Create a working office

Extract from Write it! How to write your book in 30 hours or less

In order to write productively and get your book finished you need to set up a workspace that will enable you to start writing quickly during your scheduled times. If you have to clear the dining table, locate the laptop, get the extension lead because someone has run down the battery, turn it on, wait, and then start writing, well your writing time is not going to be best used. Do this twice a day and you could easily waste half an hour of your valuable writing time. Over 10 weeks this equates to another book.

Your workspace is important; however this does not mean that you cannot write unless you have a dedicated office that no-one else has access to, though you might like to add this to your dreams list.

Setting up your workspace

Three questions often asked by people looking to start writing are - “Do I need an office? Do I need a computer? Do I need expensive software?” Let’s take these one at a time.

Do I need an office?

Creating a working space that enables you to be productive, not get distracted and have a work-rate that supports you producing a publishable book in the shortest possible time is vital. This does not however need to be a dedicated office, though this can help, anywhere you decide is your workspace or workspaces is fine as long as you set it up to meet your needs and you can access it with the minimum of fuss.

The working area should be comfortable, have enough space for you to work on a computer (desktop or laptop), make notes, use reference material (one notebook and one reference book) and have a place for a cup of coffee. How big does this have to be? A small garden table and chair are fine. This can even be a fold up type that you can quickly open out and start working. If you have a desktop computer then you will need to have this set up permanently. Select a spot where you can work unhindered, again this does not necessarily mean a quiet spot, but you do not want to be distracted by the TV. If you have to share the computer with the family then have a booking system!

If you are working in time slots that are no more than an hour at a time and no more than two hours a day then the table and chair set up is less important unless you have a back condition. If you are regularly working longer hours then spend some time setting your monitor height and chair position to reduce the risk of aches and pains.

It is important you keep all of your working documents, notes, and reference material together and easily accessible. Use a basket or box with handles so that you can move it around and easily store it. The box needs to be big enough to hold a notepad, pens and pencils, memory stick, dreams folder (see chapter 4), progress chart and one or two reference books. Keep it where you can access it quickly.

Do I need a computer?

You need access to a computer and the internet; ideally this should be one you can use at a time to suit you so having your own is a benefit. If you don’t have a computer then you can still write your book, find out where you can get free or cheap access to a computer with internet access, try your local library or community centre. It might be that your employer is happy for you to use one at work after hours or during your break. Whilst using a computer away from home may seem a disadvantage at first you will certainly be focussed when you sit down to type those words.

Do I need expensive software?

No. Whilst Microsoft Word is clearly popular, if you don’t have it you don’t need to buy it. There are several word-processing and office packages available to you free of charge. Consider OpenOffice or LibreOffice, both are free to download, have an excellent range of features and are compatible with Microsoft Word. You also get a spreadsheet and presentation software as well! Think about the features you really need to be able to type your words. Some basic formatting features such as bold and italic, outline features are useful though not essential, as is the facility to create hyperlinks.

The only other software needed is an internet browser; you probably already have this on your computer however these are also freely available.

This chapter contains a list of useful software available free of charge. You may like to look at some of these and decide if they would be of use to you.

What do you really need to get started?

Essentials

Access to a computer

Word-processing software (available free)

Notebook

Pen and pencil

Access to the internet

Desirable

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Graphics software (available free)

Mobile phone (with camera and Apps)

Happy writing.