Where I write has changed over the years as my lifestyle has changed. Years ago, when I lived in a small one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment with my husband, I would write at a desk in our living room, but more often, at coffee shops around the city. When we moved to a house in Connecticut, I wrote in the spare bedroom that we turned into an office. But then once we had our daughter and our office became her nursery, I switched to writing at a desk in our bedroom, on our couch, or at coffee shops and the library. I even had a membership at a local co-working space for a while.
My favorite writing space is actually one shared with other writers. Once a month or so, I meet with a couple other local writers at a Panera to write, and every summer, a group of us do a writing retreat. We rent an AirBnB, make lots of coffee, set up an assortment of snacks, and get to work. I always get so much done doing these writing dates and retreats, because seeing other writers focus helps me stay focused, too.
What all of these situations have taught me is that, while it’s nice to have a dedicated writing space and routine of your own, it’s also helpful to be adaptive, and learn to write in all types of environments. I hope to have my own dedicated home office again, but I’ve come to appreciate the hours when I can leave the house, find a spot at a cafe or library corner (preferably with a nice view!) and get some quality time with my latest manuscript.
Janae Marks has an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children from The New School. She grew up in the suburbs of New York City, and now lives in Connecticut with her husband and daughter. From the Desk of Zoe Washington is her debut novel. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @janaemarksbooks or visit her at janaemarks.com.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington releases on January 14, 2020! To find out more information or purchase a copy, visit Goodreads, HarperCollins, or IndieBound.
