A place to write

When you write books, kind friends often suggest they know a perfect place for you to go and get some work done. ‘It’s miles from anywhere!’ they say. ‘You won’t see a soul all week! Your only companions will be the sheep!’

I think I’d probably go completely mad in a matter of days. (And so would the sheep, from me trying to engage them in conversation. ‘Hey, nice day, huh? How’s the grass this morning? WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TALK TO ME?’)

And anyway, I think I have already discovered my perfect place to run away and write.

My needs are quite specific. It’s got to be in a town. A village is too small, but a city is too distracting. There should be enough to do that I can escape for an afternoon, but not so much that I’m all, ‘You know, I think today I’ll just explore the sights of Barcelona instead.’

I choose Lyme Regis. Lovely Lyme. Everything is better when you’re by the sea.

I choose a space that is beautiful and restful, so I don’t mind being there for most of the day while I’m working (possibly I should have made the bed before taking this photograph):

I choose a space with a balcony so I can admire the view/sunshine when I take a break, and also an actual TELESCOPE for when I am feeling nosey (aka always):

I choose a studio that is several minutes’ walk from the centre of town, with a leg-killingly steep incline on the way back. Just the thought of this hill is often enough to make me decide to just stay in & do more work instead. My word count thanks you, steep hill.

I choose somewhere that has no Wifi. This is essential. The guestbook is full of people begging for Wifi - people with, you know, busy lives & no book to write. Shut up, normal people! Don’t ruin it!

I choose Little West Hill Studio and you can choose it too, via Lyme Bay Holidays (www.lymebayholidays.co.uk, property code A4409).

This sounds like an advert, doesn’t it? I promise it’s not. It’s just a great place where I have not only written tons, but also got the idea for my new book, The Foster Husband, which is partly set in Lyme as a result.

I hope it might prove equally inspiring for you.

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