Yesterday I decided to move to the back deck of our house to set up my “summer writing office”. I made several trips with computer, notebooks, pens and pencils, all balanced precariously in my arms. Of course I brought a tall glass of sweet tea and a small snack. Trust me, the snack idea lead to an unhappy writing event! Within fifteen minutes of getting organized I was fighting a small army of various bugs intent on having my fair skin as their snack.
After a quick move to the front porch I met the kith and kin of the back-deck killer bugs. I returned inside and called my neighbor who is blessed with a screened-in porch that overlooks a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains. I explained my dilemma and she graciously invited me to use her porch for my writing efforts. I gathered my writing paraphernalia and went to the neighbor’s house. An hour passed and I had not written a word, but had immensely enjoyed the nature I watched, and the conversation I had with my neighbor.
Feeling defeated I returned home and settled at my desk in front of an opened window that overlooks a peaceful pasture and delivers wonderful mountain breezes. Ah…this was the summer writing spot my soul needed. I wrote for two hours and feeling very proud of myself, I went to the back deck and announced my feat to the destroyer-bug population.
My question to you café members is…where do you prefer to write during the summer? D.H. Lawrence enjoyed writing beneath the shade of a tree. Jan Karon, author of the popular The Mitford series, writes in a cottage on the grounds of her plantation. Well known author Elin Hilderbrand rides her bike a mile to the beach each day and writes sitting in the sand. I realize not all of us have the beach close by or a writing cottage, but I feel sure some of you move out onto porches, decks and poolside.
I pray the start of summer is treating you with hot sunny days on which to write. I look forward to receiving your answers to this post’s summer question. Remember to stop by the café often and bring along your comments and questions.
“Every Summer has a story”-Unknown Author
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10 Comments
Oh, I dream of be able to write in a cottage or sitting on the porch of a cabin or even over looking the surf. But the reality is those are the places I want to experience life in order to have something to write about. I always end up back at my desk in the quiet of my studio.
Patty, I dream of a beautiful shabby chic shed I’ve seen with bookcases full of books. Hoping you will visit your wish-list of places and write wonderful stories! I appreciate your comment/
Right now we are at the Outer Banks in NC. I can’t usually write on the beach, but on the porch or at the kitchen table in front of the windows works well.
I wish I were with you! I love to write on a beach front balcony. Hope you get lots of writing done and gather lots of inspiration. Thanks so much for your comment..visit often.
I had a wonderful writing spot last summer — my grandmother’s farmhouse kitchen table (crisp white with medium-blue edged enamel top) in front of a large window family room window that overlooks a stunning 4-season garden the previous homeowner designed and created. I found the perfect upholstered chair — the height fit the kitchen table just so. A glass of tea by the computer and my Norwich Terrier Dazey in the chair beside me with her head tilted up against my leg, I could write for hours.
This summer, the furniture, computer, dog, and I have been transplanted to our new, probably “forever”, home. The view is not nearly so beautiful, but someday . . . , and inside, I am surrounded by reminders that my contractor/remodeler cannot get here soon enough. 🙂 But once I start writing, those things don’t matter a whit.
Patti, the description of your writing spot of last summer made me swoon! Once I start writing,like you, I can be facing a blank wall and write. Confession: I would love a beach view for a few days.Hope you get your remodels done soon!
Dee Dee, you paint such a lovely image. I wish I had a cabin in the mountains or a dedicated room for just writing. Maybe one day I will and until then I can at least have them in my dreams. In the meantime I’ll continue to write in my chair looking out the living room window.
Thank you, Lee. I pray that you will have your dream writing location one day…until then your writing chair sounds like a wonderful spot.
I love to write sitting by the water, whether it is an ocean, lake or river. Sometimes possible on vacation but not at home : (
We do have a lovely gazebo we set up each summer in our country yard and it provides a perfect place to write outside while still being screened in from those nasty bugs! I think it shows up on my FB page though we just bought a nicer, bigger one : )
Cynthia, we have a branch that I can here from my desk. The water comes down from the top of the mountain and makes wonderful sounds hitting the large river rocks. I would love a screened gazebo…the bugs here drive me nuts. Tell your hubby I said hi.