You Need To Try Writing In The Bathroom

(Laptop may or may not be required)

Photo by Shawn Ang on Unsplash

I don’t mean while I’m, you know, doing my business.

I mean if I go into the bathroom with my computer and just start typing. Yeah, that’s the stuff.

I’m writing to you in my bathroom right now.

Figured I’d get in the right mindset for this particular article, and no I’m not joking about any of this.

Here’s Why I Think Writing In The Bathroom Is A Good Idea

Your bathroom. Picture it in your mind. Go in there right now if you can. I know it’s weird to think of a bathroom as a good place to write considering, well, what happens in there.

But the reason I love writing in my bathroom is because I, for some reason, write like the wind inside of it.

I get lost in the act of writing.

Why?

I have a theory.

It’s because it’s a relatively small room that’s quiet and lacks distractions. There’s a reason we bring our phones into the bathroom. Because it’s boring in there. What are we going to do, read the description on the back of the soap?

No. We’re not.

We’re going to watch Youtube videos.

The rest of my house is a goldmine of distractions. The sheer amount of things to look at is mind-boggling, and my primitive mind can’t stop my eyes from darting around like a bee.

In my bathroom, there is absolutely nothing going on. Here in Mexico, I really enjoy going in the bathroom during rainy season. No distractions, some good white noise, and a laptop screen that’s just the right brightness in the dark..

It’s beautiful.

You Could Do This Somewhere Else, Too

Any room that’s sort of small. You could go into a closet if it were big enough.

Just keep that in mind.

Where We Write Is Very Important

Try writing in an airport. Or a cafe. I mean, sure, I can will myself to write in such crazy places, but then again I spend significant time looking at all the people in the room multiple times, too.

Because my eyes track movement like a heat seeking missile.

If you like writing in a cafe, great. I’m not saying it’s impossible, or even a bad idea. However, the best writing for me is born out of an environment which lacks distractions.

And a noisy cafe with 10–15 people in it isn’t it for me personally.

Where we do things is important.

I remember the first time I ever played a football game underneath the lights. It was legendary. I felt like I was some sort of a star or something. It was different from all the day games I played and meaningless practices I had to slog through in the afternoon sun.

Underneath the lights I seemed to play so much better.

I think WHERE we do things is just as important as HOW we do things. And when we’re talking writing, WHERE can have a huge impact on both story and speed.

No distractions = less time writing

No distractions = feeling isolated, melancholy even, and at one with your story.

Write In The Bathroom Sometime

It’s weird advice. I know. But then again, writing is quite weird, isn’t it? Putting incredibly personal shit that’s in our head on paper for a stranger to read.

It’s weird.

And to get the best stuff out of our heads, we sometimes have to do weird things.

Get into your bathroom. Turn off the lights. Get the brightness up. Throw your phone on your bed. And don’t come out until you’re done.

I’m serious.

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