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Thursday, September 07, 2017

There's No Place Like Home (Click Your Heels Together 3 Times): Inside Sioux's Inner Sanctum

       Everyone's writing space is different. Some writers prefer boring spots with unadorned walls to lessen the distractions. Because our house is so incredibly tiny, my space doubles as a spare bedroom. And since I don't like anything that's bland and boring, I've enjoyed filling the room with personal touches.

       And since most of you don't live in the St. Louis area, I thought I'd give you a quick tour of my writing space.



          This is a painting done by my father. He never did anything artistic until he was in the middle stages of Alzheimer's. He went to a day program once a week--the only break my mom got--and they sometimes had a guest painter come in and paint with the clients. I know he got a little help with it, but I cherish it. The colors remind me of Monet...




         The so-soft flannel quilt on the desk chair is important because it was made by a writer in my writing critique group--Lynn Obermoeller--and since it was made by a writer I admire, I think every stitch is infused with positive writing mojo. (Quilters believe in wrapping up in a quilt they've made before gifting it to someone, to fill it with peace and love. If I could only take writing as seriously as Lynn does... Perhaps the quilt will help?)  



        This is a framed print of a poem by Shay Simmons--written just for me. (It was a blog contest, and I won.) I adore the poem because it speaks of the power of writing. I treasure it so much, I found a special frame, decorated the border, and it hangs in a prominent spot.


        This is a stack of anthologies which I'm published in. The taller the tower represents--for me--the big mountain I still dream of climbing: a published novel.


       I bought this years ago at a craft fair. As soon as I saw it, it was love at first sight. It's made from an old oil drum and (if you can't tell from my horrid photographic skills) is a pig with wings. When pigs fly... that's when I'll snag a publishing deal. (I'm still working on getting it hung from the ceiling.)



          This is a framed check from my first paid writing gig. It was a whopping $10. The publisher probably laughed her butt off when I asked if they'd send me two checks. I wanted to frame one (I promised her I wouldn't cash it), but I ended up just making a color copy of the check. It was many years ago, and I still make mere tiny trickles of money from writing, but that framed check reminds me exactly when I first had the courage to submit...

         I'd show you the view out the window, but it ain't particularly pretty. A maple tree that has covered our yard with sweet gum balls. An old chain link fence. A shed that needs hosing off. I don't make a habit of staring out the window when I take a break from writing, but I do glance around me... and I'm inspired and comforted by what I see.

        What is your writing space like? What sentimental treasures do you surround yourself with? I'd love to hear about them...



  Sioux Roslawski is a middle-school teacher, a teacher-consultant for the Gateway Writing Project, a Chicken Soup for the Soul writer, an aspiring novelist, a wife, mother and grammy, along with a rescuer of dogs. In the time she has outside of her classroom she knits, serves on the board of Love a Golden Rescue, and dreams of a way she can lose weight and still eat chocolate. If you'd like to read more, check out Sioux's blog.   

14 comments:

  1. I love the painting, and I'm intrigued by the pig. Did he poop out a cupful of coins? No wonder he can't fly yet. He must have more inside. I hope he eventually soars into the stratosphere.

    My writing space can be described in two words: hoarder's paradise.

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  2. J, Glenn--
    Thank you.

    Val--Unfortunately, that pig is not a bank. He's incapable of holding any coinage.

    Hoarder's Paradise? Could you rewrite the lyrics of "Gangsta's Paradise" to describe your writing space? (Hey, it could be an epic blog post...)

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  3. Bland, unadorned writing space? Ugh. I don't go that route either. I have a modern Native American print of running wolves, two framed pop up insects, a painting of a bat hanging from a bookshelf and more including a dancing Groot. Obviously my space is as chaotic as my mind.

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  4. A dancing Groot? You have to explain. I am sooo intrigued.

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  5. In Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot is the anthropomorphic tree character. He walks. He talks in that he says one word (Groot).

    Dancing Groot is a Groot cutting (can't explain without spoiling the movie) in a cup. My husband got me the figure that dances to music. And if I have it on the wrong setting, it also dances if I sneeze or make any other loud noise.

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  6. I've been working at my kitchen counter, but now that my son is at college I am going to clean out a room for my office. I am jealous that you already have one, and I love the artifacts that keep you surrounded by the writing life.

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  7. Mary--Don't be jealous. Our two tiny bedrooms and only 1 bathroom make up more than half of our tiny house.

    When you carve out some writing space, we'd love to see it...

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  8. What a great tour of your space, Sioux! I love it. Especially the pig! I did notice that the first line of the poem says "math" instead of "match" - is that intentional?

    My office doubles as my art studio, so you can imagine, a crazy mixture of paintings all over the walls, half finished art projects, my easel in the corner, rolling shelves of art supplies, sculpture materials, flat files. Chaos and harmony. I hope to get a dedicated art studio one day.

    Sue: I am groot! ;)

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  9. I think the quilt is my favorite! Have you ever seen that movie "How to Make an American Quilt" with Winona Ryder? You should check it out if not. Quilting . . . writing . . . life lessons . . . Right now I have a great writing space with doors and everything but it needs a little something. I have one entire wall covered in bookshelves, framed family photos, some knick knacks like a globe, and I recently put up a colorful peel and stick map of the United States. I have a few awards I need to get framed and put up on the walls, I guess. I'm still on the hunt for good decor and need more personalized items like what you have!

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  10. Angela--What an incredibly stupid typo. I guess I have to retype and reprint and then reglue it into place. Yikes! Thanks for pointing it out.

    I would love to see some of your artwork sometime. (I'm jealous of anyone who can paint or sculpt.)

    Renee--I have seen that movie. It came out when I was full-blown into quilting. Now writing takes up too much time, so I only knit occasionally.

    Yes, frame those awards (or, in my case, great rejection letters). We all need reminders of success to keep us going...

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  11. Love your personality coming through in your writing space! I have a few things like that, too, though I really, REALLY wish I had a flying pig.

    I'll gladly trade you a stack of Cathy C. Hall books and a plaque for a flying pig, hmmmm?

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  12. I love the cool touches in your writing space. Mine is a jumbled conglomeration of Too. Much. Stuff.

    You need to get back on FB so you can post a link when you have a Muffin post. Reminders are the only way I can keep up with anything anymore.

    Pat
    www.patwahler.com

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  13. Cathy--If I could find another pig, I might be interested...

    Pat--Get back on FB? How do you know I'm not already on FB? How do you know I am NOT active?

    Oh. I guess that's right.

    I don't know if I have the energy, or if it would have any impact. I'll consider it.

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