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.

The post Office Space: Are There Networking Opportunities? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times in this series, I recently started renting an office down the street from my house. Why? A couple of reasons were that I wanted to be more creative and productive. I also wanted to put myself in a more professional environment.

Those things are true, but to be brutally honest, a big reason why I got a new office was because of three barking dogs.

I’m not sure what it is about Missouri, but it seems like almost every household has at least one dog. However, not every household with a dog has a good owner. Over the last two years of working from home, I have spent quite a bit of time trying to drown out the noise of three dogs in my immediate neighborhood.

The owners don’t seem to have enough social awareness or consideration to realize that leaving their dogs outside to bark incessantly for long periods of time is perhaps not something they should do.

Yes, there are ways to deal with barking dogs, but in suburban Missouri, it’s like playing whack-a-mole. If you deal with one, another will pop up immediately. So, I’ve just dealt with barking dogs as best I can.

But when I had the chance to get a new office, I was thrilled because I wouldn’t have to listen to barking dogs anymore. And to be honest, the longer I worked from home, the more the barking bothered me, to the point where it was having a negative effect on my mental health.

I know this all probably sounds petty, but having someplace to go has been a game-changer for me. In my new space, I hear people in other offices talking sometimes, and I hear the dull roar of traffic on the nearby highway, but those things are actually a comfort, not an irritation. It’s nothing like barking dogs.

Think about your current work area or the office you might be considering renting. How quiet is it? Can you concentrate? Or are there factors such as barking dogs or other noises that make it harder?

You might have a higher tolerance than I do for disruptive noises. If so, that’s fantastic! I consider that a gift. But if you are easily distracted by noise and disruptions, is there another space where you can work? Maybe there’s a solution to help prevent the noise?

If so, take it into consideration. Your thinking and concentration are pretty important parts of what you do as a writer.

Today’s Challenge: Be honest about the level of disruption and noise in your current work area. Is it enough for you to consider switching locations?

The post Office Space: Is it Quiet Enough to Write? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

So far, we’ve talked about the factors of pricing and location. Now let’s dive into something hard to define, but still important when you are considering the quality of your office space: the environment.

I’m referring to two things: the physical environment, as well as the emotional and social one.

The physical environment is the area around your office. Do you like the neighborhood? Is it safe and well-kept? Does the office space have amenities like a kitchen, copier, clean bathrooms, or a parking lot with good access?

The emotional and social environment is also important. What are the people like? Are they friendly? If it’s a co-working space, are they keen on helping each other? Do you like the general vibe?

A couple of years ago, when I knew I was leaving my college job, I checked out a local co-working space in the next town over. I immediately got a snobbish vibe, like the owners thought they were the coolest cats in town. I didn’t feel welcomed.

On the other hand, last year I rented an office at a different co-working space for a month and loved it. The people were super friendly and the vibe of the space was fantastic. They held a lot of community events at their space and it was clear they really cared about people.

However, I didn’t rent an office there because the only ones they had available were slightly bigger than a shoe box. Another checkmark against that space was their policy that you could only work there during business hours. That was a big NO in my book because I often like to work on Saturday mornings or, occasionally, in the evening.

I like the vibe of the space where I am now. It’s close to my house, and the owners and property manager are all super nice. Yet, it’s also a professional environment, so it has lifted me up to another level just by being in this space. In addition, I can come and go anytime I like, day or night.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your environment doesn’t matter. It matters greatly. As much as it depends on you, choose to work and write in a space that values you and helps lift you to another level.

And if you are just fine working from home, that’s great also. But be honest with yourself: are you happy with that environment? If not, what can you do to improve it? You may want to revisit the series we just finished on clearing the clutter.

Today’s Challenge: Whether you’re working from home or considering an outside space, think about the physical and emotional environment. Is it helping you be more productive and have a better state of mind? If not, what can you do to change or improve it?

The post Office Space: What’s the Environment? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

We’re talking about the location of your office. As they say in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location.

Let’s think about this from two angles. The first angle is for those of you considering getting an outside office.

Obviously, the neighborhood of the office is a factor. But mostly, I want you to think about the distance from your home. How far are you willing to commute to an office?

For years, I drove 25 minutes each way to the college where I taught. That was a perfect distance because I could listen to almost an hour of podcasts every day or dictate a bunch of writing.

Your mileage may vary. Before renting an office, you need to decide how far you’re willing to drive. Knowing this ahead of time helps narrow down your options. My current office is just a two-minute drive from my home. I’m glad I held out for something that is ultra-convenient.

Now let’s think about the second angle, which is for those of you working from home. Location can be a factor for you, too. My home office started in a spare bedroom upstairs in our house. Then, as my son got older, he wanted a bigger room, so we switched.

In the last year, I seriously considered building an office in our basement just to have more of a separation between work and home. And I may still do that at some point if I decide to work from home again in the future.

Maybe you don’t have an extra bedroom for an office in your house. Even if you currently write at the kitchen table, is there any other space in your home you could use for a writing area? Could you convert a little nook somewhere? Could you set up an area in your garage or basement? You always have options for creating a writing area you like better.

