I Write this Sitting in the Kitchen Sink by Nikki Salt

Where do you like to write?

“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.” Dodie Smith’s famous first line in her book, ‘I Capture the Castle’ got me thinking. Where do you like to write? Does your perfect writing space inspire you? Prevent you from being distracted? Give you peace and quiet? All of these things? None of these things? Perhaps, like Cassandra, the kitchen sink is the only place with enough light to enable one to see.

Another favourite author of mine; Shauna Niequist, at one of her book launches, admitted she writes in cafes because the quiet of her home sends her to sleep and she’d be too embarrassed to snooze in public. I suppose she’s right; falling asleep, head lolling and mouth drooling on one’s laptop can’t be a good look.

Mark Twain Editing in his Bed

Sir Walter Scott wrote on horseback, Agatha Christie wrote in the bathtub, DH Laurence preferred to write outside under the shade of a tree, John le Carré wrote on the train. A good friend of mine travels so much, she does most of her writing on trains, planes and in taxis. Once, I wrote in an aquarium (a lovely experience as long as it’s not too busy). Another time, I wrote a couple of chapters in a church surrounded by lit candles. Atmospheric but cold.

So, where do you write? Perhaps you’re one of those fortunate writers that create scenes in exotic locations and ‘must experience it for real, darling’ or climb mountains in the Himalayas so one can describe the highs and lows and the adrenaline rush that accompanies such a feat.

An inordinate number of people write in bed; Edith Wharton, Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Michael Morpurgo and (I’m no longer ashamed to admit) so do I!