So, I know that I’ve preached this particular lesson a million times… but with it coming up on NaNo, I’m gonna preach it once more. One of the most important things that you can do to help yourself get ready is to make sure that your writing space is in order. The last thing that you want is to find yourself with a disorganized area to write… you’ll spend the first day working out the clutter, and you won’t get that jump start on NaNo that you need to get.
That’s not what you want in life. You want to sit down to a freshly cleaned, decorated, organized, candy-stocked (yes, oh yes) writing area. This is going to get you into the place that you mentally need to be in. Trust me, if you have a place that you can go to that you dedicate solely to writing, it’s going to help you out. When you sit there, you will be in your writing mind frame. The important thing to this, though, is to make sure that you only use this area for creativity. More than that, once you sit down… do not get up, don’t browse the internet, don’t twitter or blog or anything… until you’ve gotten your word count for the day.
If you sit and focus, you’re going to turn this writing space into a real haven. It’s going to be where you go to meet your muse for sweet little rendezvous in the night when you can’t sleep. This is your sanctuary… treat it like it is. Here are a few things I do to spruce up my writing space:
- Get a calendar that you can reuse. I have an erase-able calendar, and during NaNo I write my word goals on there. Seeing it checked off helps a lot.
- Make sure all of the clutter and distractions are cleared away. No game systems and no trash.
- Stock your area with notebooks, pens, paper, and anything else that you need for your creative process. You don’t want to have to go on a run for it, after all.
- Have drinks/snacks on hand. I have a little shelf for them. When I’m in my zone, I don’t have to get up. I don’t have to do anything but go go go.
- Decorate it with inspirational quotes, or a picture… something motivational. Anything to let you know that you’re in your safe writing place. Make it aesthetically pleasing to you.
Those are just a few tips, and I’m sure that you guys have a lot more! I’d love to hear them! Either way, make sure you’re ready for NaNo!
Until next time, keep reading and writing!
Author Amanda McCormick
Author Amanda McCormick 
My thing is I can’t be in my room. I have to get up and go to my writing space.
Usually it ends up being the library at school. There’s coffee, power outlets and plenty of people who are not going to bother you š
I have a section in my room (which I usually only go to for sleeping) in the corner. I have a desk, a printer, etc. I have it isolated from the sleep part of the room… it’s my head-space. Whatever works for you is what you need to do ā¤ As long as you have that space, I think you're doing it right ^_^
I think I’m going to use my office this year. I’m planning on either getting there early, or staying late by a little bit and writing then. Or using my lunch. 30 minutes. Good space. Door I can close – silence/music – how I want it. IN the zone.