Today, we are concluding our series on upgrading or moving your office. I hope this series has helped you decide whether to stay in your current office space or look for a new one.

Whatever you decide, remember that the most important thing is to do what’s right for YOUR situation. Everybody’s family life, living situation, budget, and way of working are different.

Now we come to the final thing I want you to consider when deciding whether to rent an outside office space. It’s a factor maybe you haven’t considered, but it’s an important one. Are there networking opportunities with real, live people in your current office location?

If you work from home, the answer is no. You have to go to other places to interact with real people (with the exception of your family or the occasional solicitor who comes by).

But if you want to grow your network in your community, and you’re looking at a potential office, think about what kinds of people hang out there. Can they help you grow your business? Do they know your potential clients, customers, or readers? Do you know people whom they need to know?

I know that as introverted writers, we are most concerned with having a quiet space where we can do our work. But being a writer isn’t just about retreating from the world. If you want to have a business that impacts your local community, consider the kinds of people you will interact with in your physical office location.

The office I just started to rent is located in a building that’s a mix of a couple of different companies. The top floor is home to a real estate office, with about a dozen offices rented by different businesses. The bottom level of the building is occupied by a contractor who has a couple of dozen people working there.

The office next door to mine is rented by a counselor who has clients several days a week. I’ve seen a few other building tenants with various businesses.

In the last few weeks, I’ve had conversations with several people. They know what I do, and I know what they do. It’s been refreshing to spend some time in a place where I get to have random conversations with people who do different kinds of work than I do.

There is a mutual benefit to looking out for others who can benefit from their services. I’m looking for clients or people who will benefit from other people’s services. Likewise, I’m pretty sure I’m the only ghostwriter and author coach most of them know. As a result, they will automatically think of me when they run across people who need my services.

A lot of writers love the idea of working from home and only interacting with real, live humans when they venture out of the house to the gas station or grocery store. I hope you won’t default to that type of existence. There is immense value in getting out in the real world, with real, live people, and being part of your community.

And I would argue that as a writer, you have the RESPONSIBILITY to mix it up with people in your area. How can you possibly stay curious and creative if you just want to stay home all the time?

And as a business owner (yes, you DO have a writing business if you sell books!), I’d also argue that you have a responsibility to improve the quality of life for the people in your area. None of us exists as a silo; we are all part of a broader community of people who live and work together.

As the poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” No woman is, either. So, if you’re considering getting an office outside the home, think about how many people you will have the opportunity to interact with in that location.

And if you plan on working from home or going to coffee shops sometimes, make an effort to spend some time around other people. Get to know them. Ask questions. Invest in relationships.

What you’ll learn, and how you will grow, will improve your creativity and writing in lots of ways!

Today’s Challenge: Whether you’re getting an outside office or working from home, make an effort to interact with real humans and be part of your broader community.