Writing – ILK Journal

5 Ways To Make Your Creative Space More Conducive to Writing

Oct 19, 2018Linda CodyAround The HomeAmbience, Creative Space, Habits, Helpful Hints, Writing

Some may call it a studio, others may call it an office, and still others may simply call it their kitchen table. Regardless of where you go to write at home, you want to have a place that encourages you to write at your best. In general, writers perform best when they are in a calm, reasonably lit environment where they can be full of energy and produce their best works without distraction. Here are five tips you can use to make sure your personal writing space is giving you everything you need to finish your next piece of art.

Location

First and foremost, you want to have a place that you can dependably retire to in order to get the creative juices flowing. Many writers enjoy going to cafes or outdoor locations such as parks, beaches, etc., but there is something to be said for having your own oasis right in the comfort of your own home. The physical location within your home might be a spare bedroom where guests rarely visit, or perhaps a loft or a section of a finished basement.

There are obviously no strict rules when selecting the location of your creative space, but you want to make sure that you can have easy access with everything in order. When inspiration strikes, you want to have everything ready to go so that you can get in the flow as fast as possible. This brings us to the next point.

Setup

Not dissimilar from a cook’s often-discussed mise en place, there is a load of benefit for having everything ready to go for writing at any time of the day. If you write on a computer, this means having a keyboard and word processor ready to go at a moment’s notice. If your computer takes seemingly forever to boot up, you might have lost your train of thought by the time you actually get to writing. Consider decluttering your computer or upgrading to a more dependable model if necessary.

If you’re a bit more old-fashioned, or you just like the feel of some good-old pen and paper, this would mean having a notepad and your favorite pen ready to go at a moment’s notice. Make sure you have plenty of lighting, a comfortable seat, and anything else you might need to be comfortable, productive, and ultimately to get the job done.

Ambience

Once you have your location picked out and your setup in place, the final touches should focus on creating an ambience that will really help you keep your peace of mind. Visually calming aesthetic touches can be incredibly soothing, and can give your eyes something to focus on while your mind wanders into the depths of creativity. If your home has a fireplace, for example, this can be a great focal point for a writing room. These days, electric fireplaces can be a fantastic alternative without breaking the bank or remodeling your home. If this sounds like a good solution, you can check out Tim Arnolds’ detailed guide to find the best electric fireplace for your creative space. Other alternatives can include dancing lights, candles, small waterfalls, etc. Paintings can be a great way to improve the visual ambience, provided they are not too distracting to keep you from working.

In addition to visual ambience, you can also experiment with audible ambience. Plenty of writers love writing to music, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be music in the traditional sense. You can also try soundtracks or field recordings such as rain forests, ocean waves, or city sounds.

One final type of ambience that may be worth looking into is sensory ambience in the forms of aromas. This can be accomplished with essential oil diffusers, burning incense, aromatic candles, or even something as basic as fresh flowers. Giving yourself something beautiful to smell can certainly help you get in touch with all that is good in life, and give you everything you need to keep the creativity at maximum output.

So what do you think, do you find these tips for designing your creative space helpful? What are your favorite tips for making your creative space your true space of productivity? Let us know in the comments, we’d be very happy to hear from you.

Thanks for reading and happy writing!

For The Layman: How To Write Your First Poem

Poetry is so many things. It’s a source of self expression, an opportunity to say something wonderful and an exercise in precise word control. If you’ve never written a poem before, the very idea of writing one can seem quite scary. However, you’ll quickly realize that writing a poem is a terrific way to reveal your thoughts to everyone else. Writing a poem is a highly specific form of writing. Every single word has to count. When you write a poem, you’ll find that you’re free to do all sorts of things including use wild metaphors, experiment with word forms and get very personal. You’ll also realize that writing a poem can open doors and make easier to write a second poem and another poem after that one. When you tap into your inner creative person, you’ll find a whole new source of satisfaction.

Finding a Type

One of the most amazing things about poems is that there are so many forms of poetry. From limericks to sonnets and haikus, poetic forms are varied and fascinating. It helps to think about your message when you want to write the poem. If you’re aiming for humor, limericks are a traditional way to convey it. If you like to stick to poems that require careful structure and attention to detail, a sonnet might be the form that suits you best. Many poetic forms do not use rhymes while others require them. It’s a good idea to look up some examples of the kind of poem you have in mind. Read them aloud and get a feel for how the writer conveys their thoughts. This will help you decide what works best for your own planned poem.

Your Planned Theme

Most poems have a theme and an overall idea. Your should as well. Think about what inspires you the most. If you love nature, think about specific experiences and what you like about them. Perhaps you love being outside on a snowy day or walking through the changing leaves in early autumn. Now is the time to think about the details that will make your poem come alive. Think about word choices such as the kind of colors you saw and the way you felt as you saw the world around you.

Start Writing

Once you’ve decided on a vision for your poem, you can begin to write it. Many writers sit down and let the words flow. It’s a good idea to review the rules of the type of poem you want to write. This way, you’ll write a real haiku and not one that just looks like a haiku but isn’t. It’s a good idea to set aside a specific time frame to write. A late afternoon day when you’ll feeling alert or early on a Sunday morning work for many people.

A Final Draft

After the initial draft, it’s a good idea to think looking at it more closely. Read it out loud. Check for any grammatical errors as well as spots that may not quite rhyme or may be awkward. A second draft makes it easier to see where the polished poem will come from and how you’re going to get there. You might decide to rewrite the poem entirely or realize that you’re happy with the end result.