A Place to Write

Having a dedicated writing space is a little dream of mine and when I get back to the Philippines on Sunday I’m committed to doing just that (even if it means moving house). Of course it might take several months but I’m setting an intention right here on the blog. I’m serious about this writing thing.

For the past month I have been writing in front of the fireplace in my cousin’s Blue Mountains loungeroom, then later under the weight of 5 or 6 blankets in the (nothing like Philippine tropics) chilly bedroom, on the train to Sydney to visit my father in hospital, in the library waiting for visiting hours to open.

I’ve been writing on the bed in the spare room of my parent’s house while dad recovers a few rooms up the hall, sitting in the car at a windy beach with the windows up, and on Saturday I’ll probably do more than a bit of writing during the 9+ hour flight from Sydney to Manila.

James Patterson’s gives some awesome advice in his Writing Masterclass about where you write: … it’s useful it you can write anywhere. On a plane, you can just tune it out … you are really honing your ability to concentrate … be able to write no matter where you are … when you are focused and concentrating you are more in touch with your story and you gotta get into it.

I’m certainly improving in the area of concentration, daily writing exercises, journalling and blogging have really helped. What I struggle with the most are interruptions. Well that’s what I tell myself, but the reality is that interruptions are merely excuses. I haven’t taken my writing seriously enough to eliminate them. I haven’t believed in myself enough as a writer to create spaces in my day where interruptions don’t exist. But I am now. I’m serious about this writing stuff.

Have you? Do you believe in yourself enough as a writer to have a dedicated space where the only interruptions are part of the story you are writing?

Where do you write? Reach out and start a conversation by comment or even better through an email or two. Use the contact form, I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading my little blog interlude now I’m off to write some more of my book outline that I’m creating with the help of Writing Masterclass with James Patterson (you can ask me about it in the email).

• Blogging University: Finding Everyday Inspiration (Day 6 The Space to Write)
• Daily Prompt: refusing to Succumb to interruptions and Ascending to the writer I aim to be.
• I’m part of Post A Day 2017
• Location: Nambucca Heads (Australia)

amwriting, EverydayInspiration, Writing, Writing Spaces

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Melinda J. Irvine

Melinda J. Irvine is a freelance writer, blogger and creative. She writes for business clients and online publications all over the world. When she’s not writing about holistic health and ways to become a more effective writer, Mel is practicing tai chi and supporting the emotional wellbeing of marginalised kids in the Philippines. Sometimes she even has time to cross stitch.

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