A reader named Angie wrote in, asking me to post her predicament here. She wrote, "This year I moved into a new apartment -- and in with my boyfriend -- and I've had writer's block ever since. My old one-bedroom was right by the highway in a fairly industrial neighborhood, so there was always a jack hammer going off somewhere. I also had this courtyard that was really more of an airspace, and there was always music playing or a baby crying or a couple fighting. When I moved out, one of the MOVERS even looked out my window at my gritty little courtyard and said, 'You lived here how long?'
"But by hook or by crook, I did a lot of writing in that apartment. I thought that in my nice, new office, in my new, quiet neighborhood, I'd reach new levels of productivity -- I'd live happily ever after. But that hasn't been the case. I never feel quite right here. I've never been precious about my space (see above, if in doubt), but I need help. Writing space therapy, please! What can I do to make the office work for me?"
Does anyone have advice for Angie about how to make her writing space work? How did you get the chemistry right in your space? Let us know, below, in the comments, or even better, in our new user answer form. (You can even upload pictures. Angie sent a picture of her space: I told her to save it and do a "Before and After" once she's put our suggestions to work.)
Establish a new routine in your new space. That could be lighting a candle before your begin. Or brewing some coffee/tea before you sit down. Or creating a special writing playlist that you only play when you are writing (and if you need to throw in a few jackhammer noises, feel free). You can also combine a few of these.
The important thing is to do something that lets your mind know that it is now time to write.
Happy Writing!
Kerrie
Thanks, Kerrie. Those are great suggestions, and nothing I’ve tried yet.
The adjustment may not be the writing space, it could be living with your boyfriend. I say this from experience. My husband and I moved in together and I suddenly stopped writing, my whole schedule just changed because there was someone else sharing my home with me (even though I do have my own room for it). To this day I write a lot better when he is away for a couple of days for work. The poor guy doesn’t even do anything wrong! I just find myself distracted when he’s around. It’s getting a lot better as time passes, though!
If this is the first time you moved in with someone, it could even be the excitement of it all. The first piece I actually wrote about to get out of my block was about him and I in our new place.
I think you’re right about this. It is strangely distracting to have someone else around. My writing space was always very private. Not that he’s a snoop, or anything. It’s just the fact of him. Good to hear I’m not the first one to experience this, and that it gets better with time. Now I’m going to light a candle, make some tea, and write about what it’s like to share this space!
I’ve had a few guys move in with me, it is distracting. To help with that I’d sit and watch them doing something like playing a video game or watching tv. I’d take notes and write a paragraph or two about what they were doing, how they reacted to the show or game and how they seemed to shift positions and mumble to themselves.
I also set up my office area for my comfort including finding a time of day I write best during, which for me is at night while others are sleeping. My suggestion is to write at different times of day to discover if perhaps a certain time seems more natural and to take time and slowly work on writing, sometimes writing small paragraphs on little things such as observations can help.
I’ve found that sometimes we need to just take a break from that novel or book we are working on and use fresh subjects to keep from getting so lost in our original subject that we run out of steam while writing it.
It can be very distracting to have someone else around while you’re writing. Having a significant other, or children (eep) can completely throw you off by doing nothing more than making you feel like you should be spending time with them (subconciously or not), or – what’s worse – running around making noise, asking questions, posing in lingerie. You get the point.
If I find myself unable to concentrate, I put on headphones/buds and listen to music or nature sounds. Perhaps for you, city sounds might work? This helps block out the noise you don’t want, and provide you with the noise you do, seemingly, need.
I’d give it a try. When you find something that works, stick with it, including the time you did it, until you can establish that pattern for your “writing zone” to kick on in your brain.
There is a lot of good advice in the responses, but much of it is over thought. Inspiration doesn’t come to writers, we make it appear by sitting down at the desk/keyboard and writing for however long we can.
I have had a similar experience. I married and moved in with my new wife. We live in a nice nabourhood in a nice townhouse. I am retired and she is still employed. I can write while she is at work sometimes. Other times I get up before she does and write then but when I hear her moving around upstairs my creative mind shuts down. Lately I feel compelled to get housework done and other things also which causes me to be unable to write.
All comments will be appreciated.
Kerri sounded like she was on the right track..Perhaps if you take some digital pictures of the courtyard-print them out and place them near your new writing place. It possible make a tape of some of the sounds that you were use to hearing- while you write.
Also- sit down and talk to your new roomate and explain the problem-not that he is the problem-thou he might be- but that your trying to get your writing bug again…perhaps he has some ideas-after all there must have been a reason why you moved in with him…
I have my own office at home and I write late at night or on the weekend…It works for me since the rest of the time-My mind gets to float free-to find new ideas to write about.
Good Luck to you and to your roomate.
You may need to go outside of your place sometimes to get inspiration. I like to go to parks and take a picnic and write or go to a lke or a coffee shop. I get the outside stimulus I need and away from people who formally disturb your time. Does your boyfriend do any writing. Sometimes partnering helps. Or he could do whatever he does while you write. I like to also explore museums and new places and take my journal along to write.
