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A Writing Room

"A Writing Room has me firmly rooted in living the life I've always dreamed of. It now feels so normal to be writing all the time, instead of worrying about all the writing I wasn't doing... I've finally come home."  — Jacque, Member Since 2023

Has calling yourself a writer always felt uncomfortable, like the title was meant for someone else, but not for you? Have you spent years perfecting your craft, only to be left with a lot of unfinished pages? After countless false starts, have your writing dreams begun to feel impossible?

Now is the time to finally give your writing the attention it deserves, and to become the writer you were born to be.

Join the exclusive writing program that gives you access to industry experts, teaches you the ins and outs of publishing, and welcomes you into a community of dedicated writers who want to read your work.

One Year Of Writing

The one-year difference.

"When I joined the community, I saw clearly the value of all I can learn from the courses. Now one year later, I have learned so much... that has contributed significantly to my growth and ever evolving sense of myself as a Creative. I’ve found courage to do things I didn’t imagine a year ago. I brushed the dust off of my blog, moving it over to Substack. I read my writing aloud [and] it broke something open for me... the support from the group that day propelled me to recommit to sharing my writing regularly. After YEARS of knowing I wanted to write... I now think of myself as a Writer! "  - Wendy, Member Since 2023

Where will you be one year from today? How much closer will you be to making your writing dreams a reality? Signing up for a year-long writing program can feel like a huge step, but after decades of working with writers, we've found an annual commitment consistently produces the best results, both in your daily writing habit and publication goals.

A Writing Room Collective is your one-stop-shop for writing tools — think workshops, skill prompts, and feedback sessions — that you can dive into as needed. 

Over a year, these small actions compound into something truly magical. Just take a look at some of our recent member publications .

By committing to a year, you remove the decision of whether or not to focus on your writing, and instead say a resounding "YES" to making your idea a reality.

And if life surprises you with an extra busy month (or two), you'll still have several months left to get back on track.  

Writing is a long process, and with a year ahead of you, you'll have the time to build momentum, refine your skills, and truly explore your voice — telling the story only you can tell.

You’ll be surrounded by a community that will reinvigorate you whenever you're feeling stuck.

And in truth, signing up for the annual program means you won’t have to deal with monthly renewals that make you question your commitment, distracting you from your writing goals. You can focus on what truly matters — your craft. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a multi-year MFA program, you'll get all the tools you need to make your writing dreams a reality — for a fraction of the price.

If the doubts are already creeping in and you're thinking this won't work, let us help prove your inner critic wrong. The time is going to pass no matter what you decide. If not now, when?

I'm ready to join

The best writing teachers, meet your team.

Anne Lamott

Jake Morrissey

Editor at penguin.

Literary Agent & Editor

Creative Coach

Emily Schreter

Therapist for creatives.

Dr. Jennifer Selig

Professor & author.

The beloved author of ten New York Times bestselling books, California Hall of Fame Inductee, and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, Anne Lamott is a living literary legend.

Anne partnered with A Writing Room at our very first retreat in 2022, and shortly after became a full-time artist in residence at A Writing Room. She produced the course Everything I Know About Writing , based on her critically-acclaimed book Bird By Bird (available to Writing Room members only), and now teaches Summer School each year, answer our members' burning questions.

If you love to read, you’ve almost certainly loved a book that Jake Morrissey helped bring into the world. His refined taste over decades of selecting manuscripts for publication has largely defined the modern bookshelf, and he has a deep love for making a writer’s work shine, even if his own influence is invisible. An editor at Penguin and one of Writing Room’s industry experts, we’re deeply grateful to have Jake join us at A Writing Room to give our members feedback on their pieces through our Live Editing sessions.

BJ Robbins started in publicity at Simon & Schuster and was later Senior Editor at Harcourt, before opening her Los Angeles-based agency in 1992. Her agency represents quality fiction, both literary and commercial, and general nonfiction, with a particular interest in memoir, biography, narrative history, pop culture, sports, travel/adventure, medicine and health. BJ has led workshops at UCLA Extension, UC Irvine Extension, at the Community of Writers Fiction Workshop, and now inside the Collective. In her Ask An Agent series, she helps members edit their query letters through her unique agent lense.

For more than a decade, Amie McNee has been creative coach to over half a million writers on her online platform, Inspired To Write, and through her podcast, Unpublished . Her course Getting Published: From Self to Traditional is exclusive to A Writing Room only and charts all the ins and outs of both the self-publishing and traditional publishing worlds for our members. She regularly drops in for coaching sessions inside the Collective and offers in-person workshops at our San Francisco headquarters.

Therapist and creative coach Emily Schreter (M.S.Ed, LMHC, LPC) regularly uses writing as a therapeutic tool to help clients reclaim their past and reimagine their future. In our Ask A Therapist series, Emily will guide you through the power of writing as a therapeutic tool by focusing on a different methodology for writing each month inside the Collective.

