“You have to understand what all great painters understand: In order to forget the rules, you must first know them and respect them.”
I stand at the pub table just off our kitchen, waiting for the words to find me. Knowing what an athlete knows: That to achieve your best performance your muscles must be relaxed. That you need to breathe and focus. And so I walk. Back and forth. Back and forth. I walk into the kitchen, then to the family room. Back to home base – the pub table. I stare at the computer screen. An exercise in futility.
Some writers can write anywhere. In a busy cafe, where people coming and going, having conversations your ears can’t help but hear, only serve as their inspiration. In a park, where Mother Nature guides their words as golden sun rays filter through the trees. Near a playground, where the sound of children’s laughter and delighted squeals send their words soaring onto paper. Or a writing group, where the collective buzz of energy causes their hands to fly across the keyboard.
I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
Every time I try, I always come away looking and feeling like a blank page that words would surely never spring from. Obviously, yes, words come to me throughout the day. As I wash dishes, watch TV, listen to music, read or take a walk. So much so, that often I can’t write them down fast enough. Some nights as I lay down to rest, wishing my words could be put to bed: like an overtired child, restless and weary, as they fight a good nights slumber.
While I know that my words constantly churn in and around my brain. Swirling within me like a concentric circle, always leading me to my center. My muse. My light. I’ve come to realize after trial and error.
I NEED MY WRITING ROOM.
Not the one within my heart and soul. Not the one that sits tapping into my intuition. But a literal place that softens my edges. The one that turns my eyes to look at things as if through a unique pair of glasses. Diffusing the harshness while still allowing me to see. The place that turns my words into sentences. My sentences into paragraphs. My paragraphs into pages. And my pages into a book.
A BEGINNING AND AN END. UNTIL A NEW BEGINNING BEGINS AGAIN.
As I sit in my office where all my past words have gathered…waiting in the air, their perfumed scent enchants me. I close my eyes, inhaling its intoxicating muse. It’s silence – my symphony. They are everywhere. Omnipresent. Buzzing in the air like the most magical white noise I’ve ever heard. Camouflaged in the paint on my office wall as if written in invisible ink, waiting for my eyes to light on them as I look from wall to wall, ceiling to floor: waiting for the answers to come. Or better yet…the questions. Peeking at me through my window as I look outside to find the color of my words. They are in the rug underneath my bare feet as I reach to feel the texture of my words. I see them on the bookshelves enshrined within each book. A magical treasure each unto itself.
REMINDING ME THAT A SINGULAR WORD, BASED ON A SINGULAR THOUGHT, CAN ONE DAY GROW INTO A VOLUMINOUS BOOK.
As I sit in my office remembering the rules and forgetting them all: I shall remember what works best for me. And as I experiment with words, recognizing their weight and girth.
I WILL REMEMBER WHAT POWER A SMALL WORD CAN HOLD AND THAT A WORD IS NEVER SMALL IF WRITTEN IN UNISON WITH AN EXPANSIVENESS OF THOUGHT.
karen draper ~ writer 
I really like this setting and its clean, uncluttered look! Beautiful lighting and view! Smiles, Robin
Thanks Robin! (Took the weekend off from blogging…catching up). Yes, the lighting is great and I love that I can look out the window for a bit of inspiration! Will visit you today! Love and light. ❤ ~Karen~
I don’t worry, I feel we will stay connected, even when I am sporadic! Smiles and hugs, Robin
Your writing room looks so tranquil, a place that will help clear your mind of the noise of the world and assist you in bringing one to life instead. Thanks for sharing.
Be A Blessing!
LaTrice
Thanks! Well as you may have already read – this is my temporary space. So excited to see what awaits me in my new writing room in the house we’re building!
I look forward to stopping by your blog! All the best! <Karen~
You’re welcome.
Be A Blessing!
LaTrice
Yes – “a room of one’s own.” Looks beautiful – very minimalist. 🙂
Thanks, Lynette! It’s nice for now and I appreciate having my own room – this is a temporary space in our rental while our house is being built. My new office will be bright green, with white bookshelves and gray accents…can’t wait!!!!! Be well, my friend. ~Karen~
I hope you don’t feel inferior in any way because you can only write in your own place ?! – there have been many greats who felt exactly the same !!! 😎
I really appreciate your saying that, M-R. No, I don’t but being the philosophical, inquisitive type I wanted to test the waters. One of the quotes that I “try” to live by (from Hamlet) is “To thine own self be true.” I know Hemingway needed to be alone, as well. That’s good enough for me! 🙂 So back to doing what works best for me. Now I’m curious to know where you do your best writing??? (should have put that in the post – darn). Be well. ~Karen~
Only one place for me, too – although it’s not so much from preference as from necessity … here in my study, where all the computer paraphernalia is set up. I’m a desktop person, you see, Karen; and that doesn’t allow for any kind of mobility, of course.
Karen, this is beautifully poignant. It’s always intriguing to read about how others write and where they write. I love what you said about respecting the rules while remembering what works best for you.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
Thank you very much, Wendy! This was the hardest concept for me to embrace – remembering what works best for me. I felt a bit selfish for shutting myself away in my “writing cave,” but it’s the only way I feel my writing muse. When we fully learn to honor ourselves…THAT is when the magic happens!
So sorry for the delay in responding – I’ve been away for a bit. (Construction emergencies)
I’m curious, where do you write?
Be well. ❤ ~Karen~
Camouflaged in paint as if written with invisible ink. If you were to write in this beautiful room, on the edge of the bed, lying in a field amongst daises, or standing in line at a supermarket, your talent would still shine through. You are a wordsmith, your images that you have placed in this troubled mind of mine, let me be ‘there’…so I thank you xx
Thank you so very much, Jen! That was my favorite line! I’ve been thinking about you a lot and praying that “things” are improving. I almost didn’t publish this cause I wrote it rather quickly and felt that it wasn’t quite there. But I’m so glad I did!!! If it took you away for just a bit it was worth it – polished or not. Sending love and light your way, dear Jen. xox ~Karen~
I read this earlier today. It makes me smile because I am sitting here, working on a book and my three kids are jumping all over me and two of them are wrestling! It’s impossible to even think. I so need a writing room too! Anyways, thanks for your words. This whole scene in my living room made me think of you!
Thanks for stopping back and sharing this Kristen! THIS is what blogging (for me) is all about!! Being connected to one another and sharing our struggles, funny scenarios and all! When I sit in my writing room tomorrow “I” will picture you with your three kids and laugh!! Thanks for the smiles and laughter! Be well. ~Karen~
I love your set up, You have a nice space to do your writing. I look forward to following your blog.:) until next time, keep on writing. 🙂 Take care.
Peace,
Tammy:)
Thank you kindly, Tammy! I can’t wait to decorate my writing room in our new house! I so appreciate your stopping by! Love and light. ~Karen~
I love it! I’m inspired to create a writing space of my own now.
Thank you, Madeline! I look forward to seeing YOUR writing room! Stay tuned for my real writing room in our new house – ETA, 6-8 weeks! Be well. ~Karen~
Me too! I need my writing room too. I’m amazed at people who can write or work in coffee shops! 🙂
LOL It mystifies me how people can truly “write” in a busy cafe. Glad I’m not the only one! Happy writing! ~Karen~
Thanks Karen