A writer’s space is the space where the most words flow. It is a space to seek inspiration or solitude, dream, and even moan. A writer’s space is sacred and unique.
I am currently displaced from my writing space. With our fir tree in the corner where my desk usually resides, I have moved my desk closer to my bookshelf.
While this yearly displacement of my desk always bothers me, it also teaches me that a writer’s space is any place a writer sits down to write.
Where writers write
Writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, J.R.R Tolkien, C.S Lewis, and Anaïs Nin frequented cafes and pubs. Other writers, such as Neil Gaiman and Danielle Steele, had gazebos in the woods and custom-made desks built for them. Be it at the kitchen table, a simple café, or an extravagant cabin, writers come time and time again to their spaces for the atmosphere and stimulation.
I write under trees in the summer, on benches, at the dining table, and even in the kitchen while cooking. Most often I write at an old-fashioned school desk. Made from cherry wood cut from a cherry tree that once grew from the land I live on in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and built by a carpenter neighbor, it is the space where most of my words flow. Here I write letters, poetry, prose, short stories, and tirelessly attempt novels. Here I have drafted query letters for bad books and immortalized some of the best and worst times of my life in journals.
I write in notebooks with ink and later transcribe my words into type at a computer. This may sound like double the trouble, but I love writing by hand as it gives me a deeper connection to the words I put down. I have tried to write in type but the disconnected feeling that comes upon me makes me grab for a pen. Since I have been handwriting since I was nine, handwriting is my writing.
How decorations help inspire a writing space
I used to have a plastic map above my desk, but I never hung up anything new after it gave its all. For years my writing space has been a plain space with only a bookshelf at hand and two wall calendars to offer their avian and lunar inspiration. As I am preparing to move forward into the new year, I wanted to add something new to my space to help inspire and drive new writing.
I have been inspired by the pretty desk layouts and ornaments I have seen when fellow writers share their writing spaces. I, however, do not have a typical desk so trinkets like statuettes, story dice, and desk organizers are out of the question. The only space left to spice up was the wall; this meant an attractive wall decoration.
I am picky when it comes to artwork and I wanted something original that would constantly speak to me.
Wildlife World Map
Enter Photowall.
Photowall is a Swedish-based art company specializing in murals, wallpaper, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. With a massive selection of patterns, florals, maps, people, textures, and vintage designs, Photowall has something for everyone. If you want Clint Eastwood in his rugged glory epically on your wall, you can have him.
Photowall also works to be environmentally friendly by printing to order, meaning there is no excess or discontinued stock going into the landfill. Your order is freshly printed and sent directly to you. Photowall works with Vi Agroforestry, a Swedish development organization, planting approximately 5000 trees each year near Lake Victoria in East Africa.
I chose this world wildlife map as a canvas print in the dimensions I wanted. The soft color coupled with the animal illustrations is a combination I love. I went for a map because, with a single glance, every place in the world comes to my mind. For me, there is no better place to find inspiration than to think of the vast expanse of cultures, places, and people in the world. A writer’s space should, after all, inspire writing.
Photowall’s sizing tool makes it easy to create custom dimensions and size your print digitally. It comes exactly as represented unassembled. I, who am not very good at following instructions, was delighted with the easy assembly of this print. I assembled it in under fifteen minutes with only the parts included in the box and no other help.
Given the quality of the canvas and frame, I am confident saying Photowall would do justice to any custom image you may want printed. Think family photos or vacation pictures.
My Writing Space
Tips for creating and making the most out of your writing space:
- Choose a space that is well-lit
- Choose a space you are comfortable physically and mentally in
- Include quotes, photographs, decorations, and everything else that inspires you to write
- Keep writing aid books on hand
- Also keep books you love on hand in case you need a break from writing
- Your writing space does not need to be trendy; it needs to be you
- Write. Tidy up later.
Finally, Photowall kindly sent me a discount code to share with all of you!
If you are inspired to include a wall print or poster in your writing space or are looking to give unique and lasting gifts to friends and fellow writers this year, you will receive 25% off your order at Photowall by using the code ninchronicles25 at checkout. Valid throughout December 2020!
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