Where do you write your best work?

In my latest book, The Organized Songwriter, I suggested that it’s sometimes cool to have two parts of your physical space: 

• A left-brained logical space (my office), and

• A right-brained creative space (my studio)

And this worked well for me for a long time. 

However, I’d been thinking more and more that I need an additional right-brained creative space exclusive for writing lyrics and books. In reality, I had been spending more time at home than ever, especially during the last 18 months of this COVID pandemic. And being in an office has not been so great for writing creatively.

Nashville inspired

Whenever I’ve been to Nashville, there have been super-cool areas at publishers and studios for co-writers to write. Not just spaces to meet, but dedicated spaces that writers want to write in, with comfortable chairs, lovely carpeting, natural daylight, air-conditioning (sometimes), etc. Arriving in a Nashville writing room has always made me want to write more than ever. So, a few months ago, I thought, let’s do something about this.

I made my own writing room 

It took a while for me to figure out what this space should look like, given it is just for me, not for co-writers (at least not for right now). As time went on, I realized that a new space might help me be more productive. 

What I was looking for

Here’s what I think I needed:

1. A ‘booth’ feel, so I have no other distractions (my old studio cupboard, everything thrown out or stored somewhere else)

2. A wooden desk (IKEA’s NORBO wall-mounted drop-leaf table, birch would be great)

3. A good computer (Mac mini, wall-mounted, everything out of the way)

4. A good monitor (Apple cinema screen)

5. A Bluetooth keyboard (Logitech solar keyboard)

6. Nice lights (LED backlight USB lighting, smart light bulb, WiFi smart LED dimmable)

7. Great music (stereo Apple HomePods are fine)

8. Candles (IKEA, Sainsbury’s)

9. Comfortable chair (IKEA HENRIKSDAL with cover)

10. A shelf for plants, clock, books, and pictures etc. (IKEA LACK)

The Result

Here’s what it looks like right now:

The reality is: this is a cupboard. It also used to be a loo! But, having spent a few months with my new writing room to work in, it’s given me a space to work without any distractions. No pianos. No guitars. No DAW. No mics or plugins. Just me, a basic computer, fresh air, and daylight. And that’s been incredibly helpful so far.

Question

Not everyone needs a writing room. See Gina Boe’s brilliant take on this ‘Face The Window’. But, wherever it is, where do you write your best work, music, and lyrics? I would love to know.

– SJLH

www.simonhawkins.com

Three Words

When my brain started functioning after a stroke a few years ago, there were only three words I could remember (in this order):

1. God

2. Love

3. Worship

And that helped me rewiring my life this way. And to get things sorted a lot quicker. The doctors called it a “spontaneous recovery”. I’d call it something else: an “unexpected miracle”.

As soon as my wife were able, she sweetly put a keyboard in my hospital room. And this was key to me on this journey: Focussing on God, finding His love and pass it on, spending as much time I can on Worship.

And now, being part of the Worship Team at our Church (Harbour Church), it’s now one of the most important parts of my life.

Using a Nord also helps too.

S.