A room of her own
I would give my right arm for my own office, a room of my own. Preferably far, far away from the rest of my household. Maybe in another state. As I write this I’m sitting on a barstool at my kitchen counter because I write wherever no on else happens to be. So, I’m generally either perched here on my stool, lying in bed or on the sofa. Needless to say, I’m always cramped up from hunching over my computer in all kinds of odd combinations. My fantasy doesn’t involve George Cloony but instead features an ergonomic chair, a big, lovely desk, and bookcases holding all my reference books. And my desk would hold the overflow of post-its and notebooks and pencils I like to have around when I write.
But that is not to be.
We live in a 3 bedroom house. One room is my bedroom, one room belongs to my kid and the third is my husband’s office, which doubles as a guest room. My husband works at home so he’s in there all the time. So, I take my laptop and migrate to whatever corner of the house is vacant when I want to write. I’m at my computer a lot, so sometimes I feel like my laptop is an extension of my body. Wherever I go, there it is.
Okay, so I’d love my own office. Not only because it would be nice to have a stationary place to write, but because, as I mentioned, my husband works at home, too. He’s always around. Always. Take right now for example. When I sat down to write this blog he was in the shower. Now he’s right here, puttering around the kitchen. He’s here a lot. Did I mention that? I try not to be a diva, but I do so much better when I can have some time in the house alone to write. This is a concept my husband doesn’t seem to understand. He doesn’t understand why I roll my eyes when he says, “But honey! I was out of the house six hours this week!”
So, what about you? Do you need a lot of space? Or do you write at the kitchen table surrounded by chaos? I’m getting better at the chaos thing, but still. I’d love a room of my own.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
After years of wanting my own office, of being in the direct flight pattern for beast and man (in the dining room), hubbykins and Boy came up with a great idea.
Granted it’s not an office like i wanted but it’s my space with three walls and soon, the fourth.
We re-arranged the living room, split the room, bought a screen, moved my desk and viola, a smallish, eclectc office. And if the flashing dead chicken boa is on, stay away.
Good luck with your office quest, Fiesty-one.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I have a large area off the kitchen where I have all my ’stuff’. And since I use a PC instead of a laptop I need all the room I can get!
July 26th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Y’know, I have my own office space … but I still lug my laptop around the house like another limb. *shrug* No place is quiet in my house. My reference “books” are all online. And it’s easier to fold the laundry or stir the soup if I’m roam-writing.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I’m so in your boat, Feisty. My laptop is attached to me, wherever I go. I don’t have an office, heck, I barely have a bedroom. I write in the big chair in the living room, or sitting up in bed at night. I’m not sure I’d want an office. Part of me does, but, I write so much better with my legs curled up under me. Oooh I guess I could just buy a big fattie desk chair.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Our little house requires that I be in the thick of things at all times.
I can usually ignore what’s going on around me. In fact, I’m doing it right now. At work.
July 26th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I have a small space in our family room where my desktop is. One half of the room is where the tv is, one quarter is my “office” and the other quarter is Beau’s “office”. That translates into just enough room for our desks. And to write, like you I usually take the laptop into our living room which is the designated quiet spot in the house. Except for right now, because you can’t actually get to the furniture. Beau has it torn apart for painting purposes.
BTW, I really enjoyed meeting you in Dallas.
Michelle
July 26th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
I have an office that is also a guest room. I have a desk for the family PC and a desk for my laptop. Problem is, I write best at night and that’s the time my oldest wants to use the computer for myspace, etc. crap. He starts talking to me, and bugging me. Asking what I’m writing (like I’m going to tell him). Tells me to say hi to Shelli on the IM. When I walk away from the laptop he IS on the IM saying hi to Shelli.
Needless to say, I don’t get much writing done when he’s in there buggin’. But I kinda like his buggin’, he’s fun.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I. So. Feel. Your. Pain.
I started writing seriously when I was eight. (As in, that’s when I decided that’s what I wanted to do for a career.) But, I grew up in a very small house. My sister and I shared a room; she has extreme ADHD and at that age was incapable of being quiet. My dad was home all the time because he’s retired. I eventually slid away into the rec. room (which used to be the master bedroom) once we had a computer and wrote there.
Of course, everyone was in-and-out because it wasn’t a private room. I got very used to interruptions. Later, when I got a stereo I could plop next to the desk (as mp3s didn’t exist back then :P), I started plugging in headphones and ignoring everything that was around me. Got quite good at it, too.
As a result? As long as I’ve got my music, I can write in just about any form of chaos. :P
July 26th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
It’s so interesting to hear where you all write! I guess the moral of the story is: suck it up and ignore the insanity!
July 26th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I have an office that is pretty much mine. I’m spoiled though, no kids. But we want to have kids soon, so I’ll have to give up my space when the office turns into a kidroom.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I am thrilled beyond measure that the new place will have a room that we are going to use for my office/guest bedroom. But for now the laptop goes where I go usually. I take my zip drive to work and work on things as I can.
But an example of my crazy life I plotted out most of a Valentine’s story and blogged from the hospital waiting room. If I waited for things to slow down and it to be a good time I would never get anything done.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Hey Feist……I’ve set aside a corner of my bedroom for my desk and I even splurged earlier this year and bought myself a real desk with a glass top and everything. I have a hard time writing in chaos, but music is a great noise blocker
July 27th, 2007 at 10:44 am
We have room for an office, and I technically have one, but I spend all my time out in the family room with the dogs sitting in a comfy chair by the window with my laptop. The office is tax deductible space, and since we both work from home, that’s important, but comfort wise, I can never sit at the desk for long — there’s not been a single desk/chair combo yet that doesn’t leave back/neck/legs aching. So I like to sit here with my feet up and relax. The only time it’s a problem is when it’s hot, because of course the laptop gets hot, and I sit here sweating. We have central air, but I’m stubborn about summer and open windows. We live all winter with the house sealed up, and in summer I like everything thrown open. :) So for now, the whole house is my office, but this is my favorite spot…
Sam
July 27th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I’m in the living room as well. I have no laptop, my hubby and I have two desks pushed together, dueling computers-and the other side is the couch and television area.
I kind of like this because in order to insure I get enough writing done each day-I need to plant myself for long periods of time.
This way I can be a part of the house and whats going on-and still get my writing done.
I’d love a laptop though- I must admit my bum would like a change of scenery every once in a while. Or at least an ergonomic chair.
July 28th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I’m with Ames regarding using headphones and music as a noise blocker - though it also works as a mood setter for me when I’m writing, as well. I don’t have to worry about a lack of office/space of my own to write, but I do, indeed, feel your pain.
July 28th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I live in a room, so it’s everything to me.
And these days my roommates are either very quiet or not here most of the time.
July 29th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
For me the issue isn’t the physical space. It’s the mental space. I’m a high school teacher, and I write curriculum for Simon and Schuster. Then there’s my pathetic rough draft of a romance novel, waiting to be revised… for me, it’s hard to switch from writing SAT prep lesson plans to heaving bosoms and sexy banter.
How to make that shift? If anyone has any suggestions, please share!