The Writing Room

Last month, when I was working in Texas, my wife began a secret project. She cleaned out our small white shed that borders a large pine grove and began converting it into a writing room.

Over the next few weeks, we made several trips into town to pick up lumber, screws, a jigsaw, and other items. Although I still need to add a few finishing touches like trim around the walls and windows, the place looks and feels great.

The room features wooden planks and paneling, and a large desk and monitor with my Mac Studio. There’s an impressive speaker to play music, and the couch from our living room now sits in this room. Oh, there’s also a Yeti cooler, occasionally filled with ice and Guinness Stout.

My wife started this project because she noticed I was in a creative slump, having my work and creative computers set up in the same room. My job can be stressful, and although the room is a great workspace, it didn’t feel relaxing being in the room after spending the entire day there. When work was done, I wanted out of that place. I wanted to be somewhere else.

A dedicated writing room was something I always dreamed of, and a few weeks ago, I moved into the renovated shed. By the end of my first day of writing there, I noticed an astonishing difference in my ability to slow down and think. Having a creative space has been an extraordinarily positive change, and I often find myself locked away in this room, hammering away on the keyboard or reading on the couch.

My writing room allows me to delve deeper into my studies and reflections on life. The biggest lesson here, of course, is to always listen to your wife. And for those wondering, yes, the living room now has a brand new couch.