Spring has arrived in the mountains. It’s always a couple weeks later than down in the valley, and though the mornings are still frosty, the leaves have unfurled, and the dogwood wears its white petals. I’ve filled the hummingbird feeders and opened the windows to capture the afternoon sun.
And my writer’s room beckons.
In 1929, Virginia Woolf wrote that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”
Well, that money thing would be convenient, wouldn’t it? Yet, it’s not a prerequisite for writing in my mind. Time strikes me as the rarer commodity.
But what about that room of her (or his) own, that “must” for the imagination to bloom? A sacred space of quiet and solitude without the common daily distractions of television, movies, and videogames? A space where a writer can shut the door?
When I moved to the mountains, there was a half-finished room above my husband’s shop. I claimed it as my writing room and made it my own. Out went the spiders. I spackled and painted, installed a floor, tiled around the wood stove.
The walls are jewel tones, a change from the lovely but abundant wood in our log home. I stenciled falling leaves, hung dream catchers, and lugged in some well-loved furniture. The stairs are still rickety and the door doesn’t close well, but it’s peace, it’s immersion. The muse resides there, waiting expectantly for me.
I don’t use my writing haven in the winter, despite the wood stove. The windows aren’t tight, and a fire would require more effort than I’m willing to expend, especially since my writing day starts at 4 in the morning.
But once spring comes…
Today, I hustled out the new brood of spiders and cleaned up the bat poop from my nighttime freeloader. My walls will soon hum, as they’re loaded with bees. A bouquet of wildflowers and branches of cherry blossoms draws in the hummingbirds. They fly in the arched window, wings thrumming as they hover over my head.
Tomorrow, I’ll write.
Do you have a sacred space, a room, a closet, a special chair where you write? How have you made it yours?
Myths of the Mirror 
I love your writing room! (Except for the bats. I’m terrified of bats.)
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Thanks, Liz. I finally, finally, finally got the holes plugged over the summer, so I’m bat-free! Third time’s the charm. I hope to be spending lots of time up there starting in the spring. 🙂 Happy Writing, my friend.
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I really enjoyed your past post with your writing room. I like your Virginia Woolf quote and the way the window with radiating posts looks like a prism with the seasons in each section. Wow!
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Thanks, Robin. I’m in the process of tidying the place and closing it up for the winter. 😦 Hopefully the bats will move out before spring!
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Oh, I admit my son is great with bats, has taught me they are gentle, but don’t wish them to “camp out” in your lovely writing refuge! This may not be wise, Diana. Do they do this annually?
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I need to put that rubber trim around the gaps in the windows so they fit tighter. It’s a quick trip to the hardware store. Then I’ll be bat free 🙂
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My writing room turned into my daughters room, so now I’m left with a desk in the corner, facing a white wall. Defiantly need a better writing space. Yours looks lovely!
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Well, daughters are worth it! I’d suggest something wonderful on that white wall. A vase of flowers or something magical on your desk that wakes your muse up. Happy writing, Jennifer.
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Yes she is defiantly worth it!! Yes it needs something to brighten the space up. A blank white wall isn’t very inspirational haha. Thanks D. Wallace Peach!
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I have a “nook” which is a small gate-leg table in my bedroom which I share with my teacher-husband. He’s about to retire and soon it will be mine – all mine! There are family photos, two candles and some seashells that make it more mine than his and when I really need to focus that’s where I go to close the door. I’d give my big toe to have spot like yours, an aerie for writing and the birds!
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Ha ha. Your “mine, all mine” made me laugh. I think any space that creates a little barrier to distractions is helpful. I have a hard time focusing with TV, interruptions, and clutter. My house is cluttered (no closets. Who builds a house without a single closet?). My writing space lets me focus because its mine, all mine!
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Reblogged this on Writing on the Pages of Life.
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Thanks for the reblog. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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My pleasure!
