What I think are the ideal conditions for me to write/ make art:
- an environment I can control: a room with a door I can close
- uninterrupted time for at least 1 hour
- I am alone in the house (otherwise, I can feel people’s vibes)
- not too much noise
- natural light, but not too bright
- early morning, and I have already exercised, had coffee
- a desk long enough to hold my laptop but also give me elbow room
- not too much clutter where I am sitting to write
- I am well rested
- I am not too emotionally charged from unresolved conflict
- I am feeling supported by my loved ones
- I am fed, hydrated, not in too much physical discomfort (no headache, back pain, not sick)
- I either don’t have access to the internet, or I am managing my internet addiction effectively. It’s just too easy to slide unconsciously into feeling that I haven’t read enough, don’t know enough, am not up to date enough on what is happening in theology, poetry, environmental justice, or the world of … the world. I tell myself “I just need to check this one thing,” which turns into hours/ spirals of self-loathing, new resolve, temptation, defeat, self-soothing with Netflix — if I don’t have access, I don’t need to exercise restraint (willpower being a precious limited resource; it refreshes daily, but sometimes I use it all up just getting out of bed in the morning), so, of course, this is a difficult condition to create at home, although I am considering setting a Wi-Fi password that only my housemates know, which they put into the devices I need but not the laptop I use to write.
- not too many of other peoples’ books in my work space (similar issue as the internet addiction)
- no draft coming through the door, not too cold, not too hot
- ideally, it’s a grey day -if the sun is out, I keep thinking how it’s sunny and lovely on the other side of the house, which faces South, while the room I work in faces North; then I wonder: couldn’t I just work in the other room with earplugs in? for a little while, at least? I cart all of my things out there and have already set myself up by the time I realize — no, I can’t work here, I need to be back in the place where I can close the door.
- no dog lying around depressed not being walked in the other room
- no dog lying around depressed not being played with in this room
- not too many unanswered emails/ letters
- I have a sense of purpose and know what I am doing and why I am doing it
- not too many windows open in my browser
The actual conditions I need to write/ make art:
- a room
- uninterrupted time for at least 1 hour
feeling is mutual 