What is your most productive writing environment?

By David Miller On October 26, 2009 · 27 Comments

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How can you arrange your life around writing? What factors help you write more, and write better?

Helpful: board, terrain, crew. Img: Laura Bernhein

SINCE BLOGGING ABOUT NaNoWriMo I’ve been thinking about what increases or decreases my ‘productivity’ as a writer.

First up, I believe that writing is a discipline, a craft, and that the most important thing is just dedicating time to it no matter where you are or what the environment is. That’s why I like the idea of NaNoWriMo.

But looking back over my journals from this past summer I realize there are just these flow-enhancing factors. Here are some of mine:

*Being on some kind of road trip where there’s a surf or paddle or snowboard mission involved.

*Working with my hands–carpentry, splitting wood, cleaning dishes–and always cooking something.

*Camping anywhere where this situation exists: at night you look around and see your family and friends around the fire.

What’s your most productive writing environment? Please let us know in the comments section.

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David Miller

David Miller is senior editor of Matador (winner of 2010 and 2011 Lowell Thomas awards for travel journalism), and BETA magazine. After living for the last two years in Patagonia, Argentina, he is returning with his wife and two young children to the Southern US. Follow him @dahveed_miller.

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view all → David Miller

http://Travel-Writers-Exchange.com Travel-Writers-Exchange.com

Most writers like to write in a quiet spot, usually in the morning. For some it will be the beach, the cafe, or the home office. When you have distractions around you such as kids or pets, it slows down the writing process. Don’t forget about the noise factor. There’s nothing like hearing the roar of a lawn mower as the landscapers take care of business outside.

Learning to “tune” things out can be your friend. Although if you have kids, you may not want to do this because they can get into trouble!
http://www.1worldimages.com Bob Berwyn

Hmmm, lately it’s been in the bottom berth of a crowded couchette on train from Brindisi to Milano: http://bit.ly/2MPJkr and in the backseat of a leaky Albanian bus: http://bit.ly/dHrkg

http://miller-david.com david miller

nice.

http://www.posatigres.com Sarah

I’m not sure it’s the environment that matters so much as it is the rhythm – the flow-enhancing factors, as you say. I think I’m most creative in the blank spaces, where ideas flow without the pressure of trying to conjure them up. I need to write for a bit and then to breathe – take a walk with the dog, cook, listen to the radio in a daze. The ideas that drive my writing seem to drift into these spaces where I have no expectation of “creating” or writing or putting anything together.

The tricky part, though, is figuring out when you need a blank space and when you’re looking for one as an excuse to avoid getting through a difficult patch of writing.

http://miller-david.com david miller

that’s word on the rhythm. for me that whole concept could extend to everything. the rhythm of a good day. there has to be some outdoor time, some love time, some charging. a siesta. a good day starts before dawn and ends up in the hammock after lunch. get up in the later afternoon and it’s like you have 2 days in one.

http://www.paul-sullivan.com Paul Sullivan

In terms of the best time to work – mornings without a doubt. The place isn’t as important since I can be as productive in a busy cafe as in my study. TWE is right though about kids – my son is right now managing to turn the light on and off as i type, which isn’t too helpful

In terms of getting ideas, any kind of exercise or activity away from the computer – walking, jogging, taking photographs – usually loosens the cogs and gets me re-focused or inspired. I’ve learned over the years that writing all day long is counter-productive. Even taking an hour to get some fresh air invigorates the whole process…

http://miller-david.com david miller

that’s right on. didn’t know you were a papi p.s. bigup.
http://www.motheralltrips.com Mara

I agree Paul – exercise clears my mind and gets the ideas flowing. I like to walk or hike and formulate ideas in my head. Maybe that’s why Paris is my favorite city – it’s such a great place to walk.

And although I write a lot about my kids, having them around is definitely not conducive to getting any kind of sustained writing done.

admin

sorry Mara, I accidentally deleted one of your comments. Can you put it back up?

http://www.1worldimages.com Bob Berwyn

Yes, exercise! Starting back in college, I used to write most of my term papers in my head while out on a run. Nowadays, I get some of my best ideas while skiing or skinning uphill.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/candicew86 Candice

Anywhere quiet. No TV, no music, no people. I’m not a morning person though, so it has to be at night.
tom gates

I have to get out of the house. Usually a coffee shop or a bar. I usually have the headphones in to block out the noise, which makes the whole affair antisocial. Why didn’t I just stay home?
http://www.paul-sullivan.com Paul Sullivan

DM – you take siestas? I want your life!!

http://miller-david.com david miller

siestas….yes and no. i think this piece was more about recognizing the ideal conditions / environment / rhythm (certainly that comment was) than elaborating on my actual practice. because of various factors i haven’t been able to get to back to my super predawn adventure-dahveed mode (with culminating afternoon nappy) except for glimpses over the past two years. i do get occasional naps (say once every three weeks)–but they’re more straight up survival, dad’s-so-tired-the-room-is-spinning styley.

