An Outdoor Room of My Own

There's a famous essay by Virginia Woolf about a woman needing "a room of her own" to write fiction, and for me that holds very true. For me to write new words (well, they're not entirely new--I merely put them in a certain order) in a draft, I need large blocks of uninterrupted time.

As I discovered when my husband was on sabbatical, having another person in the house doesn't lend itself to uninterrupted writing time. Even if he wasn't popping his head into my office to ask a question, I could often feel him not asking a question. Trying to wait until I took a break, but interrupting my concentration just the same. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have kids in that mix too! All you writing parents have my sincere admiration.

Anyway, my husband and I eventually came to an agreement that when my door was closed, that meant I was unavailable. But, my office is pretty small and sometimes it's cozy, and other times it feels confining. So I'm very glad that we were able to put up our gazebo kit and now I have this space to write in:

Can't wait to sit out there in a rainstorm! Plus, a touch of whimsy in the nearby garden art inspires me to be more playful and childlike.

What about you? Are you one of those writers who thrives on the chaos and noise in a busy coffee place? Do you wake up at odd hours just to have some peace and quiet?