AD-Gifted. This post includes a gifted item. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A writer’s space is the space where the most words flow. It is a space to seek inspiration or solitude, dream, and even moan. A writer’s space is sacred and unique.
I am currently displaced from my writing space. With our fir tree in the corner where my desk usually resides, I have moved my desk closer to my bookshelf.
While this yearly displacement of my desk always bothers me, it also teaches me that a writer’s space is any place a writer sits down to write.
Writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, J.R.R Tolkien, C.S Lewis, and Anaïs Nin frequented cafes and pubs. Other writers, such as Neil Gaiman and Danielle Steele, had gazebos in the woods and custom-made desks built for them. Be it at the kitchen table, a simple café, or an extravagant cabin, writers come time and time again to their spaces for the atmosphere and stimulation.
I write under trees in the summer, on benches, at the dining table, and even in the kitchen while cooking. Most often I write at an old-fashioned school desk. Made from cherry wood cut from a cherry tree that once grew from the land I live on in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and built by a carpenter neighbor, it is the space where most of my words flow. Here I write letters, poetry, prose, short stories, and tirelessly attempt novels. Here I have drafted query letters for bad books and immortalized some of the best and worst times of my life in journals.
I write in notebooks with ink and later transcribe my words into type at a computer. This may sound like double the trouble, but I love writing by hand as it gives me a deeper connection to the words I put down. I have tried to write in type but the disconnected feeling that comes upon me makes me grab for a pen. Since I have been handwriting since I was nine, handwriting is my writing.
I used to have a plastic map above my desk, but I never hung up anything new after it gave its all. For years my writing space has been a plain space with only a bookshelf at hand and two wall calendars to offer their avian and lunar inspiration. As I am preparing to move forward into the new year, I wanted to add something new to my space to help inspire and drive new writing.
I have been inspired by the pretty desk layouts and ornaments I have seen when fellow writers share their writing spaces. I, however, do not have a typical desk so trinkets like statuettes, story dice, and desk organizers are out of the question. The only space left to spice up was the wall; this meant an attractive wall decoration.
I am picky when it comes to artwork and I wanted something original that would constantly speak to me.
Enter Photowall.
Photowall is a Swedish-based art company specializing in murals, wallpaper, canvas prints, framed prints, and posters. With a massive selection of patterns, florals, maps, people, textures, and vintage designs, Photowall has something for everyone. If you want Clint Eastwood in his rugged glory epically on your wall, you can have him.
Photowall also works to be environmentally friendly by printing to order, meaning there is no excess or discontinued stock going into the landfill. Your order is freshly printed and sent directly to you. Photowall works with Vi Agroforestry, a Swedish development organization, planting approximately 5000 trees each year near Lake Victoria in East Africa.
I chose this world wildlife map as a canvas print in the dimensions I wanted. The soft color coupled with the animal illustrations is a combination I love. I went for a map because, with a single glance, every place in the world comes to my mind. For me, there is no better place to find inspiration than to think of the vast expanse of cultures, places, and people in the world. A writer’s space should, after all, inspire writing.
Photowall’s sizing tool makes it easy to create custom dimensions and size your print digitally. It comes exactly as represented unassembled. I, who am not very good at following instructions, was delighted with the easy assembly of this print. I assembled it in under fifteen minutes with only the parts included in the box and no other help.





Given the quality of the canvas and frame, I am confident saying Photowall would do justice to any custom image you may want printed. Think family photos or vacation pictures.

Tips for creating and making the most out of your writing space:
- Choose a space that is well-lit
- Choose a space you are comfortable physically and mentally in
- Include quotes, photographs, decorations, and everything else that inspires you to write
- Keep writing aid books on hand
- Also keep books you love on hand in case you need a break from writing
- Your writing space does not need to be trendy; it needs to be you
- Write. Tidy up later.
Finally, Photowall kindly sent me a discount code to share with all of you!
If you are inspired to include a wall print or poster in your writing space or are looking to give unique and lasting gifts to friends and fellow writers this year, you will receive 25% off your order at Photowall by using the code ninchronicles25 at checkout. Valid throughout December!
Support my writing by becoming a patron!
Your space looks like such a calming place to write. My writing space is currently my sofa 😂 I do love any kind of world map too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes a sofa is more comfortable than a desk! 😉
LikeLike
That wildlife map looks great in your space! I have a designated office/writing space, however, I started to be a little more flexible with the idea of ‘my space’ over this past year. My husband and I went camping a lot more often (all within our province here due to lockdown and travel restrictions) and that meant working in various places all over. One day I’d be at my desk and the next I’m in a hammock on the waterfront. I find that the change in surroundings genuinely helps keep my creativity flowing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A hammock on the waterfront sounds amazing! I love to find spots to sit outside under the trees or even move to chair in front of the fire; new stories find me in new places. 🙂
Sometimes my desk is just a place to fall back to; a place you know is there.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing thoughts!
