Making Space for Creativity

Moving has taught me a few things.

First of all, after 16 years living in the same general area, I have become spoiled by what is available there. Now that I’m living in a very different place I find that there are things I truly and unexpectedly miss. Like Sushi. And Target. And while those are just things, nothing crucial to my day to day life, I’ve come to realize that these small conveniences, like going to a store after 9pm or being able to order take out, are something I took for granted. I had my own rhythm to life, my own patterns, and my own strange structure when it came to creating.

I’ve also noticed that, now that I have a new room, I miss my own creative space. I had simply gotten used to my room being my room. I had everything I needed exactly where I knew it would be every time I looked for it. Now my things are in boxes and bags, and will remain so until I have a more permanent place of my own. I can’t find anything, from my books to my shampoo to my Brienne of Tarth POP! Figure (who I keep around for inspiration). Consequently, it’s been difficult to feel comfortable enough to write.

This is not to say that I can’t be creative in strange places. As I write this I am hiding in a floor nook at a friend’s apartment. The problem is when I’m in my own space I like things just so. Sometimes it’s actually easier for me to be creative in odd places (example: a floor nook is not a thing, I made it up, but I quite like it here and it works for me). When it’s my own space it needs to be perfect; I need to have everything exactly as I like it so I can do my best writing. But when it’s not my space, when I have to adapt, I can make the space for creativity.

I’m learning that in some ways I’m stubborn and particular (duh, we all knew this)