Writers are strange, often solitary creatures. And like all creatures, they require the correct habitat in order to thrive. Proper care and feeding can help your writer produce better quality and more consistent work, and though it cannot guarantee they will keep their butt in the chair and their hands on the keys, it can certainly help.

Specifically, every writer has his or her own hang-ups when it comes to their writing space. Here are some of mine!

It’s probably fairly typical for a creator to need a space that minimizes distractions and interruptions. But I also think it’s important to minimize feelings of self-consciousness. Maybe you’ve had this problem: Even if nobody but you is thinking about you, your inner editor manages to convince you everyone is judging your writing, which they can’t even see from across the room, and you freeze. Thus, nobody watching is a must in order to let the creative juices flow.

But I also need privacy for another reason that’s a little odd.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had a weird Thinking Face—really more of a Thinking Posture. Whenever I was deep in thought, I’d stare into space, hold my hands up in front of me, and wiggle my fingers. It was weird enough that my mom later confessed she’d actually consulted our pediatrician about it. (He told her as long as I could bring myself out of it, it was probably fine. I was just deep in thought.)

Though I’ve managed to force myself to be more subtle, to the tune of keeping my hands down beside me instead of up in front (in elementary school I invited the classmate next to me to slap my hands if she saw me doing it) I still find myself looking like I’m having a seizure if I’m deep in thought.

I no longer judge myself for it, but I’m still sensitive to people startling me when I’m in that state, so even though no one really intrudes on my writing time, I need a closed door, or in my case, a curtain on the stairs behind me. It’s also why I don’t like to have my back to the door.

Part of the reason I treated myself to a big executive desk a few years ago was so I could have room for my laptop and a notebook at the same time. The other reason was so that my cats would have room to sit and observe my writing without either stepping on my keys or fighting for one spot.

The desk is wide enough for a kitty loaf on either side and then some, but I also have a pair of high stools which they much prefer. Even if they mostly come to nap or occasionally headbutt me for pets, they like to be able to see what I’m doing.

I’m picky about a few aspects of my physical comfort. I overheat easily and like a nice cool temperature; I should get the instructions from medicine bottles printed on a t-shirt: “Store in a cool, dry place.” Conveniently for me, I currently live in a basement.

I like natural light during the day, so I open all the curtains, and at night, I close them so nobody can look in at or sneak up on me in the dark. I also switch from the big light to a lamp in the evenings. Cozy lighting helps me focus and not get distracted as easily.

My desk chair has to be comfortable enough not to make my legs go numb (I met some wooden library chairs with that problem when I was in college) and be low enough for at least my toes to touch the floor. I’m short, and having my feet dangle makes them feel restless and distracts me.

I often wear my fluffy ankle-length robe to write. Since it’s summer, it’s too hot for that, but I find that wrapping up in a light blanket from my shoulders to my feet makes me feel safe and even less self-conscious. Don’t ask me why. So now I have a lightweight blanket that lives on my desk chair. If I get too warm, I let it fall from my shoulders, but in general, I have it on for the feeling of emotional safety.

As far as what supplies to keep at my desk, my rule of thumb is to minimize reasons to get up. I stock tissues and hand sanitizer, and lately I’ve been keeping a cup of water with a lid and a straw with me. (Cheshire, my older cat, likes to daintily dip her paw into my water to drink out of it, and she’s admirably sneaky. Hence the need for the lid. As adorable as her little mitts are, they’re the same paws that dig in the litter box. No thank you.)

I keep a lens cloth for my glasses since I take my contacts out in the evening and can’t stand smudges obstructing my view. I’ve also got my inspiration notebook to jot down ideas for various projects and a smaller notebook for writing a to-do list, plus a stockpile of my favorite pens. (Okay, multiple stockpiles. All over the place. Like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter. And like said squirrel, I struggle to find them when I’m looking for them.)

I also have a few sticky notes laying about with reminders for myself, which currently include a list of names of characters and their specialties, a naming convention for a specific community, and the publishing schedule for my blog, Patreon, and newsletter.

This is my favorite part of having my own writing space, but it can be a tricky balance to keep it from being distracting, especially since my tastes run decidedly maximalist. I keep inspiring knickknacks on the back of my desk and the shelves nearby so that if my gaze wanders, the creative juices keep flowing. I’m notorious for collecting decorative glass bottles and keys of various shapes and sizes, so those feature heavily. I’ve got a few odds and ends like a figurine of a raven perched on a branch, a filigree ship I got at a flea market, and an ornate sand timer I use to start writing sprints when I’m having a hard time focusing.

I’ve also got my two favorite candles and a lighter. Fittingly, their scents are named Autumn Walk and Haunted Forest. The former is bright and sweet, like a bright autumn day, and the latter is musky and dusky and mysterious. I’ve come to associate their scents with my stories, so sometimes I light them to give myself a push in the right direction.

I’m big on keeping inspiring quotes around, so I’ve got multiple canvases and decorations on the wall in front of me with such phrases. Examples include “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam. I shall either find a way or make one,” and “Create with minutes rather than grieving the wasted hours.”

I also have my heavily bedazzled graduation cap from college hanging up. I never planned to decorate my cap, but when my roommates were doing it, I decided to join in the fun. I found the perfect quote in the book Deep Work, which was the motto of a guild of stonemasons: “We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals.” Meaning, the big projects are made up of lots of small and sometimes monotonous steps. The love we give to those small steps is what allows our work to culminate in a final masterpiece. That mentality was how I maintained grades I was proud of, and it’s how I justify the time it takes to play the long game of writing novels.

I also have a bulletin board hanging directly in front of me that’s meant to be a vision board. I can understand the power of visualizing what you want, but I’ve found myself feeling decidedly timid about doing so. I’ve printed some of my favorite writing-related quotes and made a couple of mock posters for events I could do someday as an author, but mostly it makes me feel self-conscious and like I’m looking at a very far-fetched to-do list. (To do: Print updated images and give it another go.)

So there you have it! That’s what my writing space currently looks like. What about you? Is there a particular snack you like to keep on deck? Can you not focus without your dog acting as a foot-warmer under the desk? Let me know in the comments!