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What a a dreamy writing room! Absolutely idyllic. I have a study in the house which I claimed when we moved in as it looks over the garden. In the summer I love looking out across the lush trees and bushes, down to the flowers below and if I’m lucky 12 or so white doves will fly round and round to entertain me – totally distracting from work but I don’t mind in the least.:-))
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Sounds wonderful, Annika. And yes, doves flying around your summer garden can be distracting…in a wonderful way.
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Wonderfully beautiful, inviting writing space you have. Mine, more often than not, is a book and note-cluttered dining room table or my comfortable recliner (I work primarily on a laptop or notepad with pencil). I like your post of the Virginia Woolf quote, too.
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Another recliner writer! I see a trend developing. It seems that writers find a way to write no matter the space, comfort, and life’s interruptions. I love that. Thanks for stopping by.
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What a beautiful writing space! So colorful. I imagine it’s quite motivating.
I have a den where I write. It’s a great space, but I actually spend a lot of time in my basement writing on my treadmill. I have a plastic shelf that attaches to the treadmill and allows me to put my laptop on it. I walk at a very slow pace and write. It’s better for my back and it gets me moving. I love it, but it’s not exactly the prettiest area. But whatever gets the writing juices going is good. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my site. Much appreciated!
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Wow. You are the first exercise-writer I’ve ever come across. I’m so impressed! Too much time sitting in my recliner is a problem for me, so I read on the treadmill. It makes the time something I look forward to.
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I like to read there too. And I can pick up my speed for that. 🙂 When I walk and write, my pace is so slow, I’m not sure it could be considered exercise. But it gets me off my backside. A treadmill desk would be great, but those are pricey. My plastic shelf was only $40. 🙂
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How wonderful. I dream of a place such as yours, but had never thought of leaving windows open to allow the hummingbirds in. I will add that to my dream. Lovely writing.
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I have a feeder outside the window and flowers to invite them in. They come in my house too, but tend to get stuck. My writing room in small enough that they fly out easily.
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Your writing room is the writing room of sacred and wondrous dreams, I must say! It’s beautiful! You must feel awfully chuffed when you climb up there amid the sunshine and blooming nature. I don’t have a writing room, alas. As a child I wrote on old notebooks in the nooks and crannies of my house, under the bed when my parents said lights out, on my lap in the school classroom. Now that I have my own abode I write on a red reclining chair that is a little rickety and gives me a grand view of the attic room that is my little home in the country.
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Lots of writers in recliners! Your writing spot sounds well-loved and comfortable. I think that’s what it really comes down to – having a space where we feel free to be creative and where our focus is our own. My space is special to me because of the way it makes me feel. I sense the same peacefulness in the words you use about your little attic in the country. Happy writing.
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Love this post, Diana. First..Virginia Woolf…No one in my life is “afraid” of her. Your space is inspired and lovely. My husband grew up in a home where the TV was always on..it has been an adjustment to respect my need for quiet. Since retiring, we are working it out; so far, so good. I can write anywhere…grew up in a noisy house with too many people and no privacy. Mostly, I am in a 30 year old La Z Boy that I gave away to my adult children, then took back !! ☺ Van
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My writing chair is an old La-Z-Boy too. Very comfortable. Good for you for being able to write in the midst of daily chaos. I waited until I had an empty nest to start so it’s only the TV that distracts me. TV’s are the bane of imagination and creativity – 99% of the content is insipid (Hmmm…there’s a post in here somewhere).
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He likes the oldies. Sci Fi, Westerns, even catch him watching Burns and Allen sometimes. And…it’s baseball season, and our Phillies suck…I can convince him to just walk away. Winning for me !
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I’m a chaos writer, too, although I do better in the quiet but if I wait for quiet and solitude i’d never write!
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So many people write with chaos and I’m in awe, truly. I love your dedication.
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I have a room of my own – but certainly not as lovely as yours! I bet you’ll be so inspired to write in that room of your own!
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Thank you Rosanna. How wonderful that you have a room of your own! Starting from scratch, I got to use my imagination and envision a place dedicated to writing. I think it’s a bit harder in our busy lives to make the time to personalize a space that’s already usable. What would you change about your room to invite in the muse?
