Love this! I'm slowly moving into my new office after using a bedroom alcove for 30 years and l can't believe how intimidating it feels. I've already sent back a desk chair that turned out to be all wrong, and I don't have a single thing on the walls yet.
It can be so profound (and hard!) to create our beloved writing spaces. Glad that you're getting a new office!! Very exciting! And I'm so happy you found Lilly's beautiful words inspiring!
This is such a lovely reminder that the most important ingredient for writing is carving the time and the space — no matter how brief the time or tiny/cramped the space. I️ needed this today as I️ face a pile of notes and scraps from carved time and hope to get them to make sense in my computer. A beautiful ode to the tiny desk and the time it represented. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your new book Lilly!
A woman must have money and a desk of her own if she is to write... :) (I'm writing this sitting cross-legged on my sofa, no desk, with my laptop in my lap)
I don't have a desk. I tend to write wherever feels comfortable and close enough to a window that is also close enough to an outlet to plug in my laptop as necessary. But I dream of a desk. I know where it will go. I know the home improvement projects that will be required to make it happen. I've carved out a tiny space for that image in a back corner of my brain where I can return and check on it periodically.
When I first moved truly away from home, to Seattle right after college, I had a room I loved on the corner of an intern house. There was an overstuffed, green chair, a tall dresser, a wall of bookshelves made of pine boards and decorative cinder blocks that held the five boxes worth of books that was most of what I moved with across the country, a slim twin mattress and box spring on the dark wood floor, angled diagonally into the room in the corner between the two windows, and two pieces of art that were very, very precious to me hanging on the walls. In times of anxiety and despair in the many years since then I've returned to that room in my mind to calm and ground me. These days I return to the desk. It functions similarly, dropping me into my body and reminding me who I am underneath all the swirling of my sometimes tortured mind.
I'm so glad for your desk, Lilly, and how it signifies the expansion of your freedom to create and to build your life around your work.
That looks perfect. Reading this has inspired me to clear my desk of the bills and other non-writing stuff. To finally choose what will go on the walls of this little space. A cat would be nice, but not until old Sugar says it's okay.
Yes to this! Brings to mind all the desks in my writing life and gives me a cheering reminder that no matter where I was, I was always carving space to write. Cheers to your new book, Lilly and gratitude to you, Jane, for your stream of inspiration!
I loved this so much! What a beautiful way to honor space created for writing and how we see when it's time for change. Thank you Jane & Lilly! This was a beautiful way to start my day 🖤
What a beautiful metaphor, that small desk and how it tethered you to something difficult but oh so valuable, and now the expansiveness created in the wake of your first book. Thank you for sharing, Lilly. And thank you for sharing Lilly, Jane! 🩷🖋️
It’s all beautiful—Lilly’s essay, her desk, her cat, the books. I see she’s recently read or is planning to read THE BABY ON THE FIRE ESCAPE, which I recommend to all creative mothers, or anyone concerned about the intersection of art-making and people-making. It gives me pleasure to know we have this book in common.
This is such a heartwarming essay. I love the enoughness of it, the gratitude for small beginnings, the commitment to making art, and the space where it all takes shape. Thank you ever so much 💝
I love the idea of decorating one's work space as casting a spell. I've been reading First Love this week in between deadlines in a super busy work week, which has forced me to read some and savor, instead of plow straight through as I wanted to after the first incredible essay. Nearly done now. So very good!
This piece really touched me. I had a similar path, tending bar and waiting tables, then squeezing time to write between child naps. I am off to order this new essay collection.
Love this! I'm slowly moving into my new office after using a bedroom alcove for 30 years and l can't believe how intimidating it feels. I've already sent back a desk chair that turned out to be all wrong, and I don't have a single thing on the walls yet.
This is so inspiring.
It can be so profound (and hard!) to create our beloved writing spaces. Glad that you're getting a new office!! Very exciting! And I'm so happy you found Lilly's beautiful words inspiring!
This is such a lovely reminder that the most important ingredient for writing is carving the time and the space — no matter how brief the time or tiny/cramped the space. I️ needed this today as I️ face a pile of notes and scraps from carved time and hope to get them to make sense in my computer. A beautiful ode to the tiny desk and the time it represented. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your new book Lilly!
Yes to all of this, Lisa! Entire gorgeous books manifest from exactly that! Glad you're feeling inspired by Lilly's beautiful words and vision!
