The world of writing is a tapestry woven with unique stories of creativity. Just as Stephen King found solace in a laundry closet and J. K. Rowling sought warmth in a cafe, writers often craft their tales in the most unexpected places. As I embarked on the journey of my first novel, Who put Bella in the wych elm?, I too discovered my own haven for creativity.

In a bustling life that oscillates between teaching and developing websites, finding the coveted moments to write became a riddle. Emulating the night-owl dedication of King seemed unfeasible, considering my day job and side hustle consumed most of my waking hours. But where there’s a will, there’s a way.

My solution took an unconventional form—my daily commute, sometimes as long as 2-3 hours a day. As an adopted Praguer, I traversed the city on public transport, granting me precious hours amid the chaos. While the privacy of a closet or cafe wasn’t an option, technology bridged the gap. With my trusty Apple AirPods and a playlist of eerie horror soundtracks, I created my own cocoon of creativity within the city's hustle and bustle.

Horror movie scores, particularly those from Woman in Black, played on loop, transporting me from the confines of public transit to the eerie landscapes of my novel. This auditory escape drowned out the urban cacophony, allowing my thoughts to flow seamlessly onto the digital canvas.

Now, the method I used to write might raise eyebrows—yes, I penned approximately 60% of both draft 1 and draft 2 on my iPhone. The thumb dance across the screen became my creative ritual, forcing me to slow down and refine my ideas. Though this approach extended my writing time, it enhanced the quality of my thoughts, making every word deliberate and purposeful.

The app that facilitated this unconventional process was Ulysses, a dedicated writing application that seamlessly syncs between my iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Ulysses' distraction-free mode whisked away the clutter, leaving only my words on the screen, evoking the intimate connection of pen and paper.

So, while my dream of a tranquil writer's den may be on the horizon, my current reality thrives on public transport with my AirPods blaring and my thumb dancing on my iPhone screen. As I bring Who put Bella in the wych elm? to its finale and chart the course for my next novel, my creative haven continues to be wherever I can carve a space amidst the chaos of life, proving once again that inspiration thrives in the unlikeliest of corners.

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