A Room of One's Own

Intellectual freedom depends on material things. Poetry depends upon intellectual freedom, and  women have always been poor, not for two hundred years, but from the beginning of time ... That is why I have laid so much stress on money and a room of one’s own.

 
Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own, 1929

 

Even though I'm working on some writing projects and continue with promotion for Dancing on Mars, I feel the urge to get back to my coaching.  That is, working with individuals or small groups to encourage and empower them as they take on personal writing projects.

 

Virginia Woolf was right about having a room of one's own.   I always tell coaching clients, if we're to fully express our creative selves, space of our own is an important thing to have.   In circumstances where a dedicated room is not do-able, there are other ways to claim physical space where creativity can flourish.   I once removed bi-fold doors from a double closet and had the shelf moved down to a comfortable height for writing or painting.  There was a light in the closet, so no need for expensive electrical work.  Even though the room was a dedicated guest room, my cozy alcove worked well until I moved to another town and made studio space a priority.  And it's the room with the best view!

 

If you don't have a room of your own, there needs to be a clear understanding between you and your housemates, be it spouse, partner, children or roommate:  That is, when you're in creative mode, you count on their respecting your time and solitude.  If necessary, work out a schedule where a particular room belongs only to you.  A room that has a door you can close while you are working if you need to do that.  Most of the time I need a quiet environment for writing; I don't even do well with most background music.  With painting, music sometimes stimulates my process.

 

Some writers do well taking their laptops or journals to coffee houses or the public library.  While I'm too easily distracted for that to work for me, public places sometimes work well for others.

 

I once gave a friend a tiny birdhouse—probably intended as a Christmas tree ornament or somesuch—to hang on the door of her designated writing space when she didn't want to be disturbed.   You might consider using a similar symbol that tells the family or housemate you are busy; it's a warmer way of saying "DO NOT DISTURB!"  It might be something as simple as a scarf tied around the doorknob.  And if you have children or a Type A partner, you could post a note on the door, giving a time others may expect you to re-enter their world.

 

One thing I especially enjoy coaching people through is writing their life legacy.  As I write this, I realize how ready I am to get back to that. Let me know if you're ready to launch a personal writing project; meanwhile, I wish you a creative day!