Having the right space to write in might make a huge difference to how focused you are, and how much writing you can get done.
If your kitchen table is cluttered and you have to clear a space just to put your laptop down, then that’s an extra barrier to writing. If you’re trying to write in a room where the rest of your family are watching TV, that’s another barrier.
Finding the space to write can be tough at any time, but it’s been a particular issue for writers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Perhaps your partner is working from home for the first time. Maybe your kids are doing online school, or you have adult children living back at home for a while. Getting out to a coffee shop or a local library to write might well not be an option, either.
So what can you do?
Some small, practical steps you can take are to:
- Gather all your writing materials together. (I like to keep things in my bag, even when I’m not leaving the house at all.) Having to spend time hunting for your notebook or your headphones or whatever else you need can derail your writing sesion before you even begin.
- Choose a quiet room to write in. If you normally write at the kitchen table and find that you’re frequently getting interrupted or distracted by other people, can you find space to write somewhere else in your home? This might mean rearranging furniture, or even opting for something like a standing desk or a bed desk/tray for your laptop.
- Wear headphones and listen to music. This helps block out other people’s noise, plus it signals to family members that you’re not available to chat. If you find it distracting to listen to your favourite albums, try movie soundtracks -- they can be great for helping you focus.
Of course, finding space to write isn’t just about having a physical desk that you can use. It’s also about having the mental space and clarity to be able to focus, at least for a short period of time. Hopefully, you’ll find that the practical, physical clearing of space helps you to feel freed up to write.
Some other ways to make mental space for your writing are to:
- Set a timer and write for a specific length of time. I find it really helpful to tell myself that I’m going to focus on my writing for, say, 30 minutes. Even when I’m really busy, everything else can wait till I’m done!
- Have a planner and/or app to track to-do items. It’s hard to be creative when you’ve got a bunch of things in your head that you’re trying not to forget. Find a system that works for you for keeping track of these. For me, that’s a paper planner, plus an app where I keep items that I want to get round to at some point, but that aren’t urgent.
- Have a simple “getting started” routine or ritual for your writing. If you find it hard to switch to writing mode, then develop a short routine you can use to clue your brain in that it’s time to write. That might be something as simple as making a cup of tea, switching off your internet connection, and putting on some music that helps you focus.
For more help with finding the space to write, check out Supercharge Your Writing Environment. It’s on sale until Friday 26th February at just $5 – that’s just $3.25 with your discount code alinewsletter.
You can also get all four Supercharge Your Writing guides for just $20 ($13 with your discount code) – and they’re packed with helpful tips on things like focusing better when you’re writing, fitting writing into your week, and making great progress over the longer-term with your writing.
You can find details about all the guides here:
Bonus: The Aliventures Club (Free, Private Facebook Group)
When you buy any of the Supercharge Your Writing guides – or anything else! – from me, you’re automatically entitled to free lifetime membership of the Aliventures Club: facebook.com/groups/aliventuresclub.
This is a private Facebook group for writing chat, support, and encouragement from fellow writers. If you’re having a hard time finding space to write, do come and tell us about it in the group. Chances are, someone else will have gone through similar struggles and might have some helpful tips for you.
You can join the group if you bought anything from me in the past (even if it was years ago) or if you've ever belonged to a course or group I've run (even if you had a free place). I'd love to see you there!
