The Writing Cave

Chevy in my writing chair

Writing caves. We all have one. Some are fancier than others. Certainly many are neater than mine.

Inspired by Coleen Coble's "nest," I'm posting my writing chair (above). Nothing fancy. Just a chair, laptop, and a shelf full of books I use for research. And yes, sometimes that big dog sits next to me while I type (and my other two pooches as well).

Jake (left) and Frankie (right)

I also have an office, but I mainly use that for when I need to be hooked to the printer or my writing chair is surrounded by too much noise. Usually I can work with noise (I have a scary ability to tune out anything), but sometimes if I'm pushing a deadline, the noise bothers me.

My writing chair is my favorite place to write because it's comfy, but sometimes it's too comfy and I have to move to the office so I don't fall asleep.

And if I'm really pushing against a deadline and the house is just too much, I'll go to the library or somewhere on earth with wi-fi. (I have to write connected to the Internet -- Google is my research buddy.)

I had planned on showing you my office, but life happened, and as I type this, I have a toothache the size of Texas. (I'm hoping I'm making some sense through pain pill brain fog.) And right now, my office isn't presentable. I have an assortment of boxes full of Christmas presents tucked in there right now. (Yes, Christmas. Can you believe it's that time again?)

My choice of music for writing depends on the genre I'm writing at the time. I'm in the middle of a southern historical so I pull up Pandora and listen to bluegrass or Brother Where Art Thou type songs. If I'm working on my nonfiction projects, I will listen to classical. Romance? Josh Groban and Andrea Boccelli. And of course, I fill most of my listening time with praise and worship songs.

But there are those delicious moments when I don't listen to anything at all, and I am in complete harmony with my inner self and the world around me goes away. You know what I mean, don't you? When you write for hours and you look up surprised to find yourself in your writing chair instead of 1832? I love that.

Where is your favorite spot to write? Do you stay in your office or do you have a favorite chair? Where do you find you are most productive? At home? Library? I'm always looking for new locations for inspiration! What about music or TV? What do you listen to when you write? Share your ideas!

 Karla Akins is a pastor's wife, mother of five, grandma to five beautiful little girls and author of the best-selling Jacques Cartier (that went #1 on Amazon in its category) and O Canada! Her Story.  One of her columns on MNN.com was featured on the CNN homepage. Represented by Hartline Literary Agency, she lives in North Manchester with her husband, twin teenage boys with autism, mother-in-law with Alzheimer's and three rambunctious dogs. When she's not writing she dreams of riding her motorcycle through the Smoky Mountains.