Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Blog Carnival: 2013 "Where I Write"

It's the place where you create. Maybe it's a lumpy couch with giant, overstuffed pillows. Maybe it's an old table pushed against the dining room wall. Or perhaps it's a grand room with wall-to-wall windows overlooking a lake.

It's where we write.

Staking out a place in which to compose our poetry and prose that is all ours can be difficult. I set up my first office when I was in the sixth grade. I had an old wooden school desk, a plastic yellow table, and my mom's manual typewriter. Some of my fondest writing memories come from the time I spent there.

In high school, my parents gave me a student desk as a gift. I set it up in my room and spent hours writing longhand, foregoing high school sports activities and partying for making up stories.

As an adult, I've had a variety of offices. I had a room of my own for a short time in our first house, but it didn't last long when we found out we were expecting our daughter, and we had to change it into a baby's room.

Often, I've had to cram my desk into a bedroom. But that was always okay - just as long as I had a space that I could claim.

Now, I have a gorgeous room all to myself. It's the top floor of our Cape Cod house.  Since I'm a World War II historian and I also write historical fiction set during this time period, my decorating style naturally gravitated to vintage 1940s.

I have curtains from the 1940s in one window...


...and an authentic 1940s Royal Typewriter next to an old fan on this 1920s radio stand. Beside it are, of course, two iconic posters representing World War II.
I also have a cozy reading spot next to my retro-looking stereo...

...and then, of course, the desk.
I bought the flag from a World War II veteran at an estate sale. He served in the Pacific and the Atlantic.

When I go to this room, put on my vinyl big band records, and look around at all the posters and relics from the 1940s, I feel completely immersed in the time period. It offers inspiration everywhere I turn.

Sadly, we are renting this house and I won't be able to have this room for long. Hubby is about ready to graduate from college and we will turn our eyes toward a new place within the next year. But I am excited for the possibilities!

Now, without further ado, let's check out some of your writing spots!

American storyteller Paul W. Papa loves to tell true tales about America, especially Las Vegas. He's a fellow history lover and we can always use more of those! Check out where he spins his tales here.

Memoir writer Jeanne Lombardo loves her writing space so much that she uses a photo of it to illustrate her blog. And I have to say that it is, indeed, a lovely spot! See it here.

Martin Lake currently pens his historical novels from the South of France, and instead of just one spot, he has several! That'll keep the creative juices flowing. You can see all of his spots here.

Prolific author Mandy Eve-Barnett has a well-lit area to call her own - and a letter from Stephen King to encourage her when those words just refuse to flow. Take a look at her cozy corner here.

Eclectic and inspiring describes where Jillian writes. She has truly carved out the perfect corner for herself to create, and there's lots of terrific photos of her most excellent writing space here.

Jenn, a.k.a. The Engineer's Wife, could use our help! She and her husband recently moved to tropical Brunei in Southwest Asia, and her writing space needs some inspiration. Check it out here and let Jenn know your suggestions!

My dear friend and fellow vintage-lover, Valerie, writes wonderful short vignettes and stories on her blog that never fail to make me smile. Now I know why - she has the perfect writing spot to pen her tales! Check it out here.

Can I just thank each and every one of you who participated in this Blog Carnival? I've loved checking out where everyone writes. I hope you have, too!

Keep on writing...

16 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting this Melissa! I'm really going to enjoy visiting all of these different writing places today!

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    1. P.S. And I love your writing space too by the way-I would be right at home there!

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    2. You're very welcome, Valerie! You're also welcome to come visit and borrow my office any time you want to. =D

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  2. I came from Valerie site. I can see immediately why you are both friends:~) My dad served in WWII and I have a lot of old pictures and even magazines my grandfather kept. Now, he was a wonderful historian:~)

    Regarding your writing space...I loved it and all the various things you have to put you "in the mood." Wherever you go, I am confident you will find your writing space.

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    1. Hi Sara - Thank you for the lovely comment. You are indeed blessed to have a treasure trove of wonderful things to remind you of your grandfather! I love old magazines and have quite a few of them myself. They're so much fun to browse. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Love your retro office space, Melissa! The 40s is my favorite decade. The entertainment they had in those days, especially jazz music and swing dancing, is incomparable. It's great that you were able to incorporate your love of vintage into your writing space. Beautiful spaces from the blog carnival participants, too!

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    1. Thanks, Brandi! Yeah, I'd have to say the 40s is my favorite decade, too, for the 1900s, at least. =)

      Glad you enjoyed all the writing spots!

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  4. Melissa, thanks for including me in this wonderful blog carnival. It is so exciting to see all the places where people ply thier craft.

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    1. Paul, you are very welcome. Thank YOU for participating! It's great fun to look at how different our writing spots are.

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  5. Hi Melissa,
    I think I mentioned that I just watched Ken Burns' World War II documentary series. Now I am reading a two volume science fiction (well, okay time-travel) novel by Connie Willis called Blackout/All Clear, that takes place both a short time in the future (when historians can travel back to the past) and in England during the war. I would love to curl up in your space to read these books through. Love the way you have carried the theme throughout your space. Bet those LPs sound great. Thanks so much for sharing.

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    1. Hi Jeanne! I know what book you're talking about - I picked it up at the library awhile ago and never bothered to read it. I must remedy that as the concept is quite delightful! :)

      And there's just something fun and authentic about listening to Big Band music on vinyl. I love how the record scratches.

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  6. What a wonderful writing space you have. I love the way you have laid it out with all your 1940s gear. I particularly like your 1940s curtains and the old typewriter. It must make it easier to get in the zone when you're writing.

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    1. Thank you, J.T.! Yes, it definitely puts me in the mood. It was so much fun to find all the stuff, too!

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  7. Anonymous9:13 AM

    Melissa, this was very inspiring! Creativity has no guidelines - as seen by the differences in all the writing spaces!

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  8. Anonymous6:06 PM

    Your spot is AWESOME! I'm excited to see where you'll go next and how awesome your new writing space will be. :D

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