Andrea Boeshaar has been married for over thirty years. She and her husband, Daniel, have three grown sons and four grandchildren. She’s been writing stories and poems since she was a little girl. To date, she has more than twenty-five novels, numerous novellas, and nonfiction pieces published. Andrea served on the Advisory Board of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and is one of the organization’s cofounders. She is represented by literary agent Steve Laube. In addition to her own writing, Andrea is a certified life coach and helps writers organize, prioritize, set goals, and work toward publication. For more about Andrea, visit her Website at www.andreaboeshaar.com.

This month my column is all about authors’ workspaces. I’ll jump “write in” with the question.

Q: Dear Andrea: I’m in my twenties and feel God is calling me to write a novel. My husband suggested that I wait to write it until I can afford to rent an office. Is that what most authors do?

Jackie in Ohio

A: Dear Jackie: No! You don’t have to wait for a rented office. You can write anywhere! It doesn’t have to be formal or fancy.

I have a home office. But I didn’t at first. It wasn’t until the last of my sons got married and moved out that I got my own office. Of our three bedrooms, one is designated as my workspace.

But it’s not state-of-the-art. I work on a scuffed up oak desk, built in the days of solid wood, and it weighs a ton. My mother used to own an auction gallery and the desk once stood in her office, with a matching credenza (I have it too). Certainly, you wouldn’t find this furniture in a penthouse office suite. But, folks, they just don’t craft furniture this well anymore! For that reason (and for the memory factor) I love it and it’s part of my workspace.

As for the rest of the décor, it’s a hodgepodge of framed artwork and other memorabilia. On the bulletin board, I have pictures of friends and family, including my precious grandchildren. I’ve tacked up silk flowers from weddings and Bible verses that help to keep my thoughts on Christ.

I also have a painting that my eleven-year-old niece made for me on my fiftieth birthday. I’ve entitled it “Celebrate.” My great-aunt Agnes painted a picture decades ago that’s called “Storm.” I inherited it from my grandfather’s cousin, and I cherish it. I’ve hung it on the wall near the window of my workspace. My aunt Naya Rydzewski, a noted artist in Key West, painted a beach scene just for me. It occupies the wall directly across from “Storm” (I thought it quite appropriate). In addition, I’ve framed a few of my book covers and hung up an award I received from ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

Impressive? Hardly. Are these things in my workspace of great value? Probably not. But they are priceless to me, and they make me feel creative. That’s not to say I draw upon these items for creativity. I don’t. My gift of writing and creating comes from the Lord and through much prayer. Simply put, I enjoy feeling surrounded by the finished products of artistic loved ones.

I must admit that sometimes my health issues get in the way of my ability to sit in my office and work. When that’s the case and still the deadline looms, I go to office #2 . . . and everyone’s got one (an office #2, that is).

Yep. Grab that laptop and crawl under the covers! I’d be interested in learning just how many authors write in their bedrooms. I’m sure there are plenty who do!

The question to consider when selecting a workspace is where do you feel the most creative? At the kitchen table near the window so you have a view of your garden? In the corner of the living room? At the dining room table?

Years ago, my husband and I toured the poet Carl Sandburg’s home in North Carolina. His workspace is adjacent to what was his bedroom, and we learned Mr. Sandburg preferred to work at night. I took heart when I surveyed his organized mess. The tour guide said that wherever Mr. Sandburg worked, there were piles of papers, files, and books. Sometimes he worked on orange crates as opposed to his desk or a table.

Not exactly hoity-toity, is it?

So, getting back to our question this month. Do you need to wait to write your novel until you can afford to rent an office? Definitely not! Most of us Christian authors would still be waiting to write our first novels if that were the case.

Just find yourself a creative space somewhere, fire up your computer, and write!

If you’ve got a question about writing, publishing, or about your favorite Christian fiction authors, send it to: andrea@andreaboeshaar.com.

Meanwhile, read on!