How I Fired Up My Novel In the Sonoran Desert

I love Arizona and its people.

I love Arizona and its people. I’ve met so many wonderful campers living out in the Sonoran Desert on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management). There is enough space here for everyone to have solitude if you so choose to be alone. This silence is a character in itself.

It’s Awe-Inspiring

It’s an awe-inspiring quiet that swallows the noise of the world, leaving only the whisper of the wind and the wonderful chatter of my fictional voices in my head. It’s easy to make my characters come alive out here in the desert.

As a writer, I crave inspiration not just from within, but from the world around me. Arizona showcases some dramatic landscape with its fiery sunsets that paint the sky in hues of orange and purple and the starry nights fuel my imagination.

Living and writing in my camper van is my intentional choice, but every inch of space has to be optimized for both creativity and comfort. The fewer possessions I own, the happier I am. Rebecca, my friend, insists on removing an item for every new one brought in.

With the affordability of the Internet everywhere I go; I find it easy to organize my writing tools. My Ram ProMaster, with its high roof and versatile interior, has become my perfect mobile writing studio. But maintaining a productive workflow in a compact environment requires a bit of strategy.

Organizing My Mobile Writing Nook

It's something I learned a while back; “a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind.”

So, here are a few tips I’ve learned to keep my rolling office organized and conducive to creativity.

Create a Dedicated Zone for Writing

I have a 24”x 30” drop down table connected to the wall with a piano hinge. This is my writing space and designated solely for writing and drinking coffee. When I’m in that spot, it’s time to work. The mental separation is crucial . I keep highlighters, favorite pens, images, computer, paper, notebooks, cheat sheets, etc at my fingertips. Most of them hang on the wall in a pouch so not to clutter my desk. I keep organized this way so I don’t get frustrated searching for a tool I may need. I don’t want anything to interfere with my creative flow.

Go Vertical

In a camper van, floor space is gold. I hang fabric organizers for notebooks and research materials, plus I have a bookshelf attached above my bed for books on creative writing, which I reference daily.

Embrace Digital and Binders

I’ve digitized much of my research to save space. I keep MasterWriter open on my computer for word search. It’s a great program..

Multi-Purpose is the key

I use my writing desk to drink coffee, but usually I eat my meals outside, so I can take in the beauty of nature. It’s outstanding to take in the open blue sky or watch the rain and listen to the thunder. Nothing opens up my creativity more.

I’ve discovered combining travel, creative writing and the freedom of van life offers me a full-filling life style.

I travel alone with my Tibetan Terrier, socialize with strangers I meet along the path. I’m never lonely. I check in with my daughters or my sister almost every day and watch documentaries that also help spark my imagination.

And then there’s Substack! I friend my favorite writers and always look forward to their next post. So you see, there’s a lot to look forward too and not enough hours in the day to get it all done.

Take care!

Kindly,

Carol