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Stephen King suggests that you create a space for yourself somewhere in your house where you can go to do nothing but write. Whether it’s the balcony, office, or bathroom, be sure that you have a place to go when you want to write … which should be every day by the way if you’re a true writer. By the way, if you’re writing on a computer, make sure its not connected to the Internet … it truly put the block in writer’s block.

Barnes & Noble

Let’s face it; Barnes is the best bookshop in town. The employees are professional, well dressed, and educated, the organization of books is immaculate and clear, and best of all, and they serve Starbucks coffee in one of the cleanest cafes you’ll ever read or dine in. And this is exactly why it’s a great place to write. If you’re like me, you need to be amongst the hustle and bustle of the everyday world in order to drift away into your imagination and produce work. Grab a table, order a caramel macchiato with vanilla bean powder in a mug, and drift away with nothing but your notebook and pen, laptop and cards, or ancient caveman chalk and tell your story.

Shower or Bath

For most writers, the shower is one of the most creative places in the house. Perhaps the steam creates a zen-like zone where the unconscious flows. Maybe it’s a place where we let our minds drift into the calm and therefore we become open to new ideas. If you need to relax, disconnect from the world, and let your worlds of story take over, consider the best place for you.

Park

When the last time you went to a park? When was the last time you read Peter Pan? Did you know that the a lot of Peter’s story, as well as many of J.M. Barrie’s stories, was largely created in the local park? There’s just something about wondering around the open grass, hearing the squeak of the swing set, the laughs of children, and the rustle of leaves or trickling water fountains that stimulates the imagination and encourages your mind to soar like it used to when you were a kid. No boundaries. No limits. Pure imagination.

Work

Is your day job something you want to do for the rest of your life? If not, you should be thinking about your stories every beat of the day. Even if you’re not physically writing, you’re mind is pondering, brainstorming, creating, and producing new ideas. Consider this time your time to think over what you wrote last night or early morning, what you want to write tonight or tomorrow morning, and where you’re heading. Also, keep in mind that as a storyteller, you’re job is to tell stories reflecting the human condition, so now is also the time to observe and take in people and life. If you can, take notes in your notebook. During your break, write a scene, explore an idea, and test a few names or descriptions. You spend eight to nine hours at work … apply as much of that time to your writing as possible without getting fired.

Vehicle

When I was working at a production company in West Hollywood, I endured an hour and a half commute each way everyday – that’s three hours on top of your eight to nine hour day that you could be writing or at least applying to your dreams of writing. I kept a large yellow pad in my passenger seat at all times (small books don’t work well because if you have a sliver of sanity while writing in your car you’ll watch the road), and produced a great deal articles, short stories, and other scribble. This might be one for the Los Angeles local – 101 and 405 local I should say – because the traffic here is what really allows this. What would you do if you sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic every weekday? Write, right? I’m not one to use a voice recorder, but hey, this is a great place to write verbally. Turn down the radio that you’re not really listening to anyway, pull out the pad and pen, and write longhand George Lucas style.

Sleep

Again, when your mind is at rest, the ideas flow. Keep that oh so handy yellow pad next to your bed or couch or hammock or where ever you sleep so you can easily note any great ideas you dream up. If you don’t usually wake up or dream, consider setting your alarm clock for the wee hours of the night; chances are you’ll be smack in the middle of a dream. Be sure to keep that pad nearby; it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll forget your dream unless you jot it down or verbalize it.