space to write ...

I find space is a huge issue. I find that other people don't see writing as an activity in itself, that needs space, equipment, the correct conditions etc. If you were building a model railway, you'd do it in a room where you could leave it set up, where the lighting was correct for painting the flock trees, etc. If you write people assume, 'oh you can write anywhere, at anytime, what are you whinging about? It's not as if you're building a model railway or something...' The 'professionals write, amateurs do it when they feel like it' thing seems to me to presuppose that you have a lovely book lined study, filled with a think warm carpet of velvety silence. If you had that, then maybe there wouldn't be an excuse. I get very frustrated that I have to sit at the kitchen table and be interrupted by all and sundry, not having a place to retreat to. By the time I get myself in the write frame of mind, someone comes in a cooks a bacon sandwich or something and I'm back to square one. I think space is important for writing. It doesn't even have to be physical space, but it does need to exist. Cheers, Mark Brown, Editor (on leave), www.ABCtales.com

I see I'm an amateur by your definition. Space and isolation aren't an issue with me as a rule, but when our house was being repaired and there was non-stop noise and intrusion I used to work at a friend's place. He was away at work during the day so it was a good solution. Visit my blog: http://whatisthisstrangeplace.blogspot.com/

Was it JG Ballard who said that he started his writing time by having a gin and tonic? I seem to remember Andrew Motion and his lemsip as well. What I reckon these things are are symbolic ways of marking out writing space as different space. The Gin and the lemsip have a physical effect, which if you do it often enough when writing, you connect with writing, therefore allowing you to mark of periods of time as writing time or writing space. I think you can do this in a lot of ways. It's a bit like meditation, where incense and music can be used to mark of a space and a period of time as separate to the rest of the world. I think you can do much the same when writing to mark of a symbolic space, like an island outside the stream of everyday life. I realise that this isn't foolproof, but given time and repetition, it can help you to lessen the transition between normal space and time and writing space and time. So, choose something as a marker of writing time and space and do it. i find that a bit of nice smelly stuff to fill the room has the effect of marking the room as 'yours' while you write and that a nice bit of chamomile tea makes a good signifier of a different time and space to normal life. If you can find a way of signifying that this time and space is sectioned off from the rest of normal life, then you begin to habitually observe it. Cheers, Mark Brown, Editor (on leave), www.ABCtales.com

gin and lemsip, now there's an idea I have lots of space and lots of time and still get hardly anything done, consequently I tend to think the correct frame of mind is more important. More important still is a reason to do it, without a good reason it's all too easy to find something else to do. 'Amateurs write because when feel like it, professionals write because it pays the bills' would be a more appropiate quote for my.

wish someone would make me a bacon sandwich but I digress. I have heaps of space and time and still have to put rules and regs (I call them disciplines) on myself in order to do it. Once it takes me over, I think I'd have to kill anyone who broke that flow. Write with a big frying pan at my side to Tom and Jerry anyone who came in the door. Chuck the bloke, sell the kids and hire a butler (bacon sarnies prerequisite skill). All a gal really needs is a room of her own...

I can find the space (if I shift through enough debris). If I’m honest, I can also find the time (because I’m a habitual sloven). The problem often is, when I actually feel enthused to bite the bullet and write something, I say to myself, ‘Well, gosh that’s a very self-indulgent prospect, I’ll settle down and do that once I’ve done something worthy, like, I dunno, wash something.’ And then I miss my slot. It’s a prioritising thing and I do it to myself. A while ago when I was trying to get something submitted under the wire and Dave knew about it, I heard him tell the kids, ‘No, don’t bother mummy now, she’s busy.’ Ooh the thrill of it being given that level of importance…

This is a definitely a psychological issue .... I'd recommend a severe illness hospitalising you for several weeks to give yourself some space. When I enjoyed this experience, once I was able to write again I felt renewed and energised and desperate to pen my last messages. And because you can't have visitors until the arvo you have loads of hours to kill... Keep on smokin' and drinkin'

I have just driven housemates numbers one and two to the airport and now have a surfeit of peace and quiet for the next two weeks. We shall see if I get anything done, or just drink myself silly and watch cartoons every night.

I never feel I have any *time*, let alone space, for writing, so I do it pretty much continously, scribbling lines in between other activites. I try to write on the bus, if I'm not too relaxed, at work if I'm waiting for a call, and during lulls in conversation. Sitting myself in front of a blank screen doesn't do much good. I procrastinate. So I go by the rule that, if it's important enough to me, I will somehow fit it in.