Creative Spaces by Sherry Kyle

Cheryl here! Today's guest is friend and Abingdon author Sherry Kyle who has some great thoughts on the importance of having a writing space. Sherry has graciously agreed to give away a copy of her new release, Delivered with Love, to one lucky commenter. Contest rules apply. Enjoy!

Cheryl

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Creative Spaces

Hi, everyone! A special thanks to Cheryl for inviting me to the Seekers!

When I sat down at the kitchen table with my laptop and thought about what to
share, I was immediately distracted by the loud noises coming from the video game
my husband and son were playing. Yikes. Get me out of here!

So I grabbed the key to my office and went out to my backyard.

Backyard?

That’s right. But I’ll get to that in a minute. Allow me to start from the beginning . . .

For years I wrote at a desktop computer in my bedroom. It was a good arrangement
until my back and neck started hurting and I couldn’t stop thinking about my
characters when it was time for bed. My desk was not conducive to good posture,
nor was working in my bedroom the best idea for a full night’s sleep. I ended up
going to the chiropractor on a weekly basis for months. I had to think of a better
arrangement if I was to keep writing.

Then my husband bought me a laptop. Now I could write anywhere—the local
coffeehouse, the kitchen table, or sitting in my favorite chair in the family room.

But I still longed for a space of my own.

Of course the ideal situation would be to have an office in a spare bedroom, but our
four children filled every room in our house. I thought about transforming a large
closet into an office and even went so far as considering remodeling our house.
Drastic, I know, but I was desperate for a quiet space.

One day, I went to Home Depot and spoke to a worker about my dream of having an
office. She responded, “What you need is a shed.”

A writing shed? Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?

I was excited about the idea and went home and researched sheds on my computer.
I stumbled across California Custom Sheds. They build every type of wood storage
shed imaginable. Check them out here: www.calcustomsheds.com.

I gave them a call and a worker came to my home and looked at the area in our
backyard where we planned on putting the shed. He asked me specific questions
about door and window placement as well as roof color. The best part is that they build the shed on site in a day!



My writing shed is 8 ½ x 9 feet. I like a lot of light, so I chose a French door, big
windows, and a skylight. The rest of the project my husband and I either worked on
together or hired out, including: electricity, insulation, drywall, flooring, trim, and
paint inside and out. (Most areas do not require permits for accessory structures
under 120 square feet, but check with your local building department to see
whether or not you’d need a permit.)



We hung valances, shelves, pictures, and a clock as well as purchased a rug and
new lighting. Check out Home Reserve for small, comfortable furniture you build
yourself: www.HomeReserve.com and Office Max for affordable desks to fit your
space: www.OfficeMax.com. I purchased a loveseat and desk from these companies
and couldn’t be happier with my choices. What do you think?



What does having a writing space have to do with writing?

Everything! When you have a specific place to write, you’ll take your work more
seriously. Do you have a writing space? With a little creativity and determination,
you can find a way to have the space you’ve always dreamed about.

If you don’t have a spare bedroom to use as an office or the budget to build a shed,
consider these ideas:

Set up a desk or table in a quiet corner.

Convert a closet into an office space.

Purchase a computer armoire.

Go to your local library or your favorite coffeehouse.

Or consider these ideas to get you in the writing zone . . .

Write when everyone is asleep.

Wear earplugs to block out sound or headsets and listen to your favorite music.

Carry a notebook and write whenever you have a spare moment.

Light a scented candle to signal it’s time to write.

Tell us about your writing space. Or if you have one. Or what gets you in the writing

zone.
Blessings,
Sherry

Bio:

Sherry Kyle is a graduate of Biola University with a degree in Communications, and
a minor in Bible. She is the author of The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style (Legacy Press,
2010) and Delivered with Love (Abingdon Press, 2011). Sherry and her husband
have four children, three biological and one by adoption. When she isn't writing,
she enjoys Zumba, watching movies, reading and spending time with her family and
friends. She lives in California. You can find her on the web at: www.sherrykyle.com
Back cover copy of Delivered with Love:

An old love letter found in the glove compartment of a young woman's inherited
1972 Volkswagen propels her to leave her life in Los Angeles and go to the small
town of Capitola, California. There her dream of finding the writer of the letter leads
her on an unexpected journey that changes her life forever.


Claire James, age twenty-three, is ready to make it on her own. When she's fired
from her job as a waitress and subsequently kicked out of her sister's home, she
sees it as an opportunity to start over. But even before moving, a thirty-five-year-old
love letter written to her mother keeps Claire stuck in the past. Michael Thompson, a
middle-aged real estate agent, wants to keep the past where it belongs--at least until
his grown daughter is married. But, then a young woman comes to town...
Cheryl here! Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win Sherry's book! s

Cheryl & Sherry