Hey guys!

We are six months into the global pandemic and knee-deep in being sheltered in place and strict social distancing rules. For many of us, the pandemic means working from home and (yikes) virtual learning.

If you are like me, even though the house is ripe with phone conferences and zoom meetings, you are still responsible for figuring out what to serve for lunch. It makes our already-hectic lives even more chaotic if you aren't a planner. And for us writers who work full-time and have families, it begs the question of not only when do I write but also where?

We have a spacious home with enough room for our five children and Yorkie-Bruno, but there is currently no designated place for me to write. I see blog posts and writing tips about perfecting your writing space and keeping it clutter-free. In one of my writing courses, one of the assignments was to describe your writing space. I was mortified because technically, I don't have a writing space.

But we are writers. We can make foliage feel like a member of the family and incite anger at the mention of the word 'wind,' so why can't we create a writing space?

So, let's see. My home has a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and bedrooms. Those are my options for writing spaces, folks. And yes, they are communal spaces likely to be occupied by my family members at any given time.

But what I've learned is that your writing space is what you make it. My "writing office" consists of my laptop, computer glasses, writing notebook, something to drink, and a candle (no questions here). When I am ready to write—meaning after work, when there are no meals to be prepared, no questions to be answered and no attention being sought; I simply take my "writing office" to an unoccupied section of the house, and I allot an hour and a half for writing.

And guess what? It works. All of us aren't fortunate enough to have a designated writing space, but we have to get our writing done in an efficient and interrupted manner so as creatives, we have to create a space so we can write. So, create your writing space:

1. Gather your office needs. This includes your laptop, or notepad, and any other tools you need to write, something to drink or snack on, and something to keep you focused on writing. The goal is to enter your writing office and stay there for your allotted time.

2. Do not disturb. I'm sorry, but this is necessary. I get distracted throughout the day unless I shove a pair of earphones in my ear and close the door. This says to my family, "I'm busy. I'll catch you later." The boundaries you set for your workday should also apply to your writing time. It's sacred. It's important. Tell them to go away.

3. Use the time. Now that you've created a space and basically told your family you are going to ignore them for an hour or more, don't waste time. Use it and write. Edit, re-write, re-read, outline, do whatever your energy or creative level allows, but do not lose that valuable time.

4. Guiltless pleasure. Enjoy it. If you work full time and have a dream of becoming a full-time writer, you have to take the time to hone in on your craft. Just like you focused on becoming great at your job, you must allow yourself time to grow as a writer and not feel guilty.

These tips have worked for me, and I hope they provide you with some guidance in your process.

Write on,

Tamika