Write Where You Are by Wendy H. Jones
The weather has been beautiful here in Bonnie Dundee for a few weeks now. The other morning I decided to take my writing (and my breakfast) outside. The sun always makes me feel better and gives an added zing to my creativity. I always feel good when I'm sitting in the sun, hothouse plant that I am. I also decided to take my notebook and pen outside to write rather than my laptop. Now, this was because I was planning a new project, rather than not wanting to take my laptop outside. The planning went with a bang. Not literally of course but it flowed along and the ideas just kept coming. I'm sure the beautiful notebook ( birthday gift from a lovely ACW member) and the matching fountain pen helped. There's nothing like a pretty notebook to get you writing.
This got me thinking about where the best place to write might be. I am fortunate to have an outside space where I can write. This is generally peaceful as I have a stream at the end of my garden, then someone's garden, then the country. However, peace was in short supply the other day as the chap at the other side of the stream decided to cut down trees or saw up logs or something. Peace wasn't what was on my mind. Then there was the lovely chap next door who decided to water the plants on his pergola. With a hose. Over the fence came the water and I was cooling down rather quicker than I imagined. Not good for writing in. However, I decided to take a deep breath as well as take these interruptions in my stride. Some noise cancelling headphones did the trick and, you know what, I was able to store these situations in a notebook and they will appear in a book at some point. It's all fodder to a writer.
I have four places in my house where I can, and do, write. Others may not be so fortunate. However, when I think about it, the only basics you need to write are paper and pen, laptop, a tablet or your phone. Yes, there are people writing books using nothing other than a mobile phone. The fancy trappings are nice but not a necessity. The most important thing for a writer is imagination. It doesn't matter where you are are what you are using, or where you are, your imagination goes with you. For two hours this morning I was doing chores. Yes, I know it's difficult to imagine a writer doing chores but needs must. The whole time I was planning what I would be writing. Two hours of glorious uninterrupted creative imagining. Bliss.
I decided in the end that the right place to write is write where you are. The play on words is intended. After all, I'm a writer. As a Christian writer you also have God beside you right where you are. Although, I still think he prefers being in the garden and is smiling at me as I write.
Where do you write and what do you use to write. I'm looking forward to finding out.
About the Author
Wendy H Jones is the Amazon Number 1 best-selling author of the award winning DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her Young Adult Mystery, The Dagger’s Curse was a finalist in the Woman Alive Readers Choice Award. She is also The President of the Scottish Association of Writers, the Secretary of the Association of Authors in Scotland, an international public speaker, and runs conferences and workshops on writing, motivation and marketing. Wendy is the founder of Crime at the Castle, Scotland’s newest Crime Festival. She is the editor of a Lent Book, published by the Association of Christian Writers and also the editor of the Christmas Anthology from the same publisher. Her first children's book, Bertie the Buffalo, was released in December 2018. Motivation Matters: Revolutionise Your Writing One Creative Step at a Time, was released in May 2019.
Amazon Author Page
Lovely post, Wendy :) I also like to plan/write notes in the garden but for the actual writing I like to be in my little study which looks over trees and from where I can see birds on the neighbour's roof. Thank you for the reminder that, wherever we write and whatever stage we are at with it, God is at our side :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. A study with a view sounds fabulous. My view in my office/study is of a cupboard and a wall.
DeleteI liked the chap watering you! Well, since lock down, I do a lot of writing in bed, propped up on pillows and cushions and looking out over the beautiful uninterrupted countryside. I used to write in the dining room, me at one end of the table, my husband at the other. When the children were at school, in the old days, I used to sit on the sofa writing. Not an option presently. I've tried writing out in the garden, but balancing my laptop on my knee on the garden bench didn't really work yesterday. I yearn for a studio. Wherever I write, though, I'm a writer. We can all make our situation fit somehow.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame about the garden. Any mileage in getting a little table and a couple of chairs? That might help.
DeleteIt's worth a try
Deletei have a "den" upstairs which looks out over the garden (and neighbours' gardens) and beyond that a college sports ground, (or patch of very well manicured grass right now!) My husband has a study, i used to work there until he began to work from home - but the den has a much nicer view, so no problem. i do love to work outdoors when it's summer, or in the summer house - though the summerhouse wi-fi isn't working at present...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely, I have to say.
DeleteThis was so funny Wendy. I could imagine you sitting there in writer heaven when suddenly you get hosed down from next door. I hope your beautifully inked pages didn't get soaked. As for me, one end of the dining table is my writing space.
ReplyDeleteThe end of the dining room table works for me. I'm glad I made you laugh. It's the best antidote for our current situation
DeleteI get plenty of inspiration in the garden but can't write there as I'm too distracted - by the birdsong, the plants, the wind making the trees dance, and whatever the latest building project is by one of my neighbours!
ReplyDeleteI long for a writing study (but my husband works from home and my kids still haven't removed all their stuff after moving out) so it's the sofa or, more commonly, what's known as Mum's Prayer Chair for me. Actually, that's a really good space - a roomy, cosy armchair where I can balance my Surface or notebook on my knees without my shoulders hunched up (unlike writing at the dining table) and where I frequently imagine I am curled up on God's lap as He looks over my shoulder smiling.
I often write in bed in the early hours of the morning with a good, strong coffee by my side. I dream of a shepherd's hut at the bottom of the garden complete with a little log burner for the winter months and the door wide open allowing in the scent of honeysuckle and roses in the summer. However, my bed and strong coffee may still be a requirement for the early hours of the morning!
ReplyDelete