It’s also worth remembering that many famous writers have only worked with a typewriter or computer and a random desk. At the end of the day, all you really need is something to write, and something to write with. But if you can support your writing with a better location, then so much the better.

Today’s Challenge: Think about where you currently write. Is there a better location, either in a separate office away from your home, or by improving or switching locations at home?

The post Office Space: Does It Have a Good Location? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

When I was a kid, I watched the game show “The Price is Right” all the time. The show is still on today, although Bob Barker hasn’t been the host in quite a while.

The basic idea of “The Price is Right” is that contestants have to guess the correct price of an item in order to win.

The same is true when you’re considering the price of an office outside the home. If the price isn’t right, it’s not going to work. So, the first element I want you to think about for an office is whether you can afford it.

When I was looking for an office recently, my limit was $500/month. I was not willing to spend any more than that. Fortunately, my current office is $400/month because I signed up for a longer lease period.

Hang on, though. As they say on infomercials, “But wait, there’s more!”

I’ll admit my ignorance here. When I inquired about my current office, I didn’t realize there would be other costs. Let me break it down for you.

1. There is something called “triple net,” which I’d never heard of. It means that certain costs of building upkeep are split between renters. For me, that’s about $30/month.
2. I didn’t realize I needed renter’s insurance as well. Turns out, I do! That’s another $35/month.
3. Turns out the Wi-Fi in this building is pretty bad, so if I wanted good, solid internet, I needed to have it installed myself. That’s another $60/month. I mistakenly assumed that when you rent an office, fast Wi-Fi is automatically part of the deal.

Those were all surprises to me, but there were some other costs I HAD anticipated, like the duplicate cords, cables, and office accessories I would need to set up a second office. I had most of these from my old college office, but I took the opportunity to upgrade my desk mat and Apple mouse and keyboard. I also bought a couple of bookshelves for my new office.

So, all told, I’m in for a little over $500/month, plus around $300 I’ve spent on some accessories and duplicate items for a second office.

Is it worth it? For me, it’s a no-brainer. The new sense of energy and productivity I feel has been priceless. I could never get that by staying at home all day or going from random coffee shop to random coffee shop.

The expenses I’ve listed might be out of your range right now. No worries. But I’d also ask you this: what is the price of staying in your current situation? If you don’t feel productive or happy in a home office, maybe it’s time to consider switching it up.

I also want to add that renting an office is not the only solution for working outside the home. You might also consider some businesses or churches in your area that have vacant offices and would be willing to cut a deal.

Before signing the lease on my current office, I strongly considered approaching some churches in your area about using an office a few days a week in exchange for doing some writing or content work for them. There are lots of creative solutions!

But don’t just take my word for it. Everyone’s situation is different. For me, renting an office was the right step. It might not be for you. I just ask that you consider whether you’re happy with your current work area, and what you could do to change it.

Today’s Challenge: Think about what you would be willing to spend on an office outside the home. On the flip side, if you’re not happy working from home, think about what it might be costing you in terms of mental health or productivity.

The post Office Space: Is the Price Right? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

First, a little background. I was a college professor for almost two decades before becoming a ghostwriter, author, and writing coach. Every day, I commuted 25 minutes to school and 25 minutes back home in the afternoon.

That commute, as well as having an office outside the home, was so baked into my life that I didn’t realize how much I’d miss it when I started working in my business full-time a couple of years ago.

Working from home was fun at first. I’m saving money on gas! I can work whenever I want! I can work in my pajama pants if I choose! (Except for Zoom calls, when I would frequently have a dress shirt on top… and pajama pants on the bottom.)

But over time, especially in the last six months, I started to feel like a prisoner in my own home. Even introverts like me can only be cooped up for so long before you start to lose a sense of reality.

I had been looking for an office outside the home for a while. Then a few weeks ago, I came across a listing on Facebook marketplace for an office just down the road from my house. It was exactly what I had been looking for, so I signed a lease and moved in immediately.

Since getting a separate office, I have felt a real breath of fresh air in my mental health and mindset. I’m more focused and productive, and I’ve been able to set better boundaries on my work time.

In this short series, I want to share my experience in getting an outside office and help you think through five important factors to consider when upgrading your current home office, or getting one outside the home.

Just so you know where I’m coming from, let me shoot straight with you. I believe the idea of a bohemian “laptop lifestyle” for writers is highly overrated. Yes, you can skirt around to different coffee shops all day long, getting a little writing done here and there, but that’s not how most true professionals work. You need to have a time and place to write, as well as a routine to help you get the work done.

Your writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes place in real time and space, and within the context of your busy life. The area where you work matters greatly.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode, where we’ll dive into the most obvious factor you need to consider when thinking about an office space.

Today’s Challenge: Ask yourself whether you’re really content in your current writing space. Is it time to consider an upgrade or a move?

The post Office Space: Why Your Work Area Matters appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.