LikeLike
I love this so much! I’m glad that you found a beautiful picture that means so much to you and adds value to your beautiful writing space 🙂 xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It is a fulfilling feeling. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooh! I feel you about needing to find the right place to write. I am in such a displacement this year, it is sad. It is great that you found so many great places to write and pull inspiration from. Your atmosphere really influences you. I love the idea of Photowall!! The quality looks amazing and the map is so cute!! Thanks for sharing about this decor piece!
Nancy ✨ mdrnminimalists.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I hope you find a settled place to create soon. 🙂
LikeLike
Amazing post! I love your writing space! Thank you for sharing this with us! My writing space is a desk in the middle of my bedroom with pictures and a chalkboard above it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your space sounds so open and relaxing! Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I loved ready this and I am cyrrently relocating my writing space.This was a great article. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved reading and am currently*
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fantastic post you’ve provided here Jaya with some amazing tips, I do suppose having your own private space with minimum distractions helps you to concentrate more! I always find listening to music helps me, don’t know why!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Music helps inspire my writing too. 🙂
LikeLike
You’ve included some great tips and made such a lovely space. That canvas is lovely. I’ve just ordered one through Photowall and I’m excited to see what it looks like when its in position.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😍 I am hopeful I will get to see your wall art in the future!
LikeLike
I loved reading this post! It’s so important for a writer to have a comfortable area to work in and be able to feel free to create whatever is on their mind. I love how you decorated your area in a way that inspires you and is so personal to your own style. Your new wall art is such a beautiful addition to the room! Thanks for sharing this, I loved reading more about your writing process!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your beautiful words touch my heart. Love that you love my little space!
LikeLike
Every time I have the chance to discover a bit more about you I am always more grateful to the fate that let us meet.
I appreciate a lot your tips and I liked so much how you decorate your writing corner. I am absolutely in love for your desk and the way the wood comes from your place, which I try to imagine. It must be beautiful for sure!
GRAZIE Jaya!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your joyful words never cease to make me smile! Thank you for your appreciation and feedback.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was great to hear — thank you so much for sharing! I like my desk to be free of clutter as I write, but during the process it becomes filled with notes, post-its and planners, haha! I feel thought that it’s a necessary part of my process so clearing away the clutter once I’ve finished is kind of cathartic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I connect with having old notebooks and papers everywhere; I enjoy having the handy mess on hand too. 🙂
LikeLike
Although I don’t write everything out first, my initial draft is often handwritten. Like you, I think it’s some of my best work. And I still love nice sharp, hard pencils. That’s probably engrained in me from my school days.
For years now, I have kept world maps hanging in my office, but I’ve never considered or seen a wildlife world map. Excellent choice! It really works with your space.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words! Maps really are inspiring to writing. Words shaped in pencil are attractive too. 🙄😉
LikeLike
That print is so cute! And such a lovely writing space!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have always enjoyed learning about a writer’s process and the space where they create. Thank you for sharing yours!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It looks lovely, what a great print! I just got a canvas with Photowall and I love it, definitely buying again 😍
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
So so true Jaya! Wonderful post and I love this map!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I am in love with it too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so true, Jaya! My desk is a space filled with colour, art and things that inspire me but I rarely sit there unless I need to be at my most productive. I definitely prefer to write things out by hand and then type them up and sometimes I even do speech to text these days to allow my conversational voice to flow through. Amazing how many options we have to create and how we all have our unique preferences.
P.S. I love the wildlife map you had printed! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is wonderful to meet a fellow hand-writer! Thank you for sharing your writing process.
LikeLike
“A writer’s space is any place a writer sits down to write.”. This is so beautifully put, Jaya. I have to say, I think your temporary writing space is lovely and that map canvas from Photowall is just beautiful. What a good choice, and how wonderful the company is so environmentally conscious as well. Thank you for sharing this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lisa! I am loving the map and look forward to keeping it as part of my writing space for a long time to come. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your writing space with us, Jaya! You have made me realise what terrible habits I have: I normally write either in bed or on the sofa, anywhere that I can find peace and quiet, and be propped up by a cornucopia of cushions!
LikeLiked by 3 people
It is my pleasure, Ingrid! I am really loving sharing more about the way I write and where I write.
I too write in front of the fire and in the kitchen, but it is nice to have a regular place to fall back too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think it’s because I’ve moved house so often, but if I ever do settle down I will certainly have a dedicated writing space 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
So beautifully worded Jaya. And I could not agree more regarding writing with your own hand. It brings the face, the presence of the writer in your fold, when you receive the handwritten as against the typed out words. For me the handwriting is the person. As close as the person can be to you when not physically present.
LikeLiked by 2 people
😍 I am in love with this: “For me handwriting is the person.” Could not be expressed better; thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person