The Guardian ran a special series on writers' rooms that I found absolutely fascinating. And after looking at those pictures and reading the descriptions from the writers themselves, I really don't feel too bad at all for my rather messy space. Sure, it's in a corner of the basement with a small window that I have to stand on top of a chair to look out of...and it's rather dark...and in the winter it's freezing cold because there's a concrete floor beneath me...BUT, it's my room. My place. My little corner that I've staked out and said, "This is MINE."
This is Eric Hobsbawm's writing room. Now I really don't feel so bad about mine!
But I think my favorite writing room out of all of those feature is this one. Lots of room, lots of light and big windows - room to move about (pace) during those times when the writing is difficult.
I have a mental picture of what I want my ultimate writing room to look like. For now, I'm content with my little basement corner. But someday...
I want my room to look like the library in Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk!
ReplyDeletePhew, what I wouldn't give to have bookshelves that big! Maybe I could stop shelving them double deep and then stacking on top. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a little different (ok, a lot different, but we're talking write room preferences, right?). My idea writing room is a small walk in closet with the racks removed (shelves stay), and painted hot pink. Why hot pink? I don't know. Why so small? For one, I feel more secure in small spaces. For two, a space that small would severely limit distractions. I mean, seriously. You'd have to work to put distractions in a space that small. I might even be willing to work in a regular closet if I could get the doors without slats.
Just give me enough room for a chair and my laptop and a shelf for the most important (aka: research) books, and I'll be happy. Of course, I'll want a seperate library the size of the Taj Mahal, but, whatever. :)
Right now I work on our bed.
My room would be filled with strippers and beer. The things I would write.......
ReplyDeleteOk, Devon, now I have to go find what that room looks like!
ReplyDeleteWordVixen - I'm just the opposite. I need lots of space. Not gigantic, cathedral ceiling space, but room to stretch out and move. :-)
JoYo...why am I not surprised at your comment? ;-)
Umm...my ideal writing room could be in the middle of a sewer if Daniel Craig would be the lap for my laptop.
ReplyDeleteAnd he'd have to be your personal assistant in all matters, too, Rene. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI too like that second room. Mine doubles as our upstairs living room (that we rarely use) so I have to keep it nice and tidy.
ReplyDeleteBrian - I'm *trying* to keep my office nice and tidy right now, but it spills over into other areas of my house, like the living room. My husband jokes that I have three offices. :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL - after seeing my profs' offices at Queen's, I never feel bad about the state of mine. There's something so right about shelves stuffed with books and paper everywhere :) I do try to keep at least the surface of my desk reasonably clean, but that's about it. My little room (on the original floor plan it was an ensuite bathroom!) has a door, so I can shut the door on the mess. And keep the cats out of it *g*.
ReplyDeleteI have a picture of my ultimate writing room that I plan to post on my blog later this week. I got to sample it for a few days and man was it nice.
ReplyDeleteTess - oh yes, I remember my prof's offices - paper everywhere! And yeah, I'd like to have a door on my office, too. :)
ReplyDeleteTravis - looking forward to seeing it!