After a long career on the faculty at Pacifica, Dr. Jennifer Selig wrote the book Deep Memoir: An Archetypal Approach to Deepening Your Story and Broadening Its Appeal. After she joined one of our quarterly Author-Led Book Clubs  (featuring her book), she joined the Writing Room staff to offer Live Editing sessions focused on memoir. Members have the opportunity to submit their writing for her review to help perfect and finish their manuscript. 

"I've been submitting my writing to Jake each month for Live Editing and can't believe the type of feedback I'm getting. I submit a new part of my manuscript each month and I'm slowly building a beautiful second draft that I'm so proud of."   — Beth, Member Since 2023

For the first time ever, A Writing Room is lifting the veil on the mysterious publishing industry and inviting you to sit at the table with the experts, like elite literary agents and Penguin editors.

Nowhere else do you get this type of access and behind-the-scenes advice from the otherwise confusing world of publishing. When you join, you instantly get a writing team in your corner who are here to read your writing and give applicable feedback.

Authors, professors, editors and agents — we've hired them all as part of our staff to help you become the best writer possible and get your book published.

Event Gatherings

Included with your membership.

Ask An Agent | Monthly

Join literary agent BJ Robbins inside the Collective each month as she reviews member-submitted query letters and answers questions about what to takes to get you noticed by an agent. If you feel ready to start pitching your manuscript, but get stuck on query letters (or never hear back), this is your opportunity! You'll leave each session with applicable takeaways to implement in your querying process. We'll review as many queries as time permits.

Book Camp | Annual | 10 weeks

At the beginning of every year, Writing Room members gather together and each pick one piece of work to focus on. Like the ultimate New Year's resolution, you will redesign your calendar, make commitments to your goal, and start writing alongside a dedicated cohort. Each week is structured with a designated task to help keep your eyes on what you set out to accomplish, but the whole time, you will be writing. With a minimum of 10,000 words written (or edited) by the end of Book Camp, you will enter the New Year with wind in your sails and momentum for the next phase of your writing project.

Five-Minute Club | Monthly

This monthly check-in gathering for the 5-Minute Club is designed to keep you connected to your daily writing practice using a powerful (and proven) technique. We will share wins, challenges, updates, and a bit of inspiration. Don't miss this opportunity to gather, stay connected, and give yourself a dose of vitamins for your writer's soul.

Live Editing | Monthly

For each Live Editing session, Jake Morrissey (editor at Penguin) will be review writing submissions from members and give his written and verbal feedback. We'll cover everything from how to write a first page that grabs an editors attention, and how to introduce characters in way that keeps your reader intrigued.

Feedback Friday | Monthly

Would you like to get outside eyes on your writing for a dedicated block of time? Are you getting closer to publishing a piece, but would like to elevate your work to the next level? Feedback Friday gives you the chance to submit your writing and have it reviewed by other members, including our in-house beta reader. You'll have the chance to give feedback to other members too!

Wordsmith Wellness | Monthly

Are you nourishing your creative spirit? Writers are whole creatures and what affects our minds, bodies, and spirits also affects our writing. This gathering is an interactive blend of guided meditation, open sharing and group work. You can expect a bit of psychology and neuroscience, soulful exploration, and practical guidance.

Silent Writing | Daily

Join Silent Writing on a daily basis, a collaborative opportunity for individual practice. Start each session with a quick grounding exercise, then write in silence for an hour with other members. Silent Writing practice offers connection and accountability, and helps you feel less isolated as a writer when you see others also practicing their craft. You will also feel a gentle nudge to get in your chair if you know others are expecting you. Each Silent Writing session is facilitated with warmth and care, making sure we create space for many voices and listen to each other well.

Submission Sunday | Monthly

Have you been wanting to submit your essay, poetry or short story for publication, but feel overwhelmed by the process? Or do you have a pile of unfinished query letters sitting in your drafts folder? Let's press send together!  This series is a dedicated block of time to submit your writing somewhere  new . We'll start by setting our intentions (what we'd like to send), then have a dedicated block of time to work together. We'll also provide some examples each month of where you can submit your work for potential publication ( as seen here ).

"I'm a relatively new member, but I already feel like I belong to this wonderful, supportive, creative, and motivating community. The camaraderie is beautiful. The Silent Writing sessions have been the life force I have been missing for more than a decade."  - Shannon, Member Since 2023

When you become a Writing Room member, you get instant access to a calendar packed with events to support your writing. 

Share your writing at an Open Mic , submit a question at our industry-expert  Q&As , get outside eyes on your work at a Feedback Friday, have an agent review your query letter at Ask An Agent, finally finish your book at Book Camp ... the list goes on. 

Our event gatherings are scheduled out on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis, so there is always a way to connect with other writers, experts, and get the exact help you need.

