Juiced On Writing

I was in a writing meeting the other night. It was 10pm my time, and the setting was in Second Life, in a nicely landscaped bay. The question came up – ‘Where do you Write?’

Taking the questioner literally (hello, Lukos) I answered – ‘Well, in second life, it’s a shack, and in real life I’m writing on a laptop sitting in bed, because it’s [expletive deleted] 10pm!’

Having that very day gone about setting out yet another area for writing within my second life home, I knew a lot about what I need, and don’t need, for a writing space. At least, virtually. I’d teleported into the writing meeting from my new virtual ‘writing shack’ selected out of tens of shacks available to buy over the previous several hours. This one actually came free, but at 40 prims, I needed to delete a waterfall to make room for it – so I was aware of the sacrifice I was making to create my ultimate writing space.

As I was obliged to attend the writing meet, I sent my partner, who was in Second Life on one of the rare occasions, to go off and find some virtual steps. Without them, I couldn’t actually get onto the veranda of my writing shack to get in. Such is life within Second Life.

I’d created the writing shack as a metaphor and attempt to set my writing into motion. Previously I’d set out a general writing area in a copse of virtual pine trees and kiwi native bush I’d put together. I’m a great landscaper, I’ve found. I’d spent many hours buying grungey old sofas, crate tables and writing implements. But although the copse was lovely, and looked like one you may find in a kiwi bush – complete with the old thrown-out furniture, it wasn’t quite right. Especially when I found the grungy old filing cabinet, and things started taking over the land and moving far too close into the water and beachside.

The Writing Shack holds all the shabby furniture, a jukebox pre-programmed with the best internet radio stations, and two virtual laptops with typing animations. Not to mention I also now have walls, which I display motivating writing posters on.

So far, I’ve not written anything in there, mind you. Celebrating the creation of such a ‘shack’ my partner and I have spent a long time just sitting in there, realising the freedom of having a shack means we can do and put anything in there. It’s simply a fun creative place to be.

In real life, I write on a laptop, perched normally on my actual lap – on a living room sofa. Nearby there are large ranch sliders out to the back courtyard. I am often interupted by my family, or by catching a glance of the dog walking by, or garden birds feeding out of the bird feeders. Or the cat stalking the birds. I watch out those large windows, and watch the seasons go by.

I do have a study or den, with a large main computer and desk. I don’t enjoy writing there at all. Too claustrophic perhaps? Or too cut off?

Because I do need noise around me to be able to write. I have the radio on, never the television, and then there’s the noise of family or dogs or cars driving through the village in the distance.

I would like to be able to open those ranch sliders and sit outside at the tables, writing there. But my laptops don’t have good enough low-reflection screens to allow for that. But typically, I write as close to a natural setting as possible.

Going back to the virtual world of Second Life, I initially set out a writing desk and computers inside my main home. I’ve never used them. They feel like my study – impersonal and claustrophic. The woodland copse was my next idea, taking me into my needed nature. But it was a little too tiny.

With the shack I’ve managed to develop my ideal creative spot. It has windows which are always open, and under these I’ve planted my much loved kiwi natural bush – bracken ferns and cabbage trees, punga tree ferns, and New Zealand native bird calls; and inside it’s a mess of old threadbare sofas, chipped desks, books, paper and laptops. On my crate table there’s even a virtual pizza box open, and a cup of tea ready for a quiet period. If you look up and through the open windows, Second Life regularly gives me a glowing tropical sunrise to watch. Across the beach, my virtual seagull squawks around the house.

In the metaverse, my Writing Shack is like my sofa and laptop in real life. It’s as close to nature as I can get, yet only just regimented and structured enough to make me realise I’m there to do a job.

I can see why so many renowned authors in real life write or wrote in a shack or shed at the bottom of their garden. I can understand now, the passion many British (and antipodean) men have for their garden sheds. I am a true convert to the Writing Shack.

Sidenote:  Having a ‘perve’ at other writer’s spaces seems to be a thing with writers. The U.K. Writing Magazine features back page spreads of writing spaces, normally tidied up desks. And why I have to stare at those photos is beyond me. Inevitably, the same desks, bookshelves, noticeboards and piles of papers turn up on every writer’s desk. But for me, I’m thrilled at seeing this. I recall seeing one photo perhaps, that involved a shack. I hope to see more…

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