Earlier this year, one respondent to the Aliventures survey explained:
"I'm an introvert and an intuitive writer. I need solitude, and a reasonable expectation of privacy, and I'm just not getting it. I'm working on
resolving that."
This was a few months ago, so I really hope that particular person has been able to get the solitude and privacy that they need (and fully deserve!) in order to write. But I know other Aliventures readers may well be facing similar issues.
As writers, we need the
mental and physical space to write. We're doing something that can feel very private and vulnerable: putting out thoughts down on the page.
Yes, in many cases, we're hoping that other people will some day read those thoughts ... but not when we're still drafting and refining our work.
What's Getting in the Way of Your Ideal Writing Space?
If you're struggling to find a writing space where you can write peacefully, quietly, and privately, there could be a few factors at play. Let's take a look at some common ones ... and how to resolve them.
#1: Your Family Members / Housemates Aren't Supporting Your Need for Privacy
It's a shame to have to address this one, because I really wish all families and friends were supportive! But sadly not all are (even if they mean well).
Perhaps your
partner wants to chat to you every time you're in the same room. Maybe your kids constantly burst in when you're trying to write. I really felt for the person who wrote into Captain Awkward describing how she couldn't even get an hour to herself to write because her husband, teenagers,
and cats (!) kept interrupting.
This can be a tricky one to solve. I do think it's entirely reasonable to be firm with family members who interrupt you, and it can help to set specific times or boundaries around your writing (e.g. "When the door is shut, I'm writing.") If you can get completely out of the house to write, and turn off your phone, that might be the easier solution ... but
coffee shops or libraries may not meet your need for a private, secure space to be creative.
#2: You Don't Have a Suitable Writing Set-Up in a Private Room
I don't think you need to devote a whole room in your house to just writing (that's not very
practical for most of us!) ... but you probably do need a room that isn't the kitchen, living room, or other communal space.
Unless you're able to write when everyone else is out of the house, you're inevitably going to feel self-conscious or get interrupted in those rooms.
Can you fit a desk (even a tiny one) in your bedroom? Could you use part of another room that doesn't get much foot traffic? If your child is hanging out in the living room, could you write in their room?
#3: Your Writing Equipment Isn't Portable or Well Situated
I do my freelance work and my writing for Aliventures at a desktop that really isn't practical to move around. I'm lucky that I have a small study where this resides, and no-one uses that room but me!
When I'm writing fiction, I often use my Chromebook. It's a cheap, portable laptop with a decent battery life, so I can easily move it around the
house.
If you're writing at a desktop computer, could you move it into a quieter room? If you need to share a laptop with other family members, is there any room in your budget for you to get a cheap machine of your own? If that's not possible, could you try writing on your phone, a tablet, or with pen and paper?
I want you to remember that your writing is important and you deserve the quiet time and space you need for it.
Keep working for that space you need. That might mean having a conversation with family members, investing some money in a new laptop or other writing tool to help you, or even rearranging
some furniture to fit a desk into your bedroom.
You're worth the effort and the money. Your writing matters.
Happy writing,
Ali
P.S. If you missed the most recent blog post, here it is:
Writing Voice: Finding Yours and Loosening Up When Your Writing Seems Stilted or Dry
