Where the Magic Happens
The books I write take the reader all over the world. It’s a cheap way to travel and you never have to pack a bag. My desire to bring new locations to my books means I travel a lot. A lot!
I’ve written books in Italy, Scotland, England, while flying to Bali, on a train headed to Mexico and various parking lots and waiting areas all over the world. Thankfully my job gives me the flexibility to work absolutely anywhere that I want to. And you know where my favorite place to craft novels is?
Home.
The place where I’ve drafted the majority of the Beaufont series and the other books I’ve written is a sacred place that I’ve created as thoughtfully as one of my novels. Let me share a little peek inside the writer’s den with you.
When I was a young professional, a neighbor gave me an old beat up retro desk. It was an awful shade of coffee brown and looked like something that grandma would throw out. I spent an entire weekend, covering it in paint. I’m eccentric. Most who meet me know that within the first five minutes. The desk reflects that eccentric nature. I just knew that one day I’d write a book…or 98 as it currently stands.
(Actually, I never thought I’d write three books or more than one series, not to mention, something like 15 different series. I’ve lost track…)
And apparently, I lost track of my train of thought.
Anyway, I didn’t want a stuffy old desk where people keep their income tax forms. I didn’t want a modern one that hipsters sit at and contemplate how they are going to be a pain in the ass. I wanted something that reflected my creative style.
So I painted the old desk so that it looked like it belonged on a beach.
Then I stuck it in the middle of my office and sat down to write the next great American novel.
I wrote a book, alright. And it was the ultimate monkey poop. My first books aren’t all that bad, but thankfully, I’ve improved.
I really thought when I started this writer thing that I’d write the best novel ever. I thought that I needed a security system to protect all my documents from crazed fans who would hack into my computer to get a quick sneak peak of my next best seller. I thought I needed to start picking out drapes for my beachside mansion in Malibu.
Then reality hit.
Stephen King said, “It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.”
Well, put Steve!
So I moved my desk to the corner of my office. I put my back to the window so I wasn’t tempted to watch squirrels play. I stuck vision boards above my desk and gave myself the freedom to stick whatever up there that suited my eyes. Sometimes that was pictures or quotes. More often, it was reminders. Things to spark ideas. And it always has something to remind me of what I’m trying to do—craft a story readers will love.
Here’s a picture of what it looks like currently:
I’ve been on this author journey for a decade. I’ve written 98 books and counting. I’ve made a lot of mistakes on my trek up the author mountain.
But every day I return to my desk and continue on. I love what I do. I love that it takes me all over the world. And I love where I do it. My office and desk bring me a sense of peace and a creative spark.
My space seems to whisper, “Where are we going today, Sarah?”
