Rooms
Claiming a room of one's own
What is a room anyway? Four walls, a roof, floor, door, an maybe a window or two? Maybe but not only…
In 1928, Virginia Woolf talked about a room of one’s own - a quiet place to work without distractions. She turned a wooden toolshed in the garden into her summer writer’s space. Other writers have inhabited a wide range of ‘rooms’ to write e.g. parlour’s (Charlotte Brontë), couches (Toni Morrison), hotel rooms (Maya Angelou, Simone de Beauvoir), city cafes (J.K. Rowling).
Really it doesn’t matter so much as long as it’s a somewhere that allows a writer some mental as much as physical space with no distractions, no externally imposed intrusions on one’s personal space - no pricking of your bubble.
A few interesting pieces uncovered on my little research journey into women writers habits and routines:
Rooms of their own (LitHub)
Women authors at their writing desks (Literary Ladies Guide)
Crazy Jobs 5 Famous Female Authors Had Before Writing (Bookstr)
Margaret Atwood’s Writing Routine (Famous Writing Routines)
After my rant the other week about not having a room of my own and feeling somewhat blocked creatively, I did some thinking. I hate to moan and complain; prefer to find solutions. I thought,' ‘this won’t fucking do! Can’t just sit around for the next year twiddling my thumbs doing nothing, waiting for the house and studio to be built. I’ll make my own damn room!’ And, so I did.
The walls are made of stones and flowers and trees. There are frameless windows everywhere with amazing views. The floor is made of straw covered earth. The ceiling is the sky and a canopy of olive branches. The only sounds are the chirping of birds and cicadas. It’s perfect!
It’s a small terrace I carved out of the hill a few years back, off the larger terrace next to our caravan. Since moving here two years ago, I often sit here at the little marble topped table in the morning with my coffee. Surrounded by the cats, I watch the landscape change colours as the sun rises in the east. In the afternoon, the sunlight filters through the olive branches from the west. It’s peaceful and calm. So, I’ve claimed this space as my summer studio.
And, you know what, the creative juices are again flowing!
I’ve started a new painting. I found an old notice board and decided to use it as a canvas for a new fish painting. If you’re curious, there’s a short clip below with the prep stage. I’ll share more about the painting process as I go along.
I’ve also started writing again and making good progress with my book. The writing muse arrives in the early hours when the air is still a bit fresh and crisp. There’s a lot of research at this stage but it’s all taking shape and the words are starting to come. I’ve been mulling over this book for some years now, unsure of how best to approach it, but it’s all coming into focus finally and I’m feeling quite excited by it all.
What joy all of this creativity brings!
My favourite part of day is still that morning coffee though. It’s so quiet with the sun creeping over the hill and shadows of a wildflower bouquet dancing in the early light. The gift of a few minutes of mindful meditation.
Well, that’s me. Drop me a note in the comments below. Have you got a room of your own? Where do you like to create? Would love to hear from you…
ciao per ora bellissime sorelle / bye for now beautiful sisters
F ox
If you enjoyed my little musings here, please click on the heart at the bottom or the top of this email. It helps others discover The Bohemian, and also, of course, sparks my joy!
PS Curious about my humble art making? You can find me on instagram @F_ox and/or visit my website.