Here is a closer look, an insider’s view, into my writing life and creative work.
The Questions:
When, where and how do you get writing done?
What does that look like?
Where do you do your creative work?
> > > The Short Answer = lots of places 😜
Here is a closer look (an insider’s view) into my writing life and creative work. I hope that is sparks some of your own creativity.
The key to making progress is just showing up faithfully and doing the work each day. Here are the places that I get writing work done.
#1 – deep work in my quiet office
a snapshot:
Sitting at my desk, the soft glow of the lamp casts a warm light over my keyboard. It’s finally time for some deep writing work. The house is quiet, the kids are busy upstairs, my tea is still hot, and I’m ready to dive in. But, just as the words start flowing, one of my cats jumps onto the desk, nudging my hand. I give in and scratch behind his ears, set him in the window, then refocus.
With each passing minute, I fall deeper into my thoughts, typing steadily, fully immersed in the flow. My mind feels clear, ideas connecting seamlessly as I shape them into paragraphs. The uninterrupted solitude is rare, and it feels like a gift. There’s no rush, no chaos, just the rhythm of my fingers tapping the keys and my lo-fi playlist in the background.
The peace of this quiet moment makes the writing feel effortless—like it was always there, waiting for the stillness to emerge. Without interruptions, I can think, reflect, and create with purpose. I pick up my hot mug and take a sip, grateful for the space to think clearly, uninterrupted, and to create freely.
#2 – co-working with my kids
a snapshot:
Sitting at our large schoolroom table, I find myself surrounded by the buzz of schoolwork in progress. My kids are busy with their assignments—math problems, grammar practice, and art projects scattered around. Amid the chatter and occasional requests for help, I’ve managed to carve out a corner of the table for my own writing.
I am often interrupted, but this is to be expected and so I have chosen work that I can get back to easily. I am formatting a draft, adding in links, creating tags, and making notes for social media posts.
There’s a comforting rhythm to this shared focus, their quiet concentration blending with my own as I type away, making progress while staying present. It’s a constant dance—writing, answering questions, refocusing—but somehow, it works. After 30 minutes it is time for our Geography lesson, so I close my laptop and get out our reading materials.
#3 – writing in the cracks of time on the go
a snapshot:
Sitting in the van while my son is at karate, I pull out my laptop and settle into the familiar routine. A cool breeze comes in the open side doors as the sun is setting, and the muffled thuds of kids practicing kicks in the studio fills the background. It’s not the quietest or most glamorous workspace, but in these 45-minute pockets, I get more done than I expect.
I start writing, the words flowing between sips of lukewarm tea and glances at the clock. In this little bubble of time, I manage to focus, chip away at a blog post draft, and feel a small sense of accomplishment. As the class wraps up, I close my laptop, feeling lighter, knowing I used my time well. Even in the cracks of my schedule, progress happens.
(I wish I had a picture to share)
When I use my time on the go, those small pockets of time feel productive instead of wasted. Even if it’s just 40 minutes a week, that adds up—over 2 hours a month, and 5 hours in two months. My goal is to feel grounded and more like myself, doing something I enjoy. By planning ahead, those brief moments become opportunities for progress.
Check out this post for more ideas and detailed lists:
#4 – relaxed writing on the couch
a snapshot:
It’s a peaceful Saturday afternoon, this morning the kids and I were cleaning and I folded a mountain of laundry. After lunch I give the kids permission to play Minecraft. This means I have an hour or so to myself. I curl up on the couch with my laptop, a gentle breeze drifting in through the open windows. Woofie is snuggled up beside me, his soft fur warm against my leg as I settle in to write. The house is quiet, and the candle on the coffee table creates the perfect atmosphere for creativity to flow. It’s one of those moments where work feels effortless and comforting all at once.
I begin working on a draft in progress but loose steam and ideas so I quickly switch to a newly captured note. This idea grabs me and pulls me forward into the writing. I can see the shape of the post in my mind and the direction I want it to go. I get words on the page and create messy structure for the draft.
So what do I consider Writing Work?
…I’m glad you asked. 😜
When I am writing a Substack post I often follow this path shown below. Each step in the process has a different energy and requires a different mindset from me. Each of these categories has “works in progress” waiting there for me to pick it up and spend some time on it.
Here is a visual list of what I work on based on my mood and what is needed at the time:
Showing up to the work is the best way to get words on the page.
Doing something each day
(even just creating a social media post)
will build your work slowly one piece at a time.
The other day I needed to get some writing done but my words felt flat. I got up and refreshed my ice tea, got a snack, and returned to write. I showed up to that writing session getting words into the draft and doing my best. I fought my feelings the whole time, distractions coming at me from pets, my own thoughts, phone alerts, and my teenagers. However, I continued to write, head down, focused on the words on the screen.
The next day I went back and read my writing. It was better than I thought. I was pleasantly surprised and thankful that I had pushed through and kept writing.
I recently saw a TikTok entitled “what writing feels like”. A writer sat at her desk typing only to be interrupted by an obnoxious goat screaming. Yes! This is how I feel sometimes. There are days where I just have to keep going without the warm fuzzy enjoyment of ideas flowing nicely.
So, whatever your writing environment is or no matter what you are working on, stick with it. Keep putting in the words, time and showing up regularly. You got this!