Nature Hideaways (where I do my writing)

I love writing outdoors. My perfect ‘office’ has a view, somewhere to rest a mug or thermos of tea or coffee, and a comfortable spot to sit cross legged with my computer perched on a portable lap top stand which travels around the world with me. I’ve written in trees, in tucked away garden nooks, in the forest, on mountain tops. It’s not necessary but it’s fun. I love to have a view. I love to be outdoors. And I love to change up my perspective.

Here are a few pictures of some of my favourite writing places. Beauty and nature are soothing. My mind feels better for both in large doses.

Isleta El Espino, Granada, Nicaragua. I spent 4 days on my own on this tiny island writing, writing, writing and writing.

This was my writing office view the first three months we lived in Nicaragua. And yes, it almost daily, came with a rainbow. It was the perfect, spacious, enlightening view. When we moved out of this house I was worried my writing would go downhill but it didn’t. I’ve come to understand although I love and seek out writing hideaways in nature I don’t need them. The writing comes wherever I am as long as I have thinking space, and that, is a construct of my own mind.

The crisp fresh air of the rocky mountain foothills is incredible. This was late May. Warmth had found its way to my deck. When the kids were at school this was my favourite writing spot. Surrounded by chirping parrot like evening grosbeaks, squirrels and the heady scent of pine trees. It was a good place to write.

This little corner nook was outside my cabin on Isleta el Espino. I sat looking out over the lake and mombacho volcano as I wrote every day.

This staircase winds its way up a big, beautiful Ceiba tree to a platform. It’s at a resort called ‘tree casa’ - on occasion, I’ll drive there for the day and settle in to write in the trees.

This is an every day spot - as in, it’s within the development we live in. It’s a couple of minutes walk from my front door. I take my tea and my computer and I settle in. The view is beautiful. On mondays and wednesdays the retirees wander past at 10 a/m and invite me to their water aerobics class. I politely decline. It’s a good spot away from distractions in the house. For me - these tucked away - out of the house - writing spots are as much about putting myself somewhere I have to write (as opposed to tidying, organising, tidying, procrastinating etc) - as well as surrounding myself with beauty.

In the Ceiba tree. Nicaragua.