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New year, old process

Writing Life6 Comments

This is the year I start owning my writing process. Quit calling it horrible, or slow. Embrace it.

This is the year I recognize that doing it my way has helped me produce nine manuscripts, six published novels, a 400-page published work of nonfiction, dozens of short stories, over 250K words of blog posts, and more.

Where the “magic” (usually) happens.

My process may not be as fast or organized or glamorous as others’, but it works. And it’s mine.

My messy process is actually kind of fun too. And the more I go with it, the more fun I have, the more ideas I get, and the more I want to keep writing.

Why would I fight that? Why would I fight with myself?

So, in 2021, I’m leaning into it.

Finding the joy in it.

Finding myself in it.

Whatever your pursuits, I hope you’re able to do the same. Happy new year!

My Ideal Office: Missing the SLO Life

Writing Life

When I was in grad school at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA (or SLO, pronounced “slow” by the locals), one of the things I loved about the campus was all of the outdoor nooks and crannies where I could hole up and study while surrounded by trees and plants. The weather was spectacular year-round, and I took every opportunity to be outside.

What a great environment for writing! If I could, I'd tote my MacBook and a sack lunch to Cal Poly–or nearby Shell Beach!–every day and write for hours. Unfortunately, I'm a few thousand miles away, but, the longing got me thinking about my ideal office. I came up with a short list of things my perfect writing space would have.

  1. Lots of light, but no glare (maybe even a sky light)
  2. Plenty of greenery, both inside and out
  3. Lots of windows to let in the light, the breeze, and the view
  4. A great view, preferably with some water in it
  5. A desk at the perfect height for typing on a laptop
  6. A comfortable office chair
  7. A cozy chair for curling up to read, or taking a break from the desk (I like the one-and-a-half-sized armchairs)
  8. Large dry erase and magnet boards
  9. A tall bookshelf

I'm sure I could go on, but I really should start working on my book…

What would your ideal workspace be like?

P.S. My site's header photo is from a spot in Shell Beach (one of my favorites in the world) just below Spyglass Park.  You can tell I took the photo in winter because the mountains are green instead of yellow.