A Welcome Retreat or a Cold Space?

The weather in Kansas has been crazy this winter. Brutally low wind chills and an unusual amount of snow, coupled with six days of weather-related school cancellations have made for a lot of time indoors. I allowed the cold weather to seep into my writing and truly I suffered from a miserable week or so where I did NOT want to think about my writing assignments or go near my office for any purpose other than social networking.

I prepared a specific list of tasks to complete today so that I could get back on track and wouldn't you know that research for an article helped me discover a solution to winterize my office, my writing and my mental state.

My office is functional at best. We are living in this home for only one year, so my office is not decorated or adorned with anything beyond my children's framed artwork. The office holds my work materials and bookcase, but otherwise serves as storage space for a random variety of stuff.

I just realized that my office should be a retreat, a welcoming and comfortable place that I WANT to visit. Winter, I've got your number. I am choosing relaxing background music, aromatherapy, and a comfortable working temperature as immediate solutions to my problem. I will continue to consider more ways to make my work space appealing and consider any investment in my office an investment in my career and my sanity.

How do you create an inviting work area for your writing?

Follow Your Heart

There are an infinite number of choices to make in this world. Some change your life forever while others simply change what you eat for lunch. Writers are also faced with an infinite number of choices. Fiction? Sure, but what genre? Nonfiction? Ok, but tell me more about your platform. Poetry, creative nonfiction, children's lit...I have only scratched the surface.

As I have followed my writing journey I have discovered that I don't have a clue what I want to write. I know that I have certain strengths and weaknesses. I also realize that I have more experience in some areas than others. I have also discovered that I am not alone in this predicament.

I have tried to relax (those of you who know me are laughing) and let nature take its course. That means that I have decided to not listen to the advice of a mentor. That means I have decided to try new things, like trying on a coat, to determine what fits. That means that I have decided to follow my heart. Thanks for going on this journey with me!

I'd like to know, do you follow your heart?