Part 2 of the building of my tiny writer’s studio. Click here for part one.
In keeping with the KISS theory (Keep It Simple, Stupid), which always seems to work best for me, my husband and I decided the new studio would be pretty minimal. Many years ago, my father and I build some cabinets for our basement at home, and I wanted to used them for this project. Everything else was designed around them.
But first, it needed windows (and all the framing that goes along with that), insulation, wall coverings, flooring, and wiring. Having an electrician in the family didn’t hurt. Thank you, nephew!
My writing studio project was underway!
It had to be small, warm, and welcoming. It had to be rustic and charming. It had to be off-grid friendly and work with our solar system. It had to be mobile so if I move I can take it with me.
And it had to be cheap. Wait… bad choice of terms. Well within the limited budget I had for such a project. There, that sounds better.
A year later, it is all that—and so much more.
But let’s go back to the beginning. Life in a 700 square foot, one bedroom, one bathroom cabin that I share with my husband and three dogs doesn’t leave much for room space hogging writerly things like books (so many books!), desk, files, printers, and the big one: privacy.
I am not one of those writers who functions well in coffee shops or on subways. To be honest, I’ve never been on a subway in my life so I’m guessing here, but I know my best writing comes when I’m surrounded by the sounds of nature. A trickling stream, birds, wind in the trees. The noise of a radio, TV, or people pulls me out of that creative sweet spot when I’m in the zone.
The goal was a private place to write and unless I wanted to sequester myself in the cabin bathroom (which, face it, can only be private for so long) we had to look elsewhere. The combination of limited budget and limited time meant doing it ourselves, but with a head start. I have long been enamored with the tiny house movement, and the idea of a tiny writing studio on wheels was perfect.
Last winter we bought a used trailer and ordered a shed shell from a local company. And my tiny studio project had begun.
Elk hold a special place in my heart. They are wild, free, and majestic. They also have their silly, playful moments. To be close enough to smell them and hear the chirping calls of the cows to their calves is an unforgettable experience. A day among the elk is pure soulshine.
This was my day not long ago. And it was spectacular.