What colour is your writing room/area? Did you know people write better at 25°C? Or that generally speaking people are more productive sitting in moderate noise levels, not silence? Read on…
That explains a lot for me about why I love using Ocean Sounds as background noise for virtually everything! (I grew up in a family of five and there was constant babble. Mind you it’s helped me be good at using talkback in my TV work, picking out the voices in my earpiece, discerning what’s meant for me amidst the background Hub-bub!)
I got to thinking about all this when a lady visited to repaint my kitchen cupboards this week. I’m going for the lighter colour in this choice of two, but duck egg is generally my theme in my little flat next to mum in Surrey. (Where I stay when I’m not in Devon, working at QVC at weekends).
I had very discernible emotions looking at the various colours on the colour chart. Do you get that? And it got me thinking, how does colour affect us when we are writing? So I fished out a really fascinating article (read it here) about your surroundings and how they affect creativity. It’s worth a look, well-researched and concise.
One of my big things when I took over was to make sure the house is warm, but I never really thought too long about colour. Down in Devon here at our cosy home from home, generally speaking everything is quite classic, plain and vintage. With little splashes of different hues in the accessories. Would it ever help if we decorated the bedroom walls here, do you think? What colours do you like to be surrounded by? And do you like a bright room with natural light? Several of ours are brighter. Some less so. Would it help to list it on the room description? Do you prefer to sit under a window and look out, or do you like to be away from a window so you can see the screen. All these things have come up over the years.
Whatever yours is I hope your New Year writing is going well.
Here’s our program for the year, and please note we have one space left on the 22nd of January, four nights, just £124 per night, no chores, from Monday to Friday 26th, so you can just get your writing done – in the warm, peacefulness. Surrounded by white, but with little splashes of lilac, aqua, sage, red or pink, depending which room you’re in!
Just WhatsApp Debbie to claim your space, and come along on Monday week, kicking off 2024 with a solid block of writing.
Or for other months’ availability, on (07949) 052208, e.g. a Just Write week in May, just posted online.
Nb most of our tutored weeks are currently pushing towards being sold out, so be quick and book ahead. Just £125 deposit now, the balance due 6 to 8 weeks before the retreat starts.
Meanwhile the Short Story Challenge begins, from NYC Midnight, if you’re up for a new year kick up the tushy! Find out more here.
Can’t stop working and lose money but need time to write your book? Have you thought of crowdfunding? The kickstart publishing platform have a free webinar on crowdfunding your book, Wednesday, the 21st of February at 8 pm. See details here.
Also, one of our lovely former guests had some great news this week. Congratulations to Kate Baker for this fab news. A big squeeee in your direction!
If you have writing news, publishing announcements, or anything else, do let us know.
And do send us a signed copy if a book that you part-wrote here makes it into hardcopy. There’s always room for one more book on our author shelves!
Come back soon, we’re waiting to welcome you so you can relax with your characters instead of cooking or doing chores!
All the best for the New Year from everyone here! And a footnote, to say we feel your pain at this time of year… Well said Philippa Ashley.
😂
Debbie Flint & Team