Last year, I purchased a very comfortable chair. This is a special chair. I decided that this was to become my writing throne.
As writers, we sometimes tell ourselves lies. “If only I had more time, then I’d write.” “If I had a better idea, then I’d write.” “Once the inspiration comes back to me, then I’ll write.”
For me, it was: “If I had a comfy spot to write, then I would.” As far as excuses go, it’s fairly weak. But none of the chairs I owned had the right amount of back/neck support, and I truly thought that getting a new chair would help. It would at least be something new, which tends to lure my muse into position.
So, I called my own bluff. I found a bright pink, fluffy, comfy chair and brought it home. I made a rule: I was not allowed to do anything in this chair other than write. No work. No napping. No Instagram reels. Just writing.
And then the chair sat in the corner of the room, empty, for months. When I moved, I sat the chair in a similar corner of the new room, and it sat empty for a couple more months (well, that’s not entirely true; my cat eventually claimed the chair as her own throne). Who could have seen that coming?
Eventually, though, the chair looked so comfy and cozy (it came with a mini footrest too) that I finally gave in and wrote just a little bit just so I could sit in it. The chair was so comfy, I woke my muse from her hibernation and didn’t want to stop writing.
Sometimes all we need is a little push to get that motivation going. No, magically getting an extra hour every day isn’t going to help you write; we’d just fill it with something else. Waiting around for the muse to sleepily hand you a perfect idea might take a lot longer than we’d hope. Inspiration comes to those who search for it.
And no: A new chair will not magically bring the writing mojo back.
But what it did was give me an incentive to go in search of my lost motivation. All it really took was a push, and then a few months of staring hungrily at the comfiest spot in my home, knowing I could finally sit there if I just committed to writing, even for a little bit.
The chair wasn’t the reason I started writing more. Rather, it helped me create a space in my home that is sacred to writing. Creating a sacred writing space made it easier to concentrate when I did manage to scrounge up the motivation to write. It was never about the chair; it was about the state of mind.
And I’ve still managed to uphold the Rule of the Writing Throne. I haven’t brought my work there. I haven’t used the spot to sit and waste time on my phone. It’s not a turning-the-brain-off space; it’s a relaxing place specifically to write. The only things allowed in that spot (other than my writing tools) are a cup of hot chocolate or tea, a little snack, and my cats (if they’re willing to share the seat).
If you’ve hit a wall by telling yourself, “If I only had X, then I’d write,” try accepting your own challenge. Carve out an extra five minutes before you go to work for a speed-write. Plan a one-day staycation just for writing, when you can. Take your idea and run with it. Do something that usually brings inspiration back, like re-reading your favorite book or listening to motivating music.
I would highly recommend creating a space that’s specifically for writing. Even if it’s just a nook somewhere in your home, or a time of the day, having a sacred writing space/time might just help you take hold of your motivation. Set the scene. Play some music. Grab a cozy blanket. Take a few deep breaths to allow your brain to switch into writing mode.
Just know that it’s not enough to stop there. Having a writing space is just the first step.
Once you’ve set up everything you need for a relaxing, distraction-less writing session, it’s up to you to do the writing.
Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash
Rachel Sandell 