Live & On-Demand Courses

Everything I Know About Writing | Anne Lamott | 8 hours 30 minutes

Join bestselling author Anne Lamott for an inspiring and practical writing course based on her acclaimed book Bird by Bird , where you will embark on a comprehensive writing journey offering Anne’s timeless insights and actionable advice to help you become the writer you’ve always wanted to be. In this course, you’ll learn how to get started even when you don’t know where to begin, develop the right mindset to stay consistent in your writing, and discover how to seek and give feedback while finding beta readers to support your work. You’ll also explore the realities of getting published and the many other reasons to write. As a bonus, you’ll receive Stuckness 101 , where you’ll learn effective strategies from Anne to break through writer’s block, and get a behind-the-scenes look inside Anne’s actual writing room.

Getting Published: From Self to Traditional | Amie McNee | 2 hours 25 minutes

Transform your publishing journey with Amie McNee in this comprehensive course designed for authors interested in both self-publishing and traditional publishing. You’ll begin by embracing your identity as an author, reclaiming your power through self-publication, and discovering the nuts and bolts of the self-publishing process, including effective marketing strategies to promote your work and how to hire a publishing team. As you transition to traditional publishing, you’ll learn how to get noticed by publishing houses, write a compelling book proposal, craft query letters, and handle rejection while designing a writing process that suits your goals. Finally, you’ll explore the emotional aspects of working with a publisher, understand what to expect in your collaboration, and familiarize yourself with timelines, editing processes, advances, and royalties. By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped to confidently navigate the journey from self-publishing to traditional publishing, taking the next step in your author career.

All Things Memoir | Reema Zaman | 2 hours 33 minutes

Unlock the power of your personal story in this immersive memoir-writing course with acclaimed memoirist Reema Zaman, where you’ll learn to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with readers and showcases the unique story only you can tell. Throughout the course, you will unearth the narrative that defines you by exploring the story you carry within you, shape your book using personal struggles and external challenges by identifying your internal versus external conflict, and connect your physical experiences with emotional depth through finding the Narrative-Body connection. You’ll enhance your storytelling by using effective dialogue to navigate time & tension, and learn to make your story relatable on a broader scale by connecting the personal and universal.

Pay Your Rent With Substack | Jess Janz | 4 hours 18 minutes

Dive into the world of Substack publishing with expert Jess Janz. This course is designed for writers looking to launch, grow and monetize their own Substack, providing you with the essential tools and strategies to thrive in the digital landscape. You’ll learn the technicalities of what Substack is and why it’s a game-changer for independent writers, explore various strategies for monetizing your Substack to turn it into a profitable venture, and discover how to plan and organize your content with effective content maps and posting schedules for maximum impact and consistency. Uncover techniques to build and nurture a loyal audience around your newsletter, ensuring your success in the Substack community.

Three Days Of The Artists Way | Julia Cameron | 3 hours 45 minutes

Join renowned author Julia Cameron in this 3-part workshop based on her book, Living the Artist Way , designed to help you cultivate a deeper connection to your creativity and enrich your daily life through artistic practices. You will discover how to embrace your inner artist and build a relationship with your creative self while implementing simple, effective daily routines to nurture your creativity. The course will teach you to incorporate mindfulness techniques that enhance your creative process, emphasizing the importance of creating a nurturing environment for your artistic endeavors to flourish. Additionally, you’ll develop strategies to sustain and grow your creative practices over time.

“I feel like I have won the writing lottery. A class from Anne Lamott called "Everything I Know About Writing." OMG, seriously? It's as if I've been floating in a vast open ocean alone, and now someone not only has a life raft, they have hot tea and a warm blanket too." — Nicki, Member Since 2024

At A Writing Room, we create classes based on what members are looking for, then invest in world-class teachers. 

For example, when we learned over 30% of our members were writing a memoir, and were looking for the best path forward with their publishing goals, we hired an acclaimed memoirist to design and film the now wildly-popular course, All Things Memoir. 

When we learned that over half of our members were interested in getting onto Substack, or monetizing their existing Substack, we brought in an expert to teach Substack 101.

Aside from the robust library of courses you will have access to the day you join, as a member you will also vote on topics you want us to create courses on next. 

Not only are these courses available to you on-demand (so you can watch them on your own time), each new course also includes a live watch — a 3-month series where we gather together as a live cohort to work through each lesson.

This builds in accountability, community, and ensures you will always finish the courses you start, if you just show up. 

“I was shocked when I logged into the Course Library and found so many of lessons to choose from... memoir, self-publishing, editing, querying, agenting, how to choose the best tense... it feels like everything I need is here under one roof." 

— nadia, member since 2024, daily writing prompts.

