21 Comments

Let George be George and you be you. But since I always have an opinion, I'll say this: you seem to know what you like, and what you like is that kitchen table. Productivity is a result of mindset and motivation, not location. I have a home office to write in, but 90 percent of the time you'll find me in the living room or elsewhere. I like to move around. If I had to heat a shed and traipse outside in the cold to use it, I wouldn't. So I guess be realistic about your habits and you'll have your answer. And think of all the writing time you'd lose while building the thing!

All that said, I understand the appeal of that perfect little private place; I've salivated over plenty of them. But if I had one, I bet I'd still bounce around the house.

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I have always wanted a shed, but realistically unless it was of good construction, and warm in winter it would probably be counter productive. It’s probably just a romantic notion, unless there is nowhere else to write that allows concentration.

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I'd love a writing shed!

Current favourite place to get any writing done is in a classroom where I work, as soon as I kick the students out I close that door and take advantage of the place. Also get stuff done in the school library, but have to listen to music through earphones because the sound of whispering drives me fucking insane. I could kill.

If you want a shed, go for it!

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Bradbury anecdote is inspiring. Lifespans don't come with a return receipt.

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Sep 10, 2022Liked by Matt Zamudio

If you were still living in California, I'd say give it a try (the weather would be warmer year round). Maybe a prefab plastic SheShed that Grace can use for crafts if it doesn't work out for you. I also like using a room that feels very Zen, filled with things that relax you and encourages your creativity. OR, just stick with the kitchen table! Maybe put another table in there to eat at!

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I have a shed in the back garden but I wouldn't want to write in there. It's full of spiders for one thing and I think that would put me off. Also, there are various garden tools and unwanted bits of furniture and so it has a certain atmosphere ... I like to write by hand first, in a notebook and as that is portable I can write anywhere in the house. But not in the shed!

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Sep 10, 2022·edited Sep 10, 2022Liked by Matt Zamudio

Kitchen table for me every time - and the flavour of your post, Matt, tells me that deep-down you might even feel the same!

I had a shed - actually a succession of them - for a past hobby, and that was wonderful... for a bit. And then it became an effort. I find to do the thing that I love I need convenience above all things, and my shed was a barrier to allowing me the depth of enjoyment I deserved. Kitchen table, however - well, that was just THERE. Next to the kettle. And with plenty of space, without isolation.

And sheds - gosh, think of the earwigs! And woodlice! And moths! And the trip back to the house in the dark just to have a pee?

(Seriously though, sheds have their place. I'm not dissing sheds in general. But a shed, dear Reader, is not for me.)

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You are your own person. Don’t be a copycat or next you would be copying their writing style too. Matt, stay Matt.

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