The Writing Chair

Writing takes time.

Duh.

It means you have to step away from life and just do it. That, right there, is where it gets difficult. Full time job, B3, friends, housework, groceries, gardening, socializing, sleep - they all compete for my time.

Then there's the muse. It often hits at inopportune times. Like when I'm in that grey area of surrendered consciousness right before I drift off to sleep. Or when I'm racing to pull it all together and get out the door. Oh muse...you are the cheeky little thing.

Remember that Robert Munsch book - I Have to Go Pee? Andrew's mother and father, gramma and grampa take a half hour to bundle him in a snowsuit so he can go outside to play. Ten buckles, 5 zippers and 17 snaps. Andrew threw one snowball before he cried "I HAVE TO GO PEE!"  They quickly pick him up, tearing away the layers and race him to the bathroom because his urgent pronouncement is imminent and can't be denied. 

It's the same thing with writing. You're ready to head out the door or drop into slumber and your brain suddenly fills up with an idea, or a sentence - an epiphany - and you know you need to stop and write it down right in the moment or it will be lost. Then the biggest lie in the universe steps in to mediate the situation: "You'll remember that later and can write about it then. 

Sorry - I was just laughing hysterically. NEVER happens. 

I will admit, since the Boy, the Beau, the Ball Cap has entered my life, my writing has become harder to accommodate. Building a relationship takes time. And it's worth it. However I needed to make a small change in order to make space for my writing.

Which is why I bought a chair.

Stick with me here. Because not only is finding the time to write a key factor, but where you write matters as well. And where you sit requires a comfortable vessel for your behind. You need some cush and the ability to change the position you sit in because writing can keep you seated for hours when you really get going full steam ahead. Most of my writing has taken place in my reading chair that resides in my living room. But now my living room has a lot of sports or news or 48 Hour episodes in it and it usually means someone, who is not me, is uh...conversing - arguing - errr...engaging vociferously - with the television.  Even though no one can hear him but me.  Yeah. Good times. 

So I scoured all the Used Stuff for Sale sites and found a lot of junk for cheap or fairly nice that was way over priced (They know it's a USED stuff for sale site, right?). I hadn't acquired a chair before I was moving furniture and decor around in my alcove to set up my new writing space. A dining room chair sat as a place holder for "the" chair while I continued my search.

Over a month went by before I found something suitable. Yes - I bought it at Winners. Where else? And it hit all the points I needed. Two mighty and brilliant girls at the store found just the right angle to make the chair fit into the back of my car, and this mighty brilliant girl maneuvered it out and up the stairs into the spot I had saved for it.  It has completed this new space - a space to step away. Ponder. And hopefully shed the noise in my head. And since it's close to my bedroom I may even stumble into it and blearily write down that late night inspiration. 

Photo Credit: Evan Brennan