In his book, On Writing, Stephen King speaks about muses. He talks about making your writing space conducive to writing. As rudimentary as that sounds, it’s true! One of the things that make writing easy is when you have an area dedicated to writing. An area that is set up and set aside for writing. I understand that this is not totally possible in certain spaces and times, but hear me out.

When you set aside space to write, your thinking shifts! It allows you to concentrate, and focus your attention on what you want to create. The space grants you access to that creative space (The Flow) and writing–because that portion of your mind is receptive, makes writing easier (Accessing).

This place can literally be a notebook that you have in a specific place. It can be an alarm on you phone to remind you to write (more about writing schedules next month), a desk in your house or an office. As you set aside the space to write, be aware of things that make writing easy for you.

Do you write to music?

Do you need complete quiet or noise in the background?

Do you need a snack to write?

Should the room be hot or cold? Do you need to be hot or cold?

All these things should be taken into account when you set up a writing space, or writing time?

The success of your writing, the maximizing of your time is the focus when you set of this space. The Flow is not a nebulous thing–it is a force! Since it is a force, it can be commanded or ignored. Make no mistake, The Flow is a great power source–and if you cannot remember this, you will never tap into it with the confidence you require.

Writing is equal parts talent and energy. The more you understand what you need as an artist in order to create, the better you will get at writing.