photo credit: johnny_nissan

The environment that you choose to write in will affect your writing in several ways. Because writing is a creative art, the way you personally feel when you write will affect the style of writing. If you are finding it difficult to maintain your focus and write creatively, you may be in the wrong sort of environment.

Do you more likely to feel down, or ‘blue’ on a day when the sky is covered in grey clouds? I do. Most people will find themselves more likely to be cheerful or energetic on days when the sun is shining. Natural light shapes our moods. You can achieve the same result with the set up of your writing space, and either create a space that provides natural lifts to energy and make it easier for you to tap into your creative force, or you can create a space that provides a natural downer, just like the grey day does.

Obviously, no-one wants to create a space which is a natural downer, but many writers end up with a cluttered, uncreative ambiance in their writing space without realizing it. By taking a little bit of time to change the character of your writing area, you may find it makes a big difference in your writing. Creating an environment that is conducive to writing will encourage you to write, even when the world is grey outside.

Pictures To Inspire

Putting up inspiring pictures in your writing office can help you to feel great and be inspired. Some writers have a collection of posters that they can change according to their mood. Scenery shots like purple sunsets, green bushland or white, snowy mountains can be inspiring, soothing and comforting.

Declutter To Create Thinking Space

Your space is important. Clear your office so that you have plenty of clear space around you. Clutter encourages mess, and this can affect the way your mind works.  Just as any writer strives for clarity in their writing, you should also strive for a clear space around you. Your mind works better when there is no distractions.

The Sounds Of Music

Music can be both inspiring and useful in blocking out other, more distracting noises from your environment. Give your writing space a good ambiance with the use of well-selected music. Classical music playing softly in the background, without words to distract your mind, can be extremely helpful to writers when focus and concentration is required.

Office Layout

Does your desk face a window? A university sociology study demonstrated that people who use computers facing a window are more likely to be energetic and creative. The window allows natural light in, and encourages a clear mind by giving the writer a channel into the outside world. Writing is a task that, perforce, is performed alone, but a window can help reduce the feelings of isolation. Redesign your office space to take advantage of the window when you can.

Invest in a comfortable, upright chair that is ergonomically designed to cushion and support your back. The chair is important, because writers have to sit for long periods and need to be comfortable. Support for the back prevents muscle soreness and aches and pains that can distract you from your writing.

Taking care to set up a good writing environment will assist in clearing your mind and allowing you to tap into your creative energy, even when you don’t feel like writing.

This is the last post for E=Environment and we have now covered CREATIVE. It’s now down to finding out about HABITS and what they mean starting with H= Have passion in what you do.  Until then!

Continuing on with the CREATIVE HABITS – E=Environment

Did you know color can affect your mood and how creative you are feeling? The psychology of color has been studied by experts for several years and now you can learn which colors are most likely to create an environment where writing or other creative tasks will happen.

If you don’t want repaint the room you write in, you may like to consider purchasing a colorful rug, new curtains or even small pieces of fabric in the color you need to drape within eyesight of your computer to lift your creative mood.

Here’s a brief summary of six different colors and how each they can affect our moods.

GREEN

Green is the color of nature and is the most tranquil of colors. It reduces stress and encourages balance. Wear it to inspire unity and motivation. Green is both restful and can restore energy, so it’s a good color for a room where you are writing.

Some researchers have discovered that laying a transparent sheet of green plastic over reading material increases reading speed and comprehension.  Green is considered to be the color of concentration and intellect. As a color that often represents fertility, green can fertilize your imagination.

BLACK

Of course, some people argue that black is not a color, but is rather the absence of color. However, while black is best used in small amounts, rather than as a feature, it is an important color to use. It’s popular as a symbol of menace or evil (and is balanced by white, which is seen as purity and goodness).

Although western cultures see black as a color of death and mourning, Ancient Egyptians believed black represented life and rebirth. A small amount of black can give your writing rebirth, and is really helpful in your peripheral vision, especially when you are editing work. Black is also associated with sophistication, depth and style and could bring these elements to your writing.

RED

Red is a very stimulating color. It provides energy, enhances self-assurance and produces an illusion of fantasy. People who wear red will receive attention and feel powerful. It also symbolizes love and, because it is a hot and passionate color, can help you to be passionate about your writing, when used judicially in room you write in.

In Feng Shui red means luck. A room or feature wall painted red will tend to invigorate and motivate action. If you find yourself in need of stimulation to write, especially on a grey, miserable day, try wearing a red top or scarf around your neck. It could energize you to write more creatively.  However, avoid the red when you are feeling tense, as it will tend to fatigue you.

PURPLE

Purple and indigo are consoling, restful and spiritual colours. Mauve and lighter violets can create a very therapeutic and soothing atmosphere. One of the best reasons to use purple in your writing environment is that it combats fear and provides balance for the mind.