"The prompts are great, I don't do them all but the ones I do really help get me into a writing state of mind. They get my juices flowing so I can enter my main writing project with a working brain."  - Terry, Member Since 2023

Book Camp - 10 Weeks Of  Focus

"I'm writing more than I ever have in my life, I think it's because of everyone else around me is focused on their own writing pieces too. I get excited to log on, I think I'm addicted. A Writing Room is beginning to replace my social media apps, and every time I log in, it just gets me excited to write more."  - Jamie, Member Since 2023

At the beginning of every year, Writing Room members gather together and each pick one piece of work to focus on.

Like the ultimate New Year's resolution, you will redesign your calendar, make commitments to your goal, and start writing alongside a dedicated cohort.  Each week is structured with a designated task to help keep your eyes on what you set out to accomplish, but the whole time, you will be writing. 

With a minimum of 10,000 words written (or edited) by the end of Book Camp, you will enter the New Year with wind in your sails and momentum for the next phase of your writing project.

A Week-Long Digital Retreat - Spring 2025

"I'd been stuck not writing for awhile, hiding my work, too afraid to share it after a period of rejections... but the pain of not writing was starting to be worse than the pain of writing. I joined this as a sort of desperate way to get over myself... I did not expect how hungry I'd be for the silent writing sessions, all the workshops I attended, hearing other stories and witnessing their bravery. I feel more wholly myself after this week. Rather than get over myself, I think I needed to embrace me more."  - Karen, Member & Digital Retreat Attendee

In addition to the daily, weekly and monthly offerings inside the Collective, your membership also includes a week-long Digital Retreat every Spring. 

Open mics, new teachers, workshops led by professors and editors — think of this as a crash course in writing fundamentals. 

The Spring retreat is specifically designed for working professionals to enjoy an immersive writing experience while keeping up with their other life commitments.

All week long, you'll have multiple opportunities each day to invest in your writing, with sessions specially designed to help you start, edit, finish a piece of writing.

You'll be given the tools, structure and guidance to publish a short story, poem or essay by the end of the retreat. 

As a member, you receive full access to this retreat, completely included in your membership.

Summer School - With Anne Lamott

"Having Anne Lamott as one of MY writing teachers who I get to learn from directly and ask questions to on a regular basis...my younger self wouldn't have believed it. All I can say is WOW."  - Judith, Member Since 2023

Class is in session! Each summer, members gather together as as cohort to learn directly from Anne Lamott.

These live discussions include multiple Q&As with Anne to ensure each session is structured around exactly what members are working through at the moment in their writing journey. 

Summer School provides the perfect blend of staying focused on your writing while enjoying the changing seasons.

Our Proven Process

The first part of our proven process is developing your writing habit.

How many times have you tried to create a daily writing routine, only to give up because you weren't able to stay consistent? Let us show you proven ways to design and sustain a habit that sticks.

Don't wait for the perfect conditions to get started. If you dive into establishing your writing process while you're busy, your new routine becomes resilient and sustainable — and is that much more likely to last.

The second part of our proven process is craft. Have you ever felt drawn in by an author's writing, yet when you sit down to write yourself, feel so far away from being able to tell your story that way you want to?

At A Writing Room, we focus less on innate talent and more on honing your skill — because anyone can improve their craft if they're willing to put in the time. 

The final step in our proven process is completion.

How many drafts have you written, then given up on? How many documents are currently waiting to be finished, brimming with potential? 

Give yourself the gift of finally finishing your book, essay or poem. Only after you finish can your art truly engage with the larger audience it was meant for — or the one person you are truly writing to — for years to come. 

Custom App To Keep You Writing

Frequently Asked Questions

What day/time are the live events, can i cancel my membership anytime, can i get a refund, will i get access to all courses, have a question for us.

Do you have questions, comments, or need extra assistance? Reach out using the contact form and we'll get back to you shortly, or email [email protected].

Enter your information below for immediate access toAnne Lamott's 30-minute guided video lesson and 52 weekly writing prompts delivered to your inbox. PLUS, instant download of the Writer's Roadmap.

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How to Create the Perfect Writing Space

Close your eyes and imagine your ideal workspace. What do you see in your mind’s eye?

My vision takes me across the planet to the utopian island of Bora Bora, but my bank account quickly beckons me back to reality. Don’t you hate when that happens?

Here’s the honest truth: Where you write impacts how you write.

While you may be able to eek out fantastical tales in a less than desirable setting, you don’t have to and you shouldn’t. In my experience, it’s a lot harder to write something epic and moving when your desk is cluttered, you’re overlooking the dumpster, and your chair is more uncomfortable than Thanksgiving dinner after an election year.

The writer’s workspace is a sacred environment where you should be alone with your wild and inexhaustible imagination. Every element of your workspace should be slave to your creativity. This is your profession-- you shouldn’t be forced to work or live with inferior tools.

That said, I acknowledge that we’re all working with a finite budget. Therefore, the ideas below apply to those who are able to invest in a full makeover and also to those who can only afford to rearrange furniture in the room.

Let’s get started.

