Space & Place

The magical gift of total privacy

I bought the wall hanging in Pakistan 37 years ago. The chairs are from the sidewalk, the table from the Salvation Army and the rugs from Ross Dress for Less.

It’s true, I think, that real creatives can pretty much work anywhere (and by “real” I simply mean people who can’t give up making things, no matter how foolish it seems). I edited my second novel, This Terrible Beauty, by balancing my laptop on my knees in a tiny guest room in my parent’s house. No notes or books, no affirmations hanging by a desk, no diagrams on the wall helping me keep track of turning points.

Just a laptop, a chair and a brain.

At that point I was so happy to have the chance to publish that novel (this interview with Pamela Loring of Dead Darlings explains the unexpected 2nd chance it was given) and I think I would probably have been able to write no matter what the circumstances.

For four years I rented an office in downtown Dedham MA about ten minutes from my house. Never before or again have I been as productive: I wrote and worked on a dozen books during that time and had 20+ coaching clients.

There’s something about having access to absolute privacy that releases me to work hard. Unlike many writers, I don’t like the bustle and distraction of cafés - I prefer working alone in a sweet space without interruptions or noise.

I’ve probably worked in ten different home offices since I started writing (we moved a lot!), but having a writing space outside the home is a gift I do not take for granted.

Goodbye Dedham, hello Key West

My office in Dedham, where I wrote The Forgotten Hours, and was more productive than at any other time in my career

For the past six years I’ve been working in a home office here in Key West. It was great - but not without drawbacks: my sweet husband couldn’t quite understand my rule about not interrupting me when the door is closed; he’d come around the outside and knock on my window. “That doesn’t count as an interruption, does it?”

Now I’ve rented a small concrete shed tucked behind an Architect’s office in a tropical garden a few blocks from my house, and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. It’s my space, quiet and… well, entirely MINE!

The morning when I first unlocked the door, it was dank and musty in here. Everything was covered in grime. I didn’t yet have a desk or a proper chair.

So I got to work. Four hours later I was at my desk, writing. (Can you believe during those hours I got a desk for free and then rolled a spare office chair down the block from my KWLS office?! Serendipity!)

It helps that I'm not above taping postcards to the wall like I did when I was 12-years old

Where is your space in which you can relax and dream, or work uninterrupted, or which you can set up exactly as you like without having to please anyone else? Do you need that or can you be creative anywhere?

When my now 6 ft 5 in tall son was a kid, he created little hideaways under his bunkbed or in a narrow closet where he could read and play with his toys. The smaller the better. There’s something to be said for coziness.

Do you have an office? A room? A closet? Does space and place matter to you? I want to see pictures!

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Colin from Accounts

Things feel a little grim and overwhelming right now. Wars, climate disasters, and an upcoming election are making me anxious - and I’m generally not an anxious person.

This Australian series, Colin from Accounts (the name of a dog, not a person), is the perfect antidote to the malaise I’m currently feeling. It’s charming and silly and these two characters are both kind-hearted and adorable. (Here is a review from The Guardian.) We need more joy and silliness right now!

I’m going to try to cultivate a new hobby

Does anyone who reads this newsletter do beading??

I was in a store searching for a lamp for my new office, when I noticed the lady stocking the shelves - she was wearing the most enormous beaded necklace. It was glorious and hung down to her navel; its multiple gigantic medallions and single huge yellow sun sparkled under the fluorescent lights.

“Oh my god,” I said. “Your necklace! It’s so beautiful.”

She smiled as she studied me through thick glasses. Last week I’d been salivating over some beaded necklaces online (albeit, a simple strings of beads) and had thought for the millionth time, I could make that! This woman told me she’d made her necklace herself. The creativity and patience!

This sealed the deal for me: I’d already decided that this season here in Key West I’m going to keep painting (maybe something a bit smaller than last time) but I also that want to take up beading.

How do I get started? Where do I find nice beads? Any ideas for me?

I’m interested in making necklaces, but this is pretty too (NY Embroidery Studio)