3 Quick Ways to Improve Your Creative Space
Where do you find you can get creative? Do you have quiet—do you need it? Do you have beautiful things around you to inspire you—do you need them? Do you have novels and books-about-writing cluttered round your desk to inspire you—do you want this? There are a lot of rules and tips about making a creative space online, but I think it’s important to know what helps you get into your own creative flow.
Make a little time to cast an eye over the space where you get creative and think about what you need to change to make it more conducive to getting your stories written. Maybe you don’t have somewhere in your home that works for you—so go find a nice café. Or a library.
Today I’m working in a room at the back of our house. I tidied it this weekend and put all the clutter into binbags so I don’t have to look at it. Other days I can’t be in the house, at all. The clutter and the chaos are just too much, so I have a membership at The Broadway Collective, a coworking space where there’s nothing but free coffee and a comfortable place to sit. Getting there requires a bit more organization on my part, but it’s always worth packing my lunch and remembering my headphones.
So, here are the steps for you to take:
- Look at the space where you get creative. Ask yourself what works and what doesn’t. For YOU.
- Clear distractions. Find a place to hide your phone. It works for me–if I have notifications blaring, I can’t get anything on the page in a sustained way. Try it and let me know!
- Make it frictionless. This means that when you sit to write (or stand, if you’re Arthur Slade with his walking desk), you start with ease. You’re not sitting down and then having to get up to get a glass of water or disappearing into the latest headlines when you open your computer. I just spent ten minutes clearing my ‘new tab’ window so when I open the internet, I don’t start writing I don’t read grusome news stories…
I’m working on a book right now that helps anyone who wants to write as they travel on their journey. Sign up to my newsletter to stay connected, and share with me how I can help you get more creative in your own life by connecting with me on Instagram @alicekuipersbookclub
