This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
My writing room is the untidiest room in our house, which is interesting because I'm the tidiest of all of us. I used to share it with my husband, who works in IT, but I was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate and suggested he set up his home office in our guest room instead. At first he grumbled and moved his belongings with much noise and muttering, but a few days later he recognised it was the best solution for us both.
The desk and the shelves above it are a jumble of literally everything – manuscript stand, reference books, old notebooks, diaries, stationery, photos, postcards, mementos, books I've read or want to read, snippets from poems or funnies, papers which need filing (hate it), things my children have made or bought for me, and, at eye level, a postcard of my own book cover to remind me what I'm doing it all for.
One of my New Year's resolutions is to tackle the mess, which I have begun to do, in between writing, research, admin, and my day job as a translator. I suspect it'll probably take a year …The other side of the room, where my husband's desk once stood, is given over to a sofa which doubles as a guest bed. I like to sit here and think and make notes, away from the computer which is too much like “real” work. On the small table I keep a few research books handy relating to my current project, so I don't have to hunt around for them when I need to look into something. The sofa is often occupied by cats – we have three – but they refused to be photographed.
I feel very fortunate in having my own space, and now with an office each and technically two guest rooms, I think everyone's a winner!
The Highwayman's Daughter by Henriette Gyland is out now.