WWotW: The Comfy Cottage

Ami Hendrickson shares her workspace with use this week, a cottage she retreats to when the Muse taps her on the shoulder. Ami explains her space below:

I adore my writing studio: a 12 x 24 tiny little cottage in a small wooded glade just off the beaten path of the dog run, between the house and the barn. It has everything I need: most of my library, Wi-Fi, a comfy couch, a refrigerator, a coffeepot, a space heater (for Michigan winters) and air conditioning (for our hot, drippy summers. From its windows, I can see the house and the horses. My dogs hang out on their blankets and my daughter occasionally comes in to read or work on an art project. But everyone knows that silence is golden once one enters the door. The studio smells of coffee and chocolate (integral in the creative process). Pictures of my latest character inspirations glorify the walls. While I am there, the world outside becomes insignificant and I can create to my heart's content.

My "desk" is the blue couch & end table. Coffee is readily within reach, so all is well. The table to the side of the couch that is just cut out of the picture holds current books for research and reference, as well as a 3" tall resin horse fully outfitted for medieval combat and a similar sized two-headed blue dragon courtesy of McDonald's "How to Train Your Dragon" Happy Meal toys. These, as I continually stress to my 7 year old, are important research materials and are emphatically not toys. She remains unconvinced.

The wall on the left contains a bookshelf that is full to overflowing. The drawers on the antique wooden piece on the far wall are crammed with books as well. A small piano keyboard is on top of the refrigerator and a guitar hides beside the chair. Both are solely for irritating the Crap Writing Muse when she visits and making her stay as short as possible.

The dog is essential to the creative process. Sometimes, when the Muse is being particularly iffy, two or three dogs are required. If real inspiration is needed, I look out the window:

photos by Ami Hendrickson

Related posts:

1. WWotW: Dorm-style Writing
2. Making time to write
3. Writing Non-Fiction For Children: Researching Your Article