Writers and garrets… a room with a view or just bubbles in the bathtub?
By some strange chance I was sent an email the other day which was semi-spam, but the article was terrific. Writers’ spaces. Now the ones they showed were quite simply wonderful. Inspirational. The source of great literature. And I wondered why I couldn’t have such a space… a cottage on a deserted estate on a distant island. And if I did, would my writing actually be any better?
I use the bath as a creative space sometimes.
Good enough for Jeffrey Archer!
I don’t write there, but I do think… I talk through lines of dialogue aloud. I think through scenes. All the while, hot water dribbles in and bubbles pop all around. If it’s good enough for Jeffrey Archer, it’s good enough for me. I also have a favourite writing corner at House on the coast… but its often impinged upon by the rest of the family and that makes writerly solitude difficult. In essence I am a mobile writer. I work on a laptop and it goes where I go. All except the bath of course.
I decided that there are many independent writers who are leaving their mark on the world of reading and I wanted to know what their spaces were like in this technological world we inhabit.
Some have office spaces, some have rooms with views high up staircases, some have gypsy caravans… yes, romantically situated gypsy caravans… all have their own special space that contributes toward the creation of a book. But compared to writers of yore, our tools are electronic, can carry monumental files in a one inch long tool and can move things readily over the smallest or vastest distances. We can quite literally carry our work in a handbag, or even round our necks. That said, we all have a space… an area where the words flow better, where we sequestre ourselves… a private sanctum.
Share some of them with me…
Lexi Revellian, exceptionally successful UK thriller writer has a view of the streets of London Town and speaking as a boatie, I love her screensaver. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Lexi+Revellian&x=0&y=0 Lexi's books are also available in e- and print form on Amazon.co.uk
Australian award-winning hist.fict/hist.romance writer Lucinda Brant's space. The library looks to die for. http://www.amazon.com/Lucinda-Brant/e/B004QLRWZU/ref=sr_tc_ep?qid=1309943853
Barbara Silkstone's chair looks so comfortable... a dreaming chair! Amazon site for Barbara Silkstone: http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Silkstone/e/B0047L8A8W/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 Book site: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BIGFSE/ref=tag_dpp_yt_edpp_rt?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text#tags
Ann Swinfen. Highly successful UK writer of elegant lit.fict and hist.fict. Who wouldn't want a gypsy caravan! http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B0032EXS00 and http://www.amazon.com/Ann-Swinfen/e/B0032EXS00/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1309948480&sr=1-2-ent
Louise Wise, exciting new chick lit writer. She's like me, 'have laptop, will travel.' APC: http://amzn.to/pAlfxN Eden: http://amzn.to/plzAP7
Greg Johnston, Australian author of Consumption. Greg lives in Sydney and has recently opened up his room with a view by an outside staircase. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052YX8K8
Saffina Desforges. Coauthor of the mindblowingly successful and confronting Sugar and Spice. Saffis' space is so organised, it's no wonder she's become legendary in the world of the indie writer. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sugar-Spice-controversial-psycho-sexual-ebook/dp/B004AYDK22 UK version http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Spice-controversial-psycho-sexual-ebook/dp/B004AYDK22 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sugar-Spice-controversial-psycho-sexual-ebook/dp/B004W0IJCU American version http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Spice-controversial-psycho-sexual-ebook/dp/B004W0IJCU
I sit in the livingroom where my kids are running around and playing the tv is blasting and my husband is on his computer. For me I’m more productive at this time because I go to my own little world and type it 😀
Leanne, you’re a superwoman! I admire your ability to tune out. I’m hopeless, although OH would say I tune out constantly!
Fascinating insight, Prue. I must say I am tempted by Ann’s Gypsy caravan. Not sure I would fit my library into it though. Perhaps one of those mobile library trucks that are often parked out our way would do – it would at least have ready-made shelving! Thanks for sharing!
Pleasure, Lucinda… the gypsy caravan does it for me too. Positioned on the edge of a deserted beach with the door open so I can listen to the waves. Ann’s very lucky!
Thanks, Rosalie. I love the sound of the hammock. The closest I would get would be the couch or the window seat. The way I figure it, the more we have to jump up and down for research texts, the more exercise we are getting. And the dogs are part of the whole thing… they are my muses.
At present I am writing on a laptop while swinging in a hammock. As unusual as it sounds, words are getting penned. Not great for grabbing research books, but for getting the draft down and words flowing, it isn’t too bad.
The Chronicles of Caleath were penned on a laptop, on in the guest room propped up on the spare bed with dogs beside me. Best room for quiet, sunshine, cool breezes, bookshelves and garden view.
Most of my editing is done at the computer in the lounge room. Unlike Leanne, I need peace and quiet.
Great post Prue, so interesting to see where others work.
I guess it says a lot about Saffi and my working relationship that you got to see my co-author’s workplace before me! A year after we began writing together we’ll be meeting in person for just the third time next month when I head back to the UK to escape the worst of the rains here.
As for my workplace – No camera at the moment, so no visuals.
My desk is a plank of wood across two rusting barrels, in keeping with the rest of my living quarters. I do have a rickety old swivel chair for back comfort, but so old and creaking (the chair!) I’m not sure it helps much.
By day my sound backdrop is the constant laughter of children unburdened by life’s non-essentials like TV, computer games and other wants. Bliss.
By night the chorus of crickets and adults sitting around animatedly socialising by moonlight with not a drop of alcohol to lubricate their discourse.
No such luxury as a bath. Carrying that much water just to bathe in would be the height of decadence here.
It will be strange going back to the unbridled luxury of modern western life with a comfy bed, hot and cold water on tap and 24-hour televsion. Apart from the lure of a decent latte I’m honestly dreading it!
Mark, you owe me a few pics when you get back to civilisation. I promise i shall do a post on the African odyssey of one of Kindle’s most successful authors.
I think your day sounds perfect. At our little beach cottage (in Oz we call it a shack, read what you will into that) we back onto the village school and it is a delight to listen to the children all day. Night time in a beachside village out of
season is a further delight. Silence but for the waves and the night creatures. But come ‘the season’ and I hate society! Noisy, ill-mannered, irresponsible weekenders who come in, party loudly, destroy the ambience. Locusts spring to mind… as noisy and damaging.
I can understand your dread… the one advantage of Tasmania is that we can have a latte (in my case a cappucino) and then in less than 30 mins be far from the madding crowd in a world heritage area.
Those desks are so…so tidy! I can’t help but feel I’m doing something wrong. .:QQ:.
Nothing like a pre-photoshoot cosmetic session!
I want me a gypsy caravan! Love all these picks. Nobody sees my writing space. I can just make my way through stacks of books and papers to my ancient desktop Dell. All these organized people! I don’t know how they do it.
I can’t wait for the report on Mark’s African odyssey!
BTW, thanks so much for the offer of an interview. Yes! I’d love it. (And maybe I could clean up my act long enough for some friend to take a picture of my study–I don’t do cameras myself.)
Fun post.
Hi Anne. Methinks everyone has been tarted up for the pic, don’t you?
Glad you’ll do the I/V… you pick the most politic time for your book’s release and we’ll work from there if you like. Email me via my website! Cheers.
Argh. I never did send you a photo. Dang. What a prat I am. Excuse me now, while I go kick myself!
Such wonderful writing places. These days I don’t have one. No space is sacred in my house! But when I was single, my bedroom was a very special place. Surrounded by my favourite things at my little desk, I wrote many a tale. Gone are the days… unless they come back sometime (I hope!)