Undefinedwriter Behind the Scenes: My Writing Process, Workspace, and Methods

Typewriter: Part of the Process

The Story Behind the Man Behind the Blog

It occurred to me while drafting another post that I really haven’t discussed what makes me tick, my writing process, if you will. For the longest time, I didn’t know what my process was, or if I had one for that matter. The answer to that question was simple. I was overthinking it. Of course I have a process. It just came so naturally that it didn’t seem like a “process.” It just seemed like everyday routine. I’d sip my coffee at around the same time every morning, and while I did that, I’d work on drafting my latest project. 

Once the coffee was done, I’d go downstairs with my Chromebook and relax in my recliner as I continue to work on my project until lunch time. 

After lunch, it’s off to the office, headphones on and writing until it’s time to get ready for work, unless its an off day, in which case the time in the office is extended another hour with small breaks in between for my eyes. 

After 4-6 hours spent writing on a normal day, if not at work, I usually relax with a YouTube video or an article to inspire another project. Joe Van Cleave and David Perrell are great channels for inspiration. Joe is particularly engaging if you enjoy typewriters and office supplies, while David interviews writers about their processes, inspiration, and other parts of the craft. I find his channel both informative and entertaining, and recommend both his channel and Joe’s for inspiration. In today’s post, I’m going to give you an insde look into what makes me the writer I am and how the blog posts you read come to be.

The Morning Writing Process: Coffee, My Notebooks, and a Fresh Start to the Day

I have my alarm set to ring at 9:30am. That’s when my day begins. I grab my Chromebook along with either of my notebooks and fountain pens or my Kindle Scribe, and head to the kitchen to make coffee. While I make my coffee, I will do some stream of consciousness writing via either my fountain pen—either my Twisbi Eco or Lamy Safari lately—or my Kindle Scribe. Once my brain is warmed up, I open up the Chromebook and set to work on my latest project, whether that be a blog post for one or both of my blogs or a fiction piece. This part of the process varies by season.

In the winter months, you’ll find me sitting at the island in my kitchen, coffee on one side of me, notebook and pen or Scribe on the other. My Chromebook sits off to the side until my morning handwritten pages are done, then it switches places with my chosen handwriting tools of the day. That’s where the fun begins.

In contrast, you’ll find me in the spring and summer on the back patio, looking out over the field behind the house—either corn or beans depending on the year

Depending on the day and my mood, I may have headphones on listening to music or audiobooks, similar to what I do while I’m working. I’ll work on whatever project I’m working on at the time for an hour or whenever my coffee is empty, whichever comes first. Once the coffee is done, it’s back downstairs and on to the next part of my process.

After-Coffee Comfort Writing: The Chromebook and the Recliner

This part of the process is why I bought my Acer Chromebook 315. I wanted something that I could use while sitting in my recliner, and the combination of my Kindle Fire 10 and Adventurer’s Keyboard wasn’t cutting it. If I moved the wrong way while writing, the tablet would fall out of place. More annoying that it was worth, truth be told. The Chromebook has been a lifesaver for this part of the process. I work better when I’m comfortable. A lot of my finished projects were finished in this part of the process. But I have an office, and my PC gets plenty of work too.

After Lunch: Off to the Office

Besides my recliner writing setup, I have an office that is a converted bedroom. I will usually go there after I have lunch if the current version of my project isn’t done beforehand. This is where i typically do my sprints, 15 to 20-minute intervals of writing with brief breaks for my eyes. I’ll usually do that for about an hour before I take an extended break. The office is where I go if I have a house full of people and I want to have a closed door between myself and them. My office is near the back of the house on the lower level, so it’s easy to tune out sound from the rest of the house. I don’t spend a lot of time there compared to the kitchen and my recliner, but the office does a part in my process if I want to close myself off. 

Coffee Shops: A Rare but Welcome Change

I haven’t had a chance to write in a coffee shop since I started writing and blogging more often, but I see the benefits of it from the perspective of those who have. I see coffee shops as a a source of dialog, names, and different stimuli for the senses. The sound of conversation, the smells of coffee and baked goods, the bustle of people walking around, all sensory details that could inspire creativity. There are a couple of coffee shops a friend recommended that I will be checking out at my earliest opportunity. 

The Cabin on the Lake: Summer 2025 and My Writing Process

I wrote a blog post on my Blogger page about a vacation I took with my family last summer to Revel’s Resort north of Hayward, Wisconsin. I wrote several blog posts there, most of which were written sitting on the screened-in porch and looking out over the lake. It was there that I realized how badly I wanted to make the lakefront lifestyle my own. When I got home from that vacation, I was reinvigorated in more ways than one. Though I still struggle with keeping myself on a schedule, I feel like that vacation was the catalyst that brought everything into focus for me.

Common Ground: Bringing it All Together

What do all these spaces have in common? They all inspire me creatively in different ways. The coffee-fueled morning sessions—either at the kitchen island or on the back patio—get my day started the right way, guaranteeing a word count of some kind, no matter what the rest of the day brings. Comfort writing in my recliner is easy production, doing what I love with my feet up, it doesn’t get much better than that. When i need a little more structure to keep myself on track, I have my office where I can shut the door and lock the world away, reducing distractions. Then there’s the cabin on the lake, my ideal situation. Looking out over the lake with a cup of coffee as the sun comes up in the morning, or with a cold beer as it goes down at night, I remind myself what I’m working for, to make this dream a reality.

What is your writing process like? Do you have a daily writing routine? Do you have certain spaces in your home, or your favorite coffee shop, that inspires you? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. I would love to discuss it with you.