Choose the Right Workspace

All writers should have a dedicated work space even if:

A. You don’t work from that space all the time

B. Your workspace is literally a converted closet in your bedroom

As we’ll discuss in more detail below, your workspace will house all of your writing stuff, from pens and memory cards to inspiration notebooks and edited manuscripts.

If you have a dedicated space for your writer’s office, you can skip ahead to the next tip. But if you’re like many writers who have to create a workspace in the corner of your living or dining room, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right space. Choose a space that:

Provides at least some privacy - You’ll need to be alone with your thoughts and eventually teleport to the world of your characters. That’s hard to do when others are around and in your space.

Has little to no foot traffic - Don’t set up shop in the middle of a high-traffic area. The less people who walk in and out of your writing zone, the better.

Here’s a list of 10 inspirational workspaces for writers. Subscribe to receive this extra resource.

Download your bonus content:

Consider Where You Sit

You’re a writer which means that you’ll spend quite a bit of time on your tush. For this reason, you must give thought to where you’re sitting.

As a young writer, I foolishly thought that I could get by with a cheap chair. Wrong. After a while, the chair felt like a medieval torture device and it constantly distracted me from the process of writing.

If you’re only willing to shell out $20 bucks for the big box special utility chair, you’ll soon regret your decision. You need a high-quality, ergonomic chair (preferably one with good ratings on Amazon). Look for a product that provides lower back support and helps you maintain good posture. Also, if possible, sit in the chair before buying. If you can feel the frame-- it’s not the right chair for you.

While this post is sensitive to those with smaller budgets, please don’t skimp on your writer’s chair. Save up if you have to and buy a chair with a price tag that makes you doubt your sanity temporarily. Trust me, it will all be worth it when you’re able to stand up for your chair and not clutch your back in pain.

Make Room for Standing (or Running), Too

Although I’m a big fan of sitting, perhaps you’re a fan of standing.

You’re not alone-- standing desks are popular these days and for good reason. Standing can be great for your posture and offers a host of health benefits. Research shows that a standing desk may reduce heart disease, lower the risk of developing blood sugar, and improve your productivity.

But as a writer, you probably don’t want to stand up all the time, so it’s a good idea to get a convertible desk. There are two main ways you can go about this:

• Buy a (pricy) motorized desk that allows you to go from sitting to standing at the push of a button
• Buy a bar height desk that you can pair with a bar stool

The second option is cheaper however, if you opt for a non-motorized, bar-height desk, you’ll likely have to settle for a less than ideal writer’s chair.

A derivative of the standing desk is the treadmill desk, which is exactly what it sounds like: a desk attached to a treadmill. To me, this also sounds like a medieval torture device. I prefer to burn my calories the old fashioned way: Typing really fast when someone comes in the room to pretend like I’m actually working.

But if you prefer exercising while world building, there are plenty of options available for buy or DIY.

A cluttered desk will not inspire creativity.

Step one is to remove anything on your desk that’s not absolutely necessary for the writing process (or your inspiration). This includes junk mail or other random doodads that have no place in your writing workspace.

However, if there’s anything worse than a cluttered desk, it’s this: Successfully cleaning off your desk but then having no place to put it all.

Therefore, your perfect writing space must have storage space. You need someplace to hide, or rather store , your necessary but ugly stuff.

Add Multiple Screens

Although not a necessity, having multiple screens can truly boost your productivity. Imagine having one screen dedicated to storytelling and another screen for research or looking at your outline. Alternatively, your second screen can be used for all non-writing related tasks, like checking emails or getting caught up on social media.

Multiple screens seems like overkill to uninitiated but give it a chance. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll love having everything in front of you without clicking through screens.

Display Your Inspiration

Your desk shouldn’t be all business.

Surround yourself with art, photos of travels or loved ones, treasured books, and other trinkets that remind you of who you are and what you adore.

Stumped on what to include in your office? Start with nature. Green plants can serve as a muse and bring life to the room, both literally and metaphorically. Plus, they help circulate the air in the room. Yay for health benefits.

Remember that your workspace should be a place where you actually want to spend time in. Fill it with things you love and want to see.

Over to You

What are your favorite and least parts of your current writing space? Let us know in the comments below.

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• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• Home Improvement

Creating the Ideal Writing Room: Where Creativity Flows

Designing your ideal writing room is all about shedding preconceived notions and embracing colors, styles, and furniture that stir your creative spirit. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting your writing journey, these inspired ideas will help you craft a space where words flow effortlessly.

What is your ideal writing room and workstation?

Your writing room should be a place where you feel comfortable, productive, and inspired. It should reflect your personality, preferences, and goals as a writer. You don’t need a lot of space or money to create a beautiful and functional writing room. You just need some creativity, planning, and the right resources.

