A question that is often asked in our EasyBlog class is “What is the best writing environment?” It was a topic of discussion again this week. So I thought it would be fun to investigate and here is what I found out.
Millions Have Opinions
Obviously, a question for the ages, there are a considerable number of thoughts on this subject. A Google search for “the best environment for writing” provided about 650 million results. The results included tips, tricks, scholarly advice and a number of great anecdotes. There is even software designed to improve the condition. It boasts a range of soothing backgrounds to fit your mood. Oh my…
Coffee, Cafés, and Creativity
Peter likes to sit with a cup of coffee at his computer. He once told me that he likes to get up early, while it’s quiet to write. He recently told me that he likes writing at a café. So I’m not so sure about the place—I think it’s just the coffee.
Patterns in the Best Blogging Environment
It appears that everyone has their own habits that put them in the “zone” for writing. However, I found that these habits fall into categories:
- Setting: Generally the setting falls into two distinct groups – solitude or a bustling environment
- Atmosphere: It appears to be a toss-up between total quiet vs. music
- Time: “Early morning” and “up all night” seem to be the two most popular times
- Workspace: This category has endless variations that include:
- an organized desk
- a corner seat in a favorite café
- the kitchen table
Inspiration from Famous Writers
When asked about the importance of the best writing environment, Stephen King described his workspace when he wrote Carrie and Salem’s Lot. He used a portable typewriter and sat with a child’s desk on his lap wedged into the laundry room of his doublewide trailer. No wonder his stories are so tortured!
Two Key Traits from the Pros
There were two common denominators of the successful writers that I researched:
- Schedule: They all set a daily measurement for their work. The measurement was in length of time, words or pages.
- Ernest Hemingway limited his time to 500 words a day
- Thomas Wolfe was a little more industrious at 1800 words a day
- Resources: They were all insatiable readers and chose like-minded friends.
Define Your Best Blogging Environment
Famous writers are no different than the rest of us. They have all determined their best environment to write.
Have questions?