anyway this is all a big part of our stoke to get down to Patagonia–it’s all epic terrain for exploring right out the door. once we’re down there i really want to nail down the new routine (predawn ascents, then slackcountry snowboarding back home), then morning work session, then fam time, then, hell yes . . .siesta.

http://evaholland.com Eva

For me it’s more getting into the right state of mind that matters rather than the place. Sometimes that’s late at night in a quiet house, sometimes in a coffee shop with just the right amount of background noise. I remember in high school I used to do my best writing right after a 6am hockey practice – I was simultaneously exhausted and wide awake, and it was such a still time, but not dark out. I dunno. When I figure out the formula to getting into that state of mind consistently, I’ll be unstoppable!

http://miller-david.com david miller

truedat.

http://www.icheapairfares.com/blog Fresh Airfare

It’s about the environment around me. If the people around me are being creative and productive than that inspires me. If they’re just lounging around playing video games or watching TV, then that ruins my flow.
http://cuadernoinedito.wordpress.com Julie

DM-

Absolutely- siestas are crucial…preferably with the entire family.
My most “productive” writing environment would be at home (quick access to books, to the espresso maker, to good pens and plenty of paper and everything familiar) and quiet.
But given the realities of life and the fact that I’m sharing it with a partner who also works from home and a child and a dog, productive has to be redefined– it’s snatches of writing between nursing, walking the dog, listening to Francisco’s next great idea or his chattering about nothing in particular as he cooks dinner. Lately, it’s been typing one-handed as Mariel sleeps on my chest. It’s thinking, like Sarah said, between the spaces–while walking the dog, while taking a shower–and making cryptic notes to decipher later– usually in the middle of the night when everyone else is sleeping.

http://miller-david.com david miller

this sounds unbelievably familiar.

http://www.lolaakinmade.com Lola

For me, it’s getting into a certain frame of mind. A creative gear shift, regardless of environment.

When I’m in that mode (or flow), I usually display a “shifting gears” status.

http://evaholland.com Eva

I’ve been wondering what that meant!

http://nomadneedles.wordpress.com/ Robyn

I’m so impressed by you parents who can find time to write while attending the babies. That is beautiful creativity. I live alone which i adore, but still get caught up in “boo-hoo I never have time to___”. After reading your comments I’ll never whine again
I am most inspired to write after a long run and sitting in a lived-in coffee shop, esp in the mtns (I miss the Acoustic Coffeehouse in Nederland – you know it David, yes?).

http://miller-david.com david miller

whoa, the acoustic!

definitely miss that place, the porch was always a good spot. . . nederland was a good life. . .first place it ever felt like we were really ‘settled’ although i did most of my writing sitting in the doorway of my home which was the easternmost of those 6 blue cabins just before the peak to peak turns and climbs out of town. or, the bottom floor of my buddy gary’s house along ridge road. that was real fertile ‘writing country’ . . .i could sit out on the patio and type and smoke my pipe and ‘look out over the forest’ and it was all right there. damn.

yeah, babies. got up at 6 am today just to get work done.

but then babies teach you everything. still wet from the river. and here we have to go paddling and snowboarding and write about it.

http://nomadneedles.wordpress.com/ Robyn

I’m going to notice the blue cabins next time I’m there and give a little nod. I take the bus up there now and then for the co-op and to ski on the Jenny Creek trail up to the pass.
I miss all the great music at the acoustic. I had some great ah-ha moments up there.

Jared Krauss

I’m not so sure that it is where as much as when, and by when I do not mean the time. I mean, when I get that idea. I get my ideas all the time, when I’m on the Cambus (college campus bus service) or when I’m walking from class to class, any time really. I reserve the coffee shop that I go to every night for doing school work, but I can write anywhere. When is more of a how long has it been since I got my idea, do I still remember it, is the shine still there for it? A lot of times I’ll get this great idea, or so I think, and get back to my computer or to a pencil and paper and begin to write only to realize that it isn’t as great as I thought. Whether this is because my idea was too broad or too narrow or I simply can’t express myself in a way I find deserving of my idea.

So, I can write anywhere; I’m quite good at tuning things out-thank you ADD-that are going on around me.

http://miller-david.com david miller

yeah man, movement of any kind seems to help. sometimes i’ve gotten good pages even while i’m driving (although not recommended)—out in the middle of long roadtrips where there’s no traffic and you can just scrawl without looking at the page. i feel you on the ‘anywhere’.

http://www.happenchance.net Seth M. Baker

Lately I’ve taken to carrying my journals and yellow/legal pads to busy cafes, the louder the better. I’m in Korea, so I don’t understand most of what I hear. This is nice for two reasons:
1) There’s a definite rhythm and vibe of a place, and if it’s a high-energy atmosphere, I think that’s reflected back in my writing.
2) If I want to write some strange dialogue, I just listen and write not what I hear, but what I think I hear, and fill in the gaps.

Usually, though, my most productive writing environment is at my desk facing the window. Not because the view is spectacular, but because my mind knows it’s where I sit when it’s time to work.

What is your most productive writing environment?

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