Where I write + a word of advice

I don’t have an office in my house. Unless you consider my couch an office because I spend every morning there doing all the administrative tasks that go into this little writing business of mine.

A while back, I actually set up a desk in my daughter’s old room. I had grand plans to make it into a lovely little writing space for myself, but after an unfortunate leak in our roof, that room got filled up with boxes and tubs. And the room has sort of become a catch-all ever since.

For a long time, I struggled to find the motivation to finish my books. I kept getting behind on deadlines. I couldn’t seem to sit on the couch with my laptop and do anything but scroll Facebook and Instagram and check my emails. My husband also works from home, so his presence was sometimes distracting as well.

Frustrated, I decided to try something different.

When my daughter was younger, she did competitive gymnastics, so she was at the gym several days a week training. While she flipped and spun and balanced, I sat in my car in the parking lot writing my books. It always worked really well for me. I wrote and edited many books that way.

So, one day last summer, I grabbed my laptop, got in my car, picked up a coffee, and drove to a local park with a view of the river. And I wrote, and people-watched, and stared at the river, and let my mind wander. I got words written and chapters edited, and I finished the book I’d been struggling with.

I found my happy writing place, which was wherever I felt like parking my car.

And that’s what I love most about it. I can be in my car with the windows down, enjoying the fresh air, the birds chirping, and the beautiful views of nature while getting stories written.

Getting in my car and leaving the house also makes it feel very much like I’m “going to work,” which seems to keep me on task.

It might not be for everyone, but it certainly works for me.

So, my advice to you, if you’re a writer who has lost that drive (hehehe!) to get your book written, try something new. You might not get it back by literally driving somewhere and writing in your car like I did, but a change might be the answer. Choose a different place to write—maybe a coffee shop or the home of a friend or parent. Change the time you write. Are you normally a morning words person? Try writing in the evening. Try writing sprints. Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and race to see how many words you can write. Connect with a writer friend online (hi there!) and do writing sprints together.

Do something that will shake up your normal routine. It might be exactly what you need to finish your novel.

I’m off to the lake now to get some words written. Until next time.