As much as writing hinges on one’s natural talent, creativeness, or personal experiences there is often much more to it. One important ingredient to successful writing is having access to an environment that fosters creativity.
Today, The New York Times ran an article that described five literary geniuses work places. Each had their own quirks, whether it was not being connected to the internet (Rachel Kushner) or using the small size of your room to give yourself anxiety to catalyst creativity (Adam Thirlwell). What each room did have in common was that it was molded to fit that particular author’s personality and needs. No matter how simple or extravagant, having a space that works for you is an important piece to completing your writing.
For most authors, it is impossible to determine when an idea or a concept will strike. We all know that the most important part of your story will come to you at the most inconvenient time, leaving you frantically searching for a piece of paper and pen. Writing is filled with unpredictables, therefore it is important to control the things that can be controlled. Your work environment is one of those things. Do whatever it takes to make your work environment conducive to your personality and working style.
You can check out the article linked here. As tempting as it may be, do not try to copy the characteristics of these wildly successful authors work places. Each work environment is so completely different that it proves exactly why you should find your own space. There is no one key, life changing ingredient to a successful writing environment. What works for one person can be so horribly wrong for the next. The only thing I know for sure is that you need to find your own space. Experiment with it, you just never know what you might discover. Write on.