In this article, we’ll show you some tips and tricks to create an inspiring and ideal writing room and workstation, such as choosing your writing space, making it comfortable, adding a plant, paying attention to ergonomics, getting the right light, limiting distractions, and decluttering regularly. We’ll also show you some examples of how other writers have set up their writing rooms, from cozy nooks to spacious offices. By the end of this article, you’ll have some ideas on how to turn your writing room into your favorite place in the house.

1. Luxurious Writing Space

This opulent home office is a haven of luxury, designed to inspire writers who revel in grandeur and history. The ornate desk exudes opulence and promises to spark literary brilliance fit for royalty. For breaks, the high-back sofa or chair offers a regal spot to savor a cup of tea.

• Enhance productivity with a cozy sitting area to encourage well-deserved breaks.
• Personalize your space with objects that resonate with your unique style for added inspiration.

2. Garden View Retreat

For those yearning for a breath of fresh air amid writing deadlines, this ideal writing room overlooking a garden terrace is a soothing oasis. Step outside for a rejuvenating break and soak in the positive energy of nature. Even in a city apartment, you can infuse your writing room with a tranquil nature theme, as studies show that simply gazing at plants or trees, whether real or in posters, can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and boost productivity.

• Position your desk by the window to fully embrace the calming view.
• Decorate the wall in front of your desk with wall hangings reminiscent of a lush garden.
• Prioritize comfort and posture with a quality ergonomic office chair.

3. Books and Music Oasis

Many writers have a deep love for books and music, making this writing room a sanctuary for both passions. A built-in bookshelf with storage cabinets below accommodates your extensive book collection, while a piano provides a creative escape to inspire your imagination.

• Display your cherished possessions and write awards on the shelves for motivation.
• Keep your own books within arm’s reach on the bookshelves as a testament to your journey.
• A harmonious blend of literature and music can elevate your creative process.

4. Minimalist Writing Haven

For writers who thrive in minimalist surroundings, this ideal writing room exudes simplicity and purpose. Here, distractions are minimized to allow creativity to flow freely. The ergonomic chair ensures comfort during extended writing sessions, while clever storage solutions keep the room uncluttered.

• Even minimalists need storage; a long desk with built-in storage offers a sleek solution.
• Introduce potted plants to infuse the white space with natural accents and tranquility.

5. Contemporary Creative Hub

This chic, ideal writing room welcomes you with a vibrant color scheme that ignites creativity the moment you step inside. The pink and white palette creates an energized ambiance, perfect for nurturing a creative mind. Customize the cubby wall with your chosen color for a look that resonates with your style.

• Fill the cubbies with personal decorative items to inspire and uplift your spirits as you write.
• The spacious white table attached to the wall unit is ideal for research and reference materials.
• A tufted white chair combines comfort and style, while artwork and prints add to the inspiration.
• Showcase your achievements with writing certificates and career recognitions.

6. Collaborative Writing Zone

An ideal writing room can be more than just a solitary workspace . It’s an ideal setting for meetings and collaboration with fellow writers. This room design strikes a balance between coziness and invigorating colors, with red parson chairs and print lumbar pillows ready to support productive sessions.

• Illuminate your desk with a table lamp that creates an inviting ambiance and provides essential task lighting.
• Stay on track with a clock above the floating shelf.
• Introduce tall indoor plants to infuse calming natural elements into the room.

Personalize Your Writing Space

Create an ideal writing room that reflects your unique preferences in colors, style, and furniture. Fill it only with items that you genuinely love and that inspire your writing journey. Let your writing room become a sanctuary of creativity, where your words flow effortlessly.

Effective Lighting is Essential

Lighting is a crucial element in room design, as it sets the mood and influences creativity. Consider these lighting options to enhance your writing room:

• An overhead light with a ceiling fan offers both illumination and cooling when needed.
• A torchiere floor lamp can brighten up dark corners and add ambiance.
• Recessed ceiling lights on a dimmer switch provide flexibility to control the room’s mood.
• A carefully selected table lamp complements your decor and serves as an essential addition to your desk.

Your ideal writing room is one where your imagination knows no bounds

Designing the ideal writing room is a deeply personal journey, a canvas for your creativity. Whether it’s a lavish oasis of opulence or a minimalist haven of simplicity, your writing room becomes the sanctuary where words flow effortlessly. Effective lighting, collaborative spaces, and personal touches all contribute to the environment that fosters your creative spirit. It’s a place where your imagination knows no bounds and your stories find their voice. Start with your discovery of ideas and create the space where your literary dreams take flight.

Your ideal writing room blurs the boundaries between the physical and the imaginative, making it the place where your words find life and where your stories find purpose. Whether your style is grand or understated, let your writing room be the space where inspiration thrives and creativity flourishes.

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7 Ideas for Designing a Writing Room

Sally is a prolific non-fiction and fiction writer, who has appeared in multiple print and digital publications.

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The best way to design a writing room is to discard preconceived ideas. Consider colors, styles and furniture that will inspire and stimulate creativity.

