Where is your Secret Place? · 8:06pm Apr 27th, 2017
Part of what has helped me get back into writing lately has been carving out a space condusive to the art of storytelling within my environment. We live in a tiny, one bedroom apartment and space is always at a premium, but the perfect solution came with the change of the seasons in Southern California.
Our back porch.
Since it faces the western sun and I shun Celestia's orb like the nocturnal vampire I secretly am, I always wait until just before sunset, then I bring out what I need to make my space my own - a folding chair, a hurricane-style candle holder, a straw mat for the ground so I can go barefoot, my favorite drink and of course, my laptop (which I've named "Iron Blade") and some headphones to get the full effect of atmospheric music when I need it.
The porch faces a semi-busy section of the complex's carport and worse, we are on the ground floor, so everything of value not bolted down must be moved each and every night. Taking only the essentials helps make it a quick, 5-minute set up that takes a minimal amount of time away from my writing. Once the new landscape has been put in, the noise will be reduce and the privacy and beauty of the space will increase, but for now, the later into the evening I write, the quieter it gets until there is almost no traffic after 9:30 pm and I have been known to stay out as late as midnight as the weather has allowed.
I certainly convinced my husband, Tale Weaver, of its value when he spent time with me out there last night as I read the last two published chapters of The Mad Seeress of the North to him. With the perfect balance of pretty blue lights strung overhead, three tealight candles wavering softly in their holder, a slight cooling breeze providing fresh air and the occasional grasshopper stopping by to cling to the wall and say Hi while I read, it made me wonder why the hell I hadn't done this long before now?
Creating and claiming a space for yourself may not be easy, but it certainly is worth it. But as I wind up this long-winded post, I was hit with the question where does everyone else do their most creative writing? Have you found a place you write in that works better than others?
I don't have a secret place, but I do have a new way to type up my stories. I no longer trust my device to write anything on since I've had moments where whole chunks of work have been erased while I was writing
I've moved to the computer. It's not mine persay, it belongs to the family, but I have gotten so much work done on it that it's such a relief. When I'm able to, I'll get my own computer.
For me, my personal secret place is my own bedroom, as there are so many interesting things within eyeview when laying down on my bed it's easy to get a idea.
Well, that's easy. I'm usually alone most of the day. So when I want to get in the mood of writing, I'll get in my own personal fold out couch at the corner of the living room with the laptop on the right big armrest. I fold out the legs to put my feet up and a big 20-year-old black and cat named Friskie crawls up into my lap. The cat goes to purring as I pet her to sleep while type.
In fact, all of that is going on right now.
I live in a little flat and my computer is built like a tank so all my writing takes place in the room that honking big Tower unit is in.
If I'm drawing though, I like to retreat to my bedroom where I'm cosiest~ downside is; the pencils get lost behind the bed..