things you could do for yourself.
Where do you write (or create, if you aren’t a writer specifically)? Do you thrive on quiet or noise?