✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: You Are *Where* You Write
How environment affects your creativity.
Happy Sunday! In today’s newsletter, you’ll read about…
✍️ How to pick the best place to write
☕️ How environment affects creativity
😎 The elements that make up a great writing spot
📖 3-Minute Story: You Are *Where* You Write
This is my view from LAB Coffeeshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In the trendy neighborhood of Palermo, coffeeshops don’t open until 9am — this is a city of night owls.
Prices are affordable too, here: a full breakfast for my partner and myself costs just $7 for two orange juices, avocado toast, a coffee drink for me, and a croissant.
What I love about this writing spot is that it has bar seating — which doubles as a standing desk! — at this oak bar overlooking the street. Sunlight drips in during the mornings, and I can people-watch as morning blends into afternoon.
I’m picky about my writing spots because you are your environment.
I love to write in places that:
Have a low hum of ambient noise. Whether that’s an outdoor courtyard with a bubbling fountain or a just-below-bustling coffeeshop, noise at a certain decibel level improves creativity and focus.
Are filled with light and high ceilings. The cathedral effect improves creative thinking and allows you to pursue more ambitious ideas.
Have good food and good coffee. If possible, I like to start with coffee and then transition to brunch/lunch across four hours spent at one coffeeshop. It keeps me in the zone and allows me to be more productive compared to breaking my focus to go and get lunch somewhere else.
Be picky when you’re looking for a place to set down your laptop. Your words — and ambitions — will thank you.
✨ 2 Quotes to Inspire You
"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." — Edward de Bono
"Innovation is born from the interaction between constraint and vision." — Marissa Mayer
✍️ 1 Journal Prompt for Reflection
When — and where — do you feel the most creative? What is it about that place that sparks your creative buzz?
Feel free to share your reflections in the comments:
💻 New Blog Posts on AmySuto.com
📚 New Chapters of My Thriller Novel Let Me Be Your Ghost
📸 Photo of the Week: My Reading Goal This Year
I just set my reading goal of 100 books for this year, and started off strong by finished Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper (highly recommend!) What are you reading this year?
Follow me on X/Twitter or Instagram for more!
⚡️ Upcoming Wednesday Edition: Is AI Really About to Replace All Creative Jobs?
This Wednesday, ✍️ From the Desk of Amy Suto paid subscribers will get an exclusive issue about…
✨ AI-generated novels are winning awards — but are they worth reading?
🧪 What will a writer’s life look like in a world dominated by AI?
📚 How to safeguard your work as a creative
Sending creativity and good writing vibes your way,
-Amy
p.s. I create my newsletter voiceovers and my podcast episodes using the tool Wondercraft AI, a text-to-speech tool that speaks in YOUR voice. 🎙 Use my code SUTO50 or this link to get 50% off your Wondercraft AI subscription! (paid/affiliate link)
Formentera is amazing, but I also love Madrid (Malasaña or Chueca neighborhood cafes) and Barcelona. Plus, Zamora is an undiscovered treasure. :)
As one of my mentors often says "environment dictates performance".
That view is gorgeous. I could see myself writing in a space like that.
I'm a big fan of bright natural light coming through a big window (unless I'm already seated outdoors), ambient noise, inspiring view of nature (water and/or trees), and cool-ish temperature (nice breeze outside or A/C if I'm indoors).