A woman must have money and a desk of her own if she is to write... :) (I'm writing this sitting cross-legged on my sofa, no desk, with my laptop in my lap)
Haha. That's how I write, as well! But a desk sure does seem lovely!
I enjoyed your piece. I've got chunks of time and desk real estate to spare, but the thick fog of writer's block impedes my progress on discovery…
Oh, that's tough. Maybe try writing is short bursts. Sometimes that sort of constraint gets things flowing. Glad you enjoyed the essay!
I don't have a desk. I tend to write wherever feels comfortable and close enough to a window that is also close enough to an outlet to plug in my laptop as necessary. But I dream of a desk. I know where it will go. I know the home improvement projects that will be required to make it happen. I've carved out a tiny space for that image in a back corner of my brain where I can return and check on it periodically.
When I first moved truly away from home, to Seattle right after college, I had a room I loved on the corner of an intern house. There was an overstuffed, green chair, a tall dresser, a wall of bookshelves made of pine boards and decorative cinder blocks that held the five boxes worth of books that was most of what I moved with across the country, a slim twin mattress and box spring on the dark wood floor, angled diagonally into the room in the corner between the two windows, and two pieces of art that were very, very precious to me hanging on the walls. In times of anxiety and despair in the many years since then I've returned to that room in my mind to calm and ground me. These days I return to the desk. It functions similarly, dropping me into my body and reminding me who I am underneath all the swirling of my sometimes tortured mind.
I'm so glad for your desk, Lilly, and how it signifies the expansion of your freedom to create and to build your life around your work.
Oooooh, Asha! How beautiful! And inspiring! And thank you for sharing! ❤️
That looks perfect. Reading this has inspired me to clear my desk of the bills and other non-writing stuff. To finally choose what will go on the walls of this little space. A cat would be nice, but not until old Sugar says it's okay.
Hah. I love this, Eileen! And, yes, old Sugar must approve! I'm glad you enjoyed the essay!
Love this! I just reserved Negative Space at my local library.
I’m so glad, Susan. I love that book beyond measure!!
I just preordered her new book First Love.
It’s gorgeous!!
Yes to this! Brings to mind all the desks in my writing life and gives me a cheering reminder that no matter where I was, I was always carving space to write. Cheers to your new book, Lilly and gratitude to you, Jane, for your stream of inspiration!
Oh, I love this, Tanya! And I’m so glad Lilly’s beautiful words inspired you!
I loved this so much! What a beautiful way to honor space created for writing and how we see when it's time for change. Thank you Jane & Lilly! This was a beautiful way to start my day 🖤
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Mesa. And yes to honoring writing space! ❤️
I agree…the intuition of change. And I love Lily’s analogy of crafting her space to building a nest. Nesting. Beautiful.
YES!! It conjured imagery in my head ❤️ and then seeing the picture of her space was a delight!
Totally. Have a great day!
Thanks, Whitney!! Hope you have a great day too 😍
Yes!! 🌸
What a beautiful metaphor, that small desk and how it tethered you to something difficult but oh so valuable, and now the expansiveness created in the wake of your first book. Thank you for sharing, Lilly. And thank you for sharing Lilly, Jane! 🩷🖋️
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Holly! ❤️
I always enjoy Beyond.
❤️
In search of library table, personally. Love the Danish desk with the luxury of space, and the natural light creates a creative carrel.
Yes!
It’s all beautiful—Lilly’s essay, her desk, her cat, the books. I see she’s recently read or is planning to read THE BABY ON THE FIRE ESCAPE, which I recommend to all creative mothers, or anyone concerned about the intersection of art-making and people-making. It gives me pleasure to know we have this book in common.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And I'm not surprised you and Lilly share interests!
This is such a heartwarming essay. I love the enoughness of it, the gratitude for small beginnings, the commitment to making art, and the space where it all takes shape. Thank you ever so much 💝
Yes to all of this, Uma! ❤️
I love the idea of decorating one's work space as casting a spell. I've been reading First Love this week in between deadlines in a super busy work week, which has forced me to read some and savor, instead of plow straight through as I wanted to after the first incredible essay. Nearly done now. So very good!
It's so wonderful, isn't it!
This piece really touched me. I had a similar path, tending bar and waiting tables, then squeezing time to write between child naps. I am off to order this new essay collection.
I think you will love it, Barbara! So happy you enjoyed the essay!
Thank you so much!
One of my favorite installments of Beyond;
Oooooh, I love hearing that! Yay! ❤️❤️
Ah thank you!!