Purple stands for royalty, mystery, wisdom and enlightenment and can therefore be an extremely useful color in patches for writers who need these qualities in their writing.

BLUE

Blue is the color of peace and tranquillity and has been found to lower blood pressure. I find it especially useful to wear a light blue shirt on a deadline day, as I find I tend to be less stressed. Some color psychologists believe that blue can increase wisdom energy, which can be extremely useful in writing.

Blue exudes confidence, order, stability, harmony and truth; all of which are extremely important to writers. Scientists have proven that people are more productive in a blue room and it is therefore a good color to have in your writing environment. However, mix blue with another color too, as blue can lead to depression in some people. Lighter blues are calming, while dark blues can evoke sadness and should be avoided.

YELLOW

Yellow communicates happiness and represents sunshine. Even on a dull, grey day outside, yellow in your writing environment can provide you with a lift that is energizing.  Yellow stimulates the nerves and is also the most fatiguing colour on your eyes.

Yellow can promote feelings of warmth and joy, however some studies have shown that babies will cry more in a yellow room. You should use this color with care, and more as an accent to another color, rather than paint the whole room yellow. It may be intellectually stimulating, but does not provide a restful respite. A lemon yellow, with light blue accents can be a very good combination for a writing environment, as the yellow gives a lift on dark days and the blue promotes productivity and provides the rest needed.

If you can have some fabric in the different colors, you can stimulate your senses when you need to. Otherwise, consider repainting or decorating your writing environment to match the mood you most need to stimulate when you are writing.

What’s your favorite color? Are there colors that you surround yourself with when you’re writing? Share your thoughts with us!

E=Environment

This is the second ‘E’ in CREATIVE HABITS and one I think that tends to get overlooked. Yet the environment around us has a real affect on ourselves and our creativity as a writer and infopreneur.

The environment where you write must be conducive to allowing your mind to be creative, as well as dedicated and tenacious. Many of us need an atmosphere that allows isolation to become creative rather than boring and dull. After all we will spend a lot of time in their writing environment, and it should have an ambience conducive to quality writing. What does this mean?

• The majority of writers use either a laptop or desktop computer and obviously need a good space to set up the computer. A comfortable chair with a cushioned back is a must, as we often spend a long time each day sitting in front of the computer.

• Besides designing the work area for ergonomic comfort, writers can ensure that their creative side is catered for. Clutter around the computer area is not going to promote a clear mind that allows ideas to be generated easily. The environment should ward against any sorts of distractions, such as clutter, noise and bad light.

• This means as writers, we should be organized, and have a clear space to work in. If you are using books for research, have them nearby, but limit the amount of items within your immediate ‘eye space’ near the computer. Keep your files neat and up to date to avoid excess disorder.

• Ensure the lighting, both natural from outside with windows and electric lights, is adequate to prevent your eyes from getting sore. On dull or grey days, you will need additional light within the room. Add a lamp near your desk area that you can turn on when natural light is not bright enough. Working in a darkly lit room is not only bad for your eyesight, but can be depressing, which is certainly not an emotion that is advantageous to writing.

• To promote creativity, some writers like to burn scented candles or have a small oil burner near the desk. I like a Jasmine scent on days when I seem to jump from task to task, as Jasmine helps concentration. Amber is great when I need a boost of creative genius, so I tend to use this when planning the structure of articles or when brainstorming ideas. Gardenia gives me an instant lift of cheer and is brilliant on the grey days. Find the fragrances that work for you to add impact to your writing surroundings.

• If noise is a problem, you may like to add to your creative atmosphere with soft background music. This helps to block out other, more distracting noises, such as traffic going past.  Music is also relaxing and soothing and aids concentration for some people. Avoid songs that you love to sing along with as this means your mind is focusing on the song and not your writing. Classical music works well as background music.

A writer’s environment should also allow for creativity, even away from the computer.

One of my favorite tools in my office area is a large whiteboard.  I use different colored marker pens to draw and write on the board, for many different reasons.

• Sometimes, I use the board to brainstorm the ideas surrounding the topic I am writing on. Sometimes, I simply create an outline of the article I am writing, to add structure to my work and make the writing easier for the audience to read.

• Sometimes my whiteboard holds a to do list, with the most urgent or deadline items in red, as this keeps me motivated to cross off or rub out my list. This is more common on days when I just do not feel like writing and need to meet deadlines. I give myself a couple of small tasks and rejoice as the to do list gets smaller on the whiteboard.  The different color marker pens add color to the room where I write in too.

Creating a good environment to write in I believe is essential for successful writers. Find what motivates you to write and ensure it is included within your surroundings. Make your writing space uniquely yours, well lit, clear and free of clutter.

How do you have your writing area set up? What tips do you have to help make where you work more conducive to be inspired to write?