The Wandering Writer

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read my first post. I’m so excited to share this journey with you. Writing can be such a lonely endeavor, and we as writers can be severely critical of ourselves. It is important to connect with others to encourage, inspire, and learn.

So let’s jump in!

The title of today’s blog post is appropriately entitled Wandering Writer because I found, after a number of unproductive years, that getting out, or carving out a strict ‘writing zone’ in your home is critical in achieving any writing goals. My favorite places to write are the libraries close by and sometimes a coffee shop, though I feel obligated to purchase something in order to use the space and the internet connection. Because I live in a very small space (I bought a trailer two years ago in honor of the tiny house movement), I have found it extremely difficult to declare a section of my place a writing zone. There is also something about being out in public that keeps me on task. I don’t feel like I can procrastinate on Netflix, Facebook, or Pinterest when I’m sitting at a table or cubicle. Also, there’s not as much distraction in these places. I don’t feel pressured to face the pile of dishes that glare at me from the kitchen sink, or the pile of laundry sitting next to my bed. I am forced to face that ominous blank page.

I also equate home with fun and relaxation. Who can be productive when you’re sitting on a comfy couch, under a fuzzy blanket, and listening to the whirr of the newly loaded dishwasher? I can’t. At home, I feel entitled to put off those pesky to-do lists and simply relax. Netflix seems to beckon much louder from home than it does from the library or coffee shop.

I have also found that it is important to physically schedule some writing time into my day. If I say, “I should,” that simply does not give me enough motivation to face the writing. I phrase it as “I am going to write at this time for at least this long,” just like going to work, eating dinner, or working out. It is happening because it is habit and part of the daily schedule. There is no doubt that I have to do it.

Writing groups on Facebook are also great motivators and reminders that I should be working on my chosen craft. I am hoping Adelie Ink will join the ranks of said pages, but there are a number of great Facebook pages that post daily prompts, helpful articles, and reviews on new books recently published.

The inspiration and means are so easily attainable these days that it’s hard to find excuses NOT to write. I hope this post motivates you to get out, find a quiet nook, and get some writing done! Let me know! I want to hear from you.