How to Create a Writing Room

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By Gail Martin
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My daughter in her summer writing area

When you write, you need a place for your computer, your research materials and lots of files. Here are ways to get the space needed for productive writing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

FIND SPACE: We turned a bedroom in our house into my writing room by getting rid of the guest bed. Now we lack space for guests to sleep, but that's an infrequent inconvenience. An air mattress on the floor takes care of visitors. The computer is used every day, so using the space for that makes more sense.
Look around to see what space in your home is not being used very much. I know someone who turned their dining room into a writing room. They always ate in the breakfast room anyway. If you can't manage a whole room, look for a corner or even a closet. A room is best.
Step 2

GET A DESK: You can make one from two-drawer filing cabinets with a countertop resting on top of them. Get a decent secretarial chair or office chair with wheels on it. You'll be spending a lot of time there.
Step 3

KEEP BOOKS AND PAPERS TO HELP WITH YOUR WRITING: My writing room is filled with books for researching all kind of articles that I plan on writing; for our family history memoirs and extensive files of everything our family is interested in. I have added notebooks where I am saving written material by others in our family. My Mother’s stories she wrote in the early twenties, our daughter, Shannon’s “Martin News"; my sister, Carol’s “Living on the Bay” her monthly newsletter from Seadrift, Texas and our daughter, Cindy’s “Birdwoman programs” that need a special shelf.
Step 4

ADD SHELVING: Book shelves were added all around in my writing room. The shelves are one-of-a-kind and were made by our son, Owen. He is a cabinet maker and the ends of these book shelves are made from narrow strips of scrap cherry, birch, walnut, pine and poplar wood pieced together. They make my writing room as unique as my writing style.
Step 5

Me and my file cabinet

ADD FILES: Besides file drawers with the desk area, you'll be glad to have a four-drawer file. Try to get a good solid one. The really cheap ones have shorter drawers and get warped out of shape when you really load them up with files.
Step 6

STOCK IN SUPPLIES: You'll need the usual office supplies like paper, pens, paper clips, etc.
Step 7

SHOW OFF YOUR AWARDS: Leave some wall space to feature your writing awards. Maybe frame a copy of your first payment for something you wrote or a special acceptance letter or a picture of your favorite author.

Comments

sanderdoe said

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on 4/17/2009 Every time I create a writing room for myself, one of my sons moves back home! It's a never ending frustration. A writer needs to create a writing room and I'm going to try again! 5*

Susanh said

on 2/4/2009 Our office is my writing space and it has all the items you mentioned. Thank you for confirmation that it's in good shape!

on 1/17/2009 Having a space to work with all the resources you need inspires creativity. I have my little home office too & it has everything I need. Thanks for sharing this valuable & inspiring article!