My Writing Room by Keir Alexander

I work in a small study cum spare room in our small house in a village near Hastings. It’s cosy enough and Helly, my wife, made great curtains and decorated it to make it bright and pleasant to work in. That said, I’ve always been able to write anywhere – in cars and on trains, buses and planes. I could do it on a beach, but it wouldn’t go down well with Helly, who already puts up with me ‘going absent’ on her in all kinds of situations. I used to toy with the idea of being sent to prison, where I could not only write in peace, but would acquire excellent credentials. The trouble was, I couldn’t work out a guaranteed victimless crime to get me sent down.

Sometimes I carry my passages around in my head and ‘work’ on them while peeling the potatoes or washing the car. I’ve even done it in my sleep. I do like to have music on while working – all kinds from blues to rock to jazz to classical. One of my favourites at the mo is The Unthanks – traditional and contemporary folk, much of it Geordie, some of it experimental. 

For all this, I do not have a proper writing habit at present. Working as a teacher, I have little time in the week for my writing. I’d never write at school in my frees – my lessons would go to pot. Also, I’ve been working for ages on what to write next – testing out this idea and that, until I feel committed to enough to go with one. There’s been at least six rattling around in my head during the past year and I’m still not decided on the winner.

Keir Alexander’s book, The Ruby Slippers, is out now.