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Wonderful sanctuary. I have a room of my own but somehow the seasonal in yours outdoes the tropical in mine which does duty all year round. Perhaps I should emulate the habit and close it for the summer and write only in winter.
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Oh no, don’t do that! I would love to have a year round space. I’m a big fan of paint. It can change the entire feel of a space at little cost. Enjoy your tropical paradise.
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What a beautiful space! Me, it is a small corner of the living room… or wherever I find paper and pencil!
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Do you personalize your corner, Sue? I think writers can “claim” a space by adding personal touches. I definitely used to do that before moving out here. That said, I admire those stalwart writers who can write anywhere, anytime. I know someone who writes on his iphone while getting a fill-up at the gas station. That’s dedication.
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There are a lot of personal bits in my corner… and several of Ani’s tennis balls. That said, there are only me and the dog anyway, so technically I can write anywhere and do, though discipline gets me when I sit here.
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Great post, I need a space! I wing it and write wherever, someday . . .
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You must be great at focusing to produce the pieces you do. I need big chunks of quiet or forget it. That’s probably why I waited so long to start writing. I hope you find your sanctuary:)
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I have a sofa in front of my computer in the living room, but it’s being invaded by my wife while her new computer is on order, since hers crashed. I don’t get much privacy. I need a place like this.
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I can relate to the invasion thing. For me it’s the husband. Our house is quite small so their no escaping the TV. He likes the “background” noise. Hope your wife’s new computer arrives soon so you can kick her out of your space! Ha ha.
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We live in a one bedroom apartment. There are three of us here. We’ll be moving to my sister’s house next year, so I’ll definitely have my own space.
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I dream of a room like this!
I keep moving around my house from one room to the next. I used to have my desk in the bedroom, but the traffic from the kitchen made it too noisy. Now I am in our formal dining room, which is still right next to the kitchen and still too noisy! I have threatened to set up a spot in our closet. My husband didn’t like that idea at all! I have now become mostly a nighttime writer. It’s the only chance I get for peace and quiet!
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You still have kids at home, Michelle. Mine are grown and out of the house, otherwise forget it. That space would have been the teenager hangout. Start scoping out their rooms for the day they grow up and leave the nest:)
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Well, one is out and another is on their way. In fact, my 18 yr old told me the other day that she will be happy for me, when the day comes, and I can take over her room as my office. I hadn’t even thought about it until she mentioned it. She is a writer too and can appreciate how us writers need our own quiet space.
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Well, there you go. How sweet of her to offer up her room. You’ll have fun creating your writing space.
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Yes it really was sweet of her, but I am in no rush. Who knows how long it will be before she leaves. She thankfully has no desire to leave anytime soon. I think I will be heartbroken once she does, but happy for her all at the same time.
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It certainly is bittersweet when they grow up and move on. Then they come back looking for grammy to babysit!
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I am having room envy! I mostly just sit at the kitchen table.
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I used to sit in the living/family room and still do in the winter, but I get distracted by the mind-numbing TV, which is on when my husband is home. (Not that his mind is numb, mind you). I was lucky to have that unfinished space, but I think I would have carved out a nook somewhere. I’ve written in the bathroom on occasion to get some time to focus!
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The bathroom! Love it! Laughing out loud!
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Reblogged this on Riley Amos Westbook and commented:
I need to get one of these.
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Thanks so much for the reblog. You’re the best!.
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where do I sign up to have one of these made?
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Move out to the boonies, Riley. Housing is still pretty affordable. Just have to be willing to drive and live without a lot of conveniences like cell phones, fast internet, movie downloads, heat, restaurants, Oregon welcomes you!
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I live in Washington, so it’s not like I live far away… I just need to sell a few books first. It does look like a nice, comfortable, PEACEFUL (that’s what i really want!)writing hole.
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Hey. We’re neighbors. My brother lives in Washington – beautiful up there. Yes, it’s more about a peacefulness, isn’t it?
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that is a good way to describe it. Peacefulness that you can feel in the air.
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