Or you can create a space withing your apartment to INVITE you to use it. Whatever inspires you.candles; special chair? I love my papa san chair. Good luck with it.
This may likely sound like horrible advice, or ill-advised at best, but find somewhere in your nice, new, yet perfectly uninspiring new home, to position your desk so that it faces a blank wall. No, I’m not kidding. It could simply have been how utterly drab your previous surroundings were that made it easier to imagine other things. It’s the same reason many authors are more productive when they’re miserable. Some authors, and oh, how I hate them, are able to pick away at a story while the world is rosy and their view, resplendent—I have never been one of those people. I need total solitude most of the time, though I will make room for a coffee outing if I am going to be jotting down ideas.
Just a thought. And for the record, I do agree with those who posted above about sharing space. Though, roomates/spouses/children will be far less tempted to interrupt you when you are, indeed, staring at a boring blank wall. If you are in the unfortunate position to be unable to escape a glorious view from your new writing space, try tin foil—I’ve heard it works wonders.
Wow, this isn’t something I had thought about before, but as a college student, I’m sure this will be something I’ll face as well. Right now I’m in a cramped apartment as well, and I hadn’t thought that perhaps my small space may indeed be helping my writing. There are lots of things you can do to spark creativity, however, and my creative writing blog may have a few writing tips you may be able to use. Best of luck with all your writing endeavors!
I agree with everything I read about writers block and unblock . We are funny animals . Change can help and or hurt us. I have just moved and had solace and then I got engaged . We do not live together as of yet. but I can’t even speak on the phone to my publisher while she is there. It is nothing personal with her. On the contrary my writing is my business and it is intensely personal. It is kind of like the old saying ” don’t poop where you eat” That is just a clever way of saying if you don’t want any one in your business don’t invite them in. Everyone is different . So I certainly do not have a remedy for you . But what I do know is the desire to write puts a weight on your sole. If you need to do it you are going to feel incomplete and inadequate until you do so . You should try different things. maybe some will work maybe some won’t . Not every thing will go terribly wrong. So take even small successes and advances as learning experiences and trudge forward . Writing is a process it will happen.
Angie,
I don’t know the full background of your situation so forgive me if I don’t seem to understand.
Perhaps you’re still buzzing from the environment. Sometimes it takes time to relax and get acquainted with the new sounds and “silence”. You may be dividing your mind. On one hand it needs to relax and on the other hand you want it to create (work). Let it process the “newness” of the surroundings and ideas will flow.
If that’s not it then perhaps it’s not the environment, it’s the boyfriend. If he’s new to the scene (meaning never lived with you before), then he may be more of a distraction than you expected. If he’s not new to the scene, then perhaps he’s not used to the environment himself and his discomfort may interfere with your creativity since you two are linked mentally through your relationship. If that’s the case then you will have to wait until you get used to his ways just like the new environment.
Personally, I rely on inspiration from the inside then out. There are things that touch me deeply enough to override a lot of outside interference. I use the outside to enhance my thoughts. So perhaps you need to reflect within to begin.
We all go through it. I consider it a sign that my mind needs a break from that particular story, plot or character development. So I simply write about something else or not at all.
The subjects to write about are so infinite one can never say there is NOTHING to write about. Just can’t think of what they WANT to write about. But that comes in the process of working WITH your mind not just WORKING your mind.
In an nutshell: Relax, adjust, then get ready to write like you never did before.
Hope I helped.
First, I kind of liked that all the distractions and noise helped your process, but add quiet and a significant other, and trouble.
I am from a family of seven kids, and while it isn’t always true, sometimes I write and think well in environments that are charged and loud and kinetic.
But right now is it 6 AM, quiet, and I love the sounds of my sleeping cat and wife in the other room now.
I’d start typing, if not writing. I do think the sig other thing is about respecting the time we take to do this- it isn’t that other person pushing us often, it is our own belief that we are somehow ignoring or not respecting them if we focus in. This is, as my friend Jan would say, an inside job.
Write about how uncomfortable you are. About what you think you should be doing and why. How you miss that apartment, all the noise. Heck, I want to write about your old apartment!
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments, everyone. Your insights are proving very helpful.
Hi Angie, As one of 5 kids growing up I was used to writing/studying/thinking in chaos. I thought when I was finally in a “perfect” writer’s situation I would get a lot done. Nope. I always go out to a noisy cafe, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts etc. and somehow I feel alone in the chaos, much like I did when I was growing up and I am able to write–sounds like your air space etc. Another benefit is that we writers tend to be world class eavesdroppers and what better place to pick up some dialogue than Dunkin Donuts? Good luck.
I am not a writer but an artist. Sometimes when I feel blocked I start cleaning – then I see something, get distracted… one thing leads to another. I am full tilt into it – hours pass and I am in the zone. I don’t know the writer equivalent – but maybe this will give you an idea. I also need to make and agreement that it is an “art day” so I don’t feel like I am taking away family time. I give myself ‘permission” to step away from my perceived responsibilities.