This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Writing books at a desk feels far too formal for me. I prefer a gentle, soft space where I can daydream about my characters, which is why I write on a bed instead of in an office. I'm surrounded by bookshelves and one entire shelf is devoted to books on writing. I turn to these again and again, especially Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell and On Writing by Stephen King, for inspiration when the right words won't turn up on my page.
I write in snatches and spurts – with three kids, I can also be found writing on the sidelines of the soccer field or in a chair at karate practice with little tykes all around me screaming, "Kai-ya!". But when I get a nice stretch of time, or when I wake up early in the morning (which is the BEST writing time of all, because my brain feels fresh and clear), you can find me on my daybed. On the walls are a few framed posters of my books covers, as well as an original painting created by my friend Greg, and pictures of my kids are on the nightstand.
I aim for about 1,500- 2,000 words per day, which comes out to about six pages. Sometimes I get all those pages in at once; other times, when life is particularly busy, I write a few paragraphs here and there during the course of the day. Since I write a novel every year, I generally begin writing in September and finish up in May – then during the summer months I work on other projects and come up with the next book idea!With a few pillows propped behind my back, my laptop on my knees, and my black lab Bella snoozing beside me, I can dive into the world of my characters. Here's a picture of my writing space, where I worked on my new book, Things You Won’t Say, which was published May 26.