Ultra-Elegant Writing Room

Every detail in this home office exudes wealth and luxury, providing a wonderful workspace for writers inspired by grandiose lifestyles and history. The elaborate desk imbues opulence to the room and is sure to inspire any author to create works fit for a king and queen. Break time is easy - just move over to the high-back sofa or chair to relax with a nice cup of tea.

• Having a sitting area in your writing room will encourage more frequent breaks, which can help boost your productivity.
• Add objects that resonate with your personal style for more inspiration.
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City Terrace Garden

This writing space overlooking a garden terrace adds a breath of fresh air to any stressful day filled with writing deadlines. When you need a break, just step outside and soak up all that positive plant energy . If you live in a city apartment, you can still create a writing room with a relaxing nature theme. Studies show that even just looking at plants or trees in a poster can have a positive psychological effect and help reduce stress. Other benefits include lower blood pressure and higher productivity.

• Place your desk against the window overlooking the terrace to take full advantage of the view.
• Alternately, cover the wall in front of your desk with lovely wall hangings reminiscent of a terrace garden.
• Invest in a quality ergonomic office chair to support your back as you write.

Books and Music Inspiration

Writers often still love to hold a book in their hands and many have a large book collection. Accommodate yours in your writing room with a built-in bookshelf complete with storage cabinets below. Many writers also receive inspiration from music. If you're also a musician, then taking a break to play the piano can often carry your muse into a world of what ifs.

• Place your prized possessions, including any writing awards, on the shelves to encourage you.
• Set your own books on the bookshelves to remind you how far you've come.

Minimalist Solution

Sometimes less is more. This writing room means business and is ideal for a writer who prefers minimalist décor. You won't have any distractions here. The lack of clutter allows the room's energy to flow, hopefully bringing new writing ideas with it. The ergonomic chair is a must for any writer who sits for extended periods of time.

• Even a minimalist needs storage options. This long desk features convenient storage for office equipment.

Contemporary Chic

You'll be inspired to write the moment you walk into this chic writing room. The pink and white colors create a crisp and energized room sure to stimulate a creative mind. You can re-create this look using the color of your choice for the cubby wall.

• Select your favorite decorative objects to place in the cubbies to inspire and lift your spirits as you write.
• The wide white table attached to the wall unit makes it ideal for spreading out research and reference books.
• The white tufted chair is both comfortable and stylish.
• Further inspire your muse with select artwork or prints of places you wish to visit.
• Celebrate your accomplishments by displaying writing certificates or other career recognitions.

Brainstorming or Mentoring

It's great to have a writing room that you can use to meet with a fellow writer to help you brainstorm an idea. If you're mentoring another writer in the local area, this is a great place to have a relaxed meeting. This room design is both cozy and filled with invigorating colors, such as the red parson chairs. Decorative print lumbar pillows are ready to support serious sessions.

• A table lamp on the desk provides not just ambience, but a great task light for poring over manuscripts.
• A clock above the floating shelf can help you stay on track and on time.
• Tall indoor plants soften the corners and infuse nature's calming effect.

Lighting Choices

Lighting plays an important role in a room design. Too little can create stress while ample lighting generates a calm and soothing effect. A warm ambience is conducive to creativity. There are many ways you can add lighting to your writing room to set the mood to maximize your productivity and welcome inspiration. These include:

• An overhead light with a ceiling fan is ideal when you need to cool things off.
• A torchiere floor lamp can illuminate dark corners.
• Recessed ceiling lights can be placed on a dimmer switch to control ambience or downlight a painting.
• A table lamp selected to go with your décor is an ideal addition to your desk.

Make Your Space Special

Think of the colors, style and furniture you want for your writing room. Select only things you really love that will also inspire you while writing.

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10 Ideas for a Reading and Writing Room

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A home office is valuable to many homeowners these days, especially if you're a telecommuter and do much of your work from the comfort of your abode. But a reading and writing room is a little different from a traditional office. This room is for someone who is serious about getting things done, without the distractions that a home office entails -- phones, faxes and anything else that can interrupt your focus. If you're a novelist or an editor, or even just a voracious reader, then you will benefit from creating a place in your home of complete serenity and isolation. Where to start? Fear not, literary genius, here are 10 tips for your very own reading and writing room.

• Silence is Golden
• Comfort is King
• Light up Your Life
• Eliminate the Distractions
• Be a Bookworm
• Stock Your Tools
• Décor and More
• Kid-free Zone
• Pet-free Zone

10: Silence is Golden

Finding a nice, quiet place to do your thing with pen and paper (or keyboard ) is a bigger challenge than you might think. Aside from the normal distractions that come with modern life, like TV and telephone, there are all kinds of noises that can interrupt an otherwise productive reading or writing session. Your goal is to minimize these things, so pick a room in your house that's private and far from the street. An attic loft or a room at the rear of the house is a good choice. And if you want to go the extra mile, you can always soundproof the room with professional grade wall insulation or some heavy curtains.

