NaNoWriMo: Transform Your Shed into A Writing Haven
Blog Category:
Re:Write
Posted Mon 31 Oct 2011
When I hear authors speaking about their writing process, the single phrase which excites me is “I write in a shed in the garden”. It sends me off into a dream world of shed design and interior decor. I suspect my problem would be in stopping the dreaming and getting down to the writing but here are my ideas for the perfect “writing hut” :-
The outside –
- Down a path, hidden from view of the house and just far enough away to detach the brain from housely matters and start the thinking process on writerly matters.
- Designed and painted to blend into the landscape and difficult for random visitors to find.
The inside –
- Plainly decorated with enough bare wallspace for pinning up inspiring “things”
- Fairly Spartan, warm and comfortable, with a hammock for thinking and resting, beautiful drapes and rugs, a music system, fancy coffee machine, fridge and a discreet drinks cabinet.
- Bookshelves with beautiful art and craft books as well as dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, etc.
- A toilet – going back to the house would expose me to what needs to be done there.
- Room for 1 visitor only – it would be too easy to have a gathering every day instead of writing.
- Oh yes – and a desk, chair, laptop, notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers ......
It appears I’m not alone.
Writing advice from our Interior Design Guru and General Manager, Jeanette Harris.
For more tips on NaNoWriMo see our Re:write blog. Tomorrow's tip: 'How to Apply For Your Very Own Isolator' by our Learning Manager, Colm Linnane. This is an essential read for any serious participant of NaNoWriMo.
Find out more about National Novel Writing Month at NaNoWriMo.org
John Byrne wrote the script for Tutti Fruitti in a shed by the Tay.
This is Scotland! A shed is far too chilly. A more robust, fully insulated, double glazed retreat is my dream - with a real fire (and someone else to tend to it. naturally). And a view of the sea would be perfect.
Dear Santa, I've been a very good writer all year long and I've done all my editing on time. Can I have a shed with a yellow door please? Thank you in advance, Dani.
What a lovely idea. I'd love to have my very own writing shed. I used to write my childhood masterpieces on a wooden pallet perched precariously high on the branches of a cherry blossom tree, but it was hard work hefting my word processor up and down there each day.
What a hilarious headline! I'm afraid transforming our shed into a writinghaven would take a fairy godmother who wasn't afraid of the largest spiders in the northern hemisphere,and a truck (or giant pumpkin) to take away all the stuff we've crammed into it.
I'll just carry on writing in the conservatory, thanks. Or Starbuck's.
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