“The silence before you strike and the noise afterwards. It rises up like a storm”.
— Proximo, The Gladiator
In a quiet garden in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, there stands an unremarkable little brick shed. It doesn’t look like much, as far as garden sheds go. But this particular shed was the birthplace of some of the most beloved characters in all of children’s literature. Wonka. Matilda. The BFG. This is where they first saw the light of day.
In this quaint and isolated little structure, Roald Dahl created a mentally quiet place. A simple and uncluttered environment, a breeding ground for ideas, with the unique ability to flush out the noise of life. And make no mistake, to the human imagination, mental noise is poison.
Dahl's shed underscores the profound connection between a quiet and unencumbered mind and creativity. Unlike the sterile confines of a traditional office, the shed was a whimsical retreat, brimming with eccentricities and personal touches. As far away from the din and clatter of the world as one could imagine.
Honestly though, if you were to visit the shed today, I have a feeling you’d be disappointed. In his recent biography of Dahl, “Storyteller,” Donald Sturrock writes about his first visit to Roald’s shed:
“He opened the door to the hut and I went inside. An anteroom, stuffed with old picture frames and filing cabinets, led directly to his writing space. The walls were lined with aged polystyrene foam blocks for insulation. Everything was yellow with nicotine and reeked of tobacco. A carpet of dust, pencil shavings and cigarette ash covered the worn linoleum floor. A plastic curtain hung limply over a tiny window. There was almost no natural light.”
Bleak, I know.
But Roald saw something else entirely.
“You become a different person, you are no longer an ordinary fellow who walks around and looks after his children and eats meals and does silly things, you go into a completely different world. I personally draw all the curtains in the room, so that I don’t see out the window and put on a little light which shines on my board. Everything else in your life disappears and you look at your bit of paper and get completely lost in what you’re doing. You do become another person for a moment. Time disappears completely. You may start at nine in the morning and the next time you look at your watch, when you’re getting hungry, it can be lunchtime. And you’ve absolutely no idea that three or fours hours have gone by.”
I’m guessing you’re not likely to build your own quiet shed anytime soon. But that’s no reason you can’t follow in Roald’s footsteps.
Find Your Quiet Place: Identify a quiet and peaceful corner in your home or another tranquil setting where you can retreat from distractions. This space should be separate from your everyday environment, providing a sense of separation and focus.
Behold The Naked Work Space Keep it minimalistic and uncluttered, similar to Dahl's writing hut. Remove unnecessary distractions and decorate with simple, yet meaningful, items that inspire you.
Connect with Nature: If possible, locate your creative space near a window with a view of nature or incorporate elements of nature into the decor. Surround yourself with plants, natural light, and calming colors. Sounds all New Age-y but it works.
Rituals Make A Difference: Develop a ritual or routine to signal the beginning of your creative time. This could involve brewing a cup of tea, lighting a candle, or playing soft music to set the mood and transition into a creative mindset.
Technology Is Way Too Loud: Ban all digital devices and screens in your creative space to reduce distractions and foster deep concentration. Draconian as hell. No exceptions. Consider implementing designated "tech-free" hours or using apps to block distracting websites during your creative sessions.
Everywhere You Look, Inspiration: Surround yourself with objects, artwork, books, or quotes that inspire and fuel your creativity. Personalize the space with items that hold special meaning to you and evoke positive emotions.
The Door Stays Shut: Set boundaries around your creative space to protect it from outside disruptions and interruptions. Communicate your need for uninterrupted time to focus and create, and establish clear guidelines with others in your household. No phone calls. No boo boo’s that need tending. No nothing.
Now Is All That Matters: Cultivate mindfulness and presence during your creative sessions by focusing on the task at hand and immersing yourself fully in the creative process. Let go of distractions and worries, allowing yourself to be fully present in the moment.
Creativity First: Make a commitment to prioritize creativity in your life by dedicating regular time to your creative pursuits. Whether it's writing, painting, crafting, or any other form of expression, carve out dedicated time in your schedule to nurture your creativity and explore your passions.
The world is bursting with noise. Now more than ever. Climate change. War. Polarization. AI. It’s deafening. And it will drown out even the most brilliant ideas if you let it. If only the human imagination came with noise cancelling. It doesn’t. But thats no reason you can’t find your own way to turn down the volume.