A busy street has the decibel reading of between 60 and 70 decibels. This is about the same as a small orchestra.

9: Comfort is King

If you're going to write the next great American novel, then you should be comfortable doing so. Aside from a desk with a nice and comfy chair of your choosing, consider a love seat or " fat " chair that you can spend some time in. A lot of writing is note taking, research and brainstorming, and sometimes it helps to get away from the desk for that kind of thing. And it's our opinion that reading is best done curled up on cushions than sitting straight up at your desk.

8: Light up Your Life

A media room requires a dark space in your home, but if you're looking to read and write, then you want a clean, well-lighted place. Natural light is always best, so if you're a morning person, then go with an east-facing room; head west if you do better work late in the day. If you're a night owl, then you need to pay attention to the room's artificial light. Mood lighting with lamps can be effective, but make sure it's not so moody that you're more inclined to kick back on the couch and get some shut-eye.

"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place'' was a short story written by Ernest Hemingway in 1933.

7: Eliminate the Distractions

Having access to phone , TV, radio and Internet is a key to modern life for most people, but they're a distraction if you're trying to get some reading or writing done. Our advice is to not even allow a phone in the room, but if you must, at least silence the ringer while you're working. Television really has no place in a reading and writing room, but Internet is a little trickier. Some writers need the Internet as a research tool, but it can easily lead to e-mail checking and non-essential Web surfing. Consider unplugging or turning off your wireless option when it comes time to actually put pen to paper.

6: Be a Bookworm

There's no better way to inspire you to get some reading and writing done than to surround yourself with great works of literature. Simply having a well-stocked library nearby can make a writer feel more like writing. And if you're a reader, having a library at your fingertips is a must. Reading a few passages from a favorite book can also serve as inspiration for the writer, so stock the shelves with your favorite classics. And remember that books were around as research tools long before the Internet , so use them to get yourself in the proper literary mindset.

Many libraries have moved their databases of collections online, but during most of the 20th century, the best way to find the information you needed was by using a card catalog. Resembling an oversized rolodex, books were alphabetized both by title and by author.

5: Stock Your Tools

You won't find a chef's kitchen without a cutting board, and you shouldn't find a reading and writing room without the tools necessary to get the job done. Your computer might be your preferred composition implement of choice, but also make sure you have plenty of paper and pens or pencils on hand. Whatever tools you use, be sure to keep plenty in stock. Many writers are superstitious creatures and not being able to find that favorite pen can lead to the dreaded writer's block -- or at least a reason to stop writing and go to the store.

4: Décor and More

Inspiration comes in many forms, so it's important that your reading and writing room envelops you with as many kinds as possible. If you're inspired by people or family stories, fill your room with plenty of framed photos of your loved ones. Photographs and quotes of famous authors are also food for thought and help inspire you or even just keep you on track when your ideas are running low. If nature gets you in the mood, bring in pictures of some of your most favorite scenes, like a woodland forest or an ocean at sunset.

The sounds that seep into your reading and writing room will have a big influence on what gets done in there. Music can be stimulating to the creative process, but try to stick to music that has no chance of becoming a distraction. Other people are relaxed by the soothing abstract sounds of ocean waves or wind chimes. If you're lucky enough to live near these actual sounds, then open up those windows. If not, get a sound machine that can play all of the tones that inspire you to work, whether it's a babbling brook or a rainforest .

2: Kid-free Zone

If you have kids and you want to get some work done at home, then you should consider keeping your reading and writing room a kid-free zone. Most freelance journalists and authors say that treating your work day as if you went into an office building is the way to go, so explain to your kids that while Mommy or Daddy may be at home, they're unavailable during work hours -- unless it's a true emergency, of course. You can temper this with breaks during the day so your children get the attention they need. Just think of your reading and writing room as an adult clubhouse -- no kids allowed.

Gloria Steinem, a renowned feminist , started "Take Our Daughters to Work" day in 1993 because she felt girls were falling behind in their aspirations. Sons were added in 2003.

1: Pet-free Zone

True, your pets don't ask nearly as many questions as kids do, but they can be a distraction nonetheless. If you have a lazy lab that is happy to lay on the floor and be near you, she may be a quiet comfort to have around. But if Fido is a barker or likes to get into the trashcan, you'll spend more time cleaning up after all of his fun. And if your furry feline friend is anything like ours, he may like to sit on your hands while you're typing, or lay across the papers that you need access to. This is amusing if you're in a procrastinating mood, but a major distraction when the work is flowing.

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• "Quotation Marks." Grammarbook.com, 2010. http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp
• "Sound Pressure Levels." Coolmath.com, 2010. http://www.coolmath.com/decibels1.htm
• Whitmire, Richard. "Think twice about taking your children to work." Usatoday.com, April 26, 2011. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-04-26-Whitmire-on-kids-and-work_n.htm

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