A room of your own
Cindy on March 10th, 2009
Do you have a quiet place in which to work on your creative projects? Whether you sew, paint, keep a journal, or write poetry, you need a sacred space to summon your muse…
First published in 1929, A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf has been reduced to a catchphrase for writers and architects who haven’t even read the book. Originally penned as two lectures, Woolf’s landmark essay asserts that every woman writer should have a substantial income and a room of her own if she is to produce literature worthy of publication and readership.
Furthermore, Woolf said, women who want to write ought to be given the freedom to travel — and they must have plenty of idle time for daydreaming and creating. That was very progressive talk for the 1920s. And while it isn’t exactly earth shattering today, A Room of One’s Own is still considered a major milestone for women writers. Whenever I’m asked to name 10 books that changed my life, this one never fails to top the list.
Not surprisingly, the subject of finding privacy and “the perfect writing space” always comes up in the workshops I teach. In fact, not having a room of one’s own is the most popular excuse for not writing anything. I’ve met a few self-described procrastinators who do have an extra guest room but insist they can’t work there because it’s poorly lit, uninspiring, too small, too cluttered, too close to the neighbor’s window, or cursed with bad feng shui.
But sooner or later, if they really want to write, they will do it anywhere â under trees, on the bus, in the bathroom, or in a booth at a noisy café. Serious writers need only a pen and a notebook to get started. And nothing â not even a bad view or ugly curtains â will stop them. That said, I believe Virginia Woolf made an excellent point about the need for peace and privacy, and she didn’t even have kids to distract her.
When my son was a toddler, I began freelancing in the damp basement of our 1920′s home. If you’re a younger parent who’s eager to combine writing with motherhood and housekeeping, setting up shop at a kid’s craft table next to the laundry room might sound convenient. But I quickly discovered that this was not what Virginia had in mind.
Working in a murky basement was actually a metaphor for the way I undervalued my career at the time. Aside from the fact that the ambiance was vaguely reminiscent of Freddy Krueger’s boiler room, my desk was frequently littered with construction paper or my preschooler’s early science experiments. Settling in to write, I’d find blue finger paint or Play-Doh oozing from my paper-clip container. My scissors and rolls of tape mysteriously disappeared. Meanwhile, the dryer kept buzzing.
A year later, I moved my office upstairs to a small den with windows overlooking the yard — and a door to help establish my boundaries. Ironically, even though my personal newspaper columns are read in public, I don’t like people looking over my shoulder while I work on my drafts. Regardless, ever since I moved upstairs I began taking myself, and my work, more seriously.
Every writer is different, so you’ll have to experiment until you find what works for you. Not long ago, I met a parenting columnist who’s also the brave mother of four little boys. She rented cheap office space just ten minutes from her house, which seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. But after three months of âcommutingâ back and forth to work and trying to coordinate an awkward breast-feeding schedule, the columnist admitted her new office wasn’t so ideal. The clamor of family life is what kept her energized and motivated.
If you don’t have the luxury of a spare bedroom or an attic with a desk, claim a corner of the house where you can focus on your work. Use the area just for writing (or your other creative projects) and keep supplies within easy reach. Put up a folding screen for privacy while you work; or use it to conceal your works-in-progress. Creating an official space for your creative life will dignify your goals and intentions. You’ll find it easier to establish a routine — and harder to keep making excuses.
If you don’t already have a room of your own, can you describe your ideal space — right down to the supplies you’d need? What would you have to do to make it a reality? – Cindy La Ferle
The photo above shows a detail from one of my altered art pieces inspired by Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own. To view an album of my altered art pieces on Facebook, click here.
Read More 
Comments (11) 
Columns & essays, For writers
March 10th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I like how you say that having a personal writing space dignifies what we do. This is so true, it goes give authenticity to the task, or art, at hand. It says we’re serious about what we do. I do have my space, a large computer hutch (pictured on my blog a couple posts ago) in which is housed the computer, printer, books, pens, paper, journals, and yes, a coffee cup! It’s my own mini-office, at day’s end I close it up and start fresh the next day!
March 10th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
My blog is like my room. I becoming very possessive of the computer space since my H. has a laptop but he doesn’t use it for the internet. Someday a place in my head will have more space to daydream. I love daydreaming…
March 10th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Starrlife, I love the idea of the “room” of your own being in your head, or the space in a blog. That’s the ultimate imaginative act! And yes, daydreaming is wonderful. — CL
March 11th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
My creative space has always been more mental than physical – my work space shifted as family needs and room purposes changed. I’ve always had a place for my sewing machine, where I could keep track of family life at the same time. Now there’s room for me to carve out a physical space, yet I haven’t. I like the idea of using a screen for privacy. It would be a place to start.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older I’ve become a bit less attached to one particular space. I need to see what my mood is like and adjust accordingly. Sometimes that’s working in my big, formal office in a courthouse, my tiny studio in downtown Royal Oak, or at Goldfish Tea. It is important, I think, to match your mood (and noise tolerance/ need for being passively social) to your environment. It’s been good for my producitivity and ability to keep working even if I’m tired of working in a particular space.
March 12th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Cindy, This is a little down a rabbit trail but it’s funny I just mentioned A Room of One’s Own the other day, since I haven’t even thought of it in years. I was being interviewed and the subject was women having a career and whether opting to be an at home Mom was wise from a financial security standpoint.
I used Woolf’s idea in a metaphorical way as in I thought all women should have some profession or work of their own that did not include kids and husband as a way to have independence. Even practiced in a basement
In fact, I think Woolf may have said that (again years since I read it) women should have at least a small income of their own for that reason.
Not even necessarily full time but something that keeps at bay the temptation to make decisions that might not serve them or their kids because they are financially dependent on a husband.
I admit, it’s my bias as I’ve had a number of women friends who, along with their kids, were left financially high and dry after divorces from previously wealthy but suddenly empty pocketed husbands.
But I can’t help but think the sense of self and satisfaction that comes from it is worthwhile.
March 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Good points, Allison! I am in full agreement with you. While I am glad I was able to work from home part-time while my son was young (I also worked across town in an office when he was really small), I enjoyed earning some extra income and building a career of my own.
But most of all, it was important for my son to see that there was another dimension to Mom that didn’t necessarily include him 24/7. I think he ultimately respected that. He often accompanied me to the offices of my newspaper editors (this was before the Internet changed journalism) and he learned how my business worked from all angles, in and outside our home.
You’re absolutely right about women needing to prepare themselves for financial difficulties and changes. Divorce aside, look at all the people who are losing jobs in this economy. It helps if both spouses have career/financial back-up. — Cindy La Ferle
March 12th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
That’s interesting about you working in the basement as a metaphor for how you valued your work. Sometimes I write in bed but my luxury is my 24-inch monitor on my “desk” in my upstairs “office.”
I’d love to hear your List of 10 books that changed your life, by the way. Email me?
March 13th, 2009 at 6:32 am
I’m lucky to have dedicated space with a door on the main floor of our house. I think privacy helps, but the desire to write is most important.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I have a whole house of my own but find that allocating one room as my workspace still makes a big difference. As you say, it’s the mindset. I can be on my laptop anywhere but when I’m in “my room” I’m more productive.
March 15th, 2009 at 6:51 am
I’ve never heard of altered art pieces. They are lovely.
I’ve been trying to find a “room of my own” since moving from a 2400 square foot house to 1400 square foot house with four children and two dogs. I am using a corner of the living room for now, but I get easily distracted when the children are watching a video. After they have gone to bed, it gets easier.