Geography vs. Creativity

I'm going to speak specifically to writers for a sec because I've found that I'm having a bit of trouble getting on with The Project. And it's not because I'm stuck on a plot point or because I've run out of ideas. I think the problem's geography. Specifically the way I think depending on where I am.

The Big Computer is located in the Family Room. This is not ideal at this time of the year, when the kids are off school, because the X-Box, all the toys and - oh yeah - the computer are all in the same place, hence noise levels can be quite high and it is not conducive to work. But to tell the absolute truth if I wanted to sit down and write in there I could just kick the kids out and tell them to occupy themselves elsewhere. Or at least work out a time-share option. No, the problem is the computers location, i.e. on a desk, facing a blank wall, with a hard wooden chair in front of it. This doesn't seem to bother me at all when blogging, writing emails, checking on Facebook, doing research and getting assignments done. It works well, in fact. I feel like I'm doing a task - working to a goal - I'm all business. The lack of natural light (it's in the darkest corner of the room) or comfort actually assists in the focus. No doubt, for getting work done, The Big Computer is definitely in the right place.

However, right now with The Project I'm in a very creative place. I'm doing a lot of day dreaming and picture drawing in my head and that dark corner, blank wall and wooden chair are doing my mojo no favours at all. There's no far off place to look to when I'm chasing down an image or feeling around for just the right word to describe something. And did I mention how uncomfortable that bloody chair is? On top of that every time I stop tapping for a few seconds one of my offspring hovers at my shoulders asking me if I'm finished yet. Aaarrrrgh! And don't even get me started on how distracting having the internet right there, when you're struggling, is!!!

However when I'm sitting on my bed, pillows piled high behind me, the window wide open allowing the breeze to circulate all around I'm in the zone. Here, my imaginary conversations come alive. Maybe it's the light, maybe it's the birdsong or maybe it's the fact that there's nothing that the kids want in my room but it's where I do my best imagining. In the last week I've been scribbling notes and little scenes in a notebook but despite the fact that I'm pleased with what I've got, I'm frustrated with the fact that I'm not making the same progress that I would if I had a computer. On top of that my handwriting dissolves into appalling scribble after a while and despite myself I end up writing in scrawly short-hand. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm actually losing the art of handwriting. Tomorrow I'm going to write in a much bigger notebook. A4. Instead of just a scene, I'm going to attack my next chapter. I'm determined to have the first draft finished in 12 weeks. I have three kids and I'm starting a new job soon so I'll only have an hour or two a day when I can give writing full focus. Because of that I have to make the very most of the next five weeks of summer holidays.

I know what the answer is. I need a laptop. No internet connection. Just Word and a printer connection. I could sit on my comfy bed and tapity-tap-tap, or look out the window thinking or draw diagrams and storyboards in my notebook, drink endless cups of tea and not be bothered by anyone. Because who else would want to go on a computer that's not connected to the internet?

And then when all the thinking and dreaming stuff is finished and I have to drag the darn thing into shape and polish it up I could go back downstairs to the hard wooden chair and the blank wall and get my focus on.

Seems like an extraordinary extravagance though doesn't it? My own laptop with only one application on it, just for me alone? And it still wouldn't stop that other thing from happening that's interfering with my progress… I keep nodding off after lunch.