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If you’re going to take this writing-a-novel thing seriously you might want to consider creating a writing space for yourself. Whether it is a permanent space or if you’re like me and you like to stay flexible and change from day to day, here’s a few ideas to consider depending on your budget, your available room and your personal writing style.
- The first thing you need is…space. If you don’t have a whole room to carve out a writing cave for yourself, maybe a small corner of your bedroom or a little nook in a den or living area can be your writing spot. The main thing you need is a place for your computer or laptop. There’s a variety of desk options, including standing desks or lap desks if you’re the type who likes to sprawl out on a cushy couch to write. Some writers even have desks they can use on a treadmill so they can type and walk at the same time. (Kudos to them because I am not that coordinated!) If you’re on a tight budget check second-hand sources for small vanities or tables as options.
- Along with your horizontal writing surface, you’ll want a good chair. You’ll be spending a lot of time in it!
- If you’re a plotter (or have visual aids, idea boards, charts, timelines, or research notes) you probably want that nearby and easy to see. Dry erase boards are a great option for this since they come in all sizes. Did you know there’s even dry-erase board paint? My husband made a giant dry erase board for my writing spot with a few items from the hardware store. If you don’t want something so permanent affixed to your walls you can also use large sheets of paper. Look in your nearest office supply store for some with sticky backs that hang on walls or windows. Because I move day-to-day where I write I have a small foam tri-fold board (the kind you use for science fair projects or presentations.) The larger cardboard one was too cumbersome, but the smaller foam version is easy to take with me wherever I go. I have my plot laid out in sticky notes so I can easily make changes and take everything off when I’m ready for a new story. It’s even light and small enough I can use at a coffee shop if I want. It doubles as a way to block my field of vision so I don’t get distracted by my surroundings.
- Cork boards are also great for visual aids and inspiration. Print out your pictures, get some cute push pins and you’re set. Again, they come in lots of different sizes to fit your space.
- Find containers to keep your favorite pens, highlighters, sticky notes, etc nearby. The less you need to break your concentration to find things the more words you get on the page. Again, I move a lot, so I have a little pencil bag for my writing utensils and a backpack. I can move from room to room and keep everything I need close by. If you’re crafty you can make pencil holders by repurposing containers with beautiful scrapbook paper. I have some pretty tea tins I keep pens in. Also, keep writing craft and research books within reach.
Lastly, set the mood. What helps you get those creative juices flowing? Hot beverage at hand? Music? Maybe light a scented candle and put a few inspirational quotes in your space. Make it yours. Even if it’s one little corner of your house, teach your family members to respect the space. Sacred work happens there.
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Sled dog musher and outdoor adventurer Nick Dahlquist doesn’t mean to be a loner—he just feels at home in the woods, with his dogs, and online in his vlogging world, where he’s amassed nearly a million viewers. But he’s just a simple guy, with simple goals—care for his dogs, teach people how to survive the cold, and run the Iditarod. Unfortunately, life turns cold when his lead dog is injured, and he’s low on funds. Good thing he has LadyJHawk to chat with. She’s become an online friend he can turn to, and he’s starting to need her more than he’d like to admit. But the last thing he wants is for some random woman to show up on his doorstep…
Chopper pilot and Texas gal Jae Lynn Washington has been following Nick’s DogQuest videos and Get Lost in the Woods vlogs since she inherited her deceased boyfriend’s military working dog. Two years later, his online friendship has made her wonder if he could be more than a friend. What if she moved to Deep Haven? Would that be considered stalking, even if she got a bonafide job on the Crisis Response Team?
When Jae shows up in Deep Haven—and on Nick’s doorstep—he’s not at all the man she met online. And when Nick is tapped to train the team, he’s pretty sure petite, summer-loving Jae won’t last a moment in the brutal cold—a fear he pours out to LadyJHawk. As their training takes a personal turn, their chilly start begins to thaw. But what will happen if he discovers that Jae and LadyJHawk are one and the same?
When a blizzard strikes, and the CRT is called out into the storm, more than just their relationship is at risk…
Cozy up to this delightful twist on You’ve Got Mail set in the snowy escape of Deep Haven.
After growing up on both the east and west coasts and traveling the world,
Michelle Sass Aleckson now enjoys living the country life in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. She loves rocking out to 80’s tunes on a Saturday night and playing board games with family and friends. She’s a graduate of Novel Academy’s Storycrafter course, and she won the 2018 Genesis Award for Romantic Suspense and the 2018 Cascade Award for Contemporary Fiction.She writes contemporary stories full of romance, grace, and, yes, a little sass too. You can connect with her at
michellealeckson.com!