Noise. It’s the biggest barrier I come across when it comes to writing.

I’m not just talking about the neighbours’ kids or their relentless DIY projects. Modern life is noisy everywhere you go. From the ghouls who refuse to use headphones on public transport (and have inane conversations over loudspeaker rather than putting their mobile to their ear – don’t get me started), to blaring advertisements on TV and the cacophony of ‘hot takes’ on social media, we’re being bombarded 24/7. There’s the visual ‘noise’ of all those pop-ups and ads when you visit a website, and there’s the noise in our own heads, telling us to do more, try harder, hustle, be bigger, better, louder, succeed.

It's exhausting, over-stimulating, and it’s toxic when it comes to creativity. Developing ideas, solving plot riddles and giving your characters the chance to speak to you – to hear their voices, tentative and nervous as they often are to start with – requires space and requires peace.

Some authors are lucky – I have friends who can happily write in buzzing cafes, or on trains. I’ve never been able to. The only thing that works for me is quiet focus, in my office at the back of the house. But even then, it can be challenging. Here are my top tips for finding your quiet place…

1. The mobile has to go. It must be in a different room and switched to silent. Unless you literally have a loved one in hospital, there’s nothing that urgent that can’t be left for a few hours. If you’re of a certain age, you got through the 80’s and at least half the 90s perfectly fine without it. You’ve got this.

2. For me, peace isn’t just about literal quiet but also about being at peace. I need to feel relaxed. My best writing days are when I don’t scroll social media first thing (winding myself up in the process) but instead read a couple of chapters of a fun novel. A cup of coffee. Some breakfast. A nice shower gel (I’m serious). For me, it’s about all the senses finding their peaceful place. I changed the lightbulb in my office to one with a warmer glow, rather than a harsher white light. A candle. There’s something about a flame which always relaxes me – it’s some kind of elemental thing, I guess. My favourite pen. It’s a nice one. A fountain pen, blue ink, quite heavy. This may all seem like surface nonsense, but it’s the nice stuff which helps me feel peaceful. Ready to write.

3. Slow down. Modern life encourages us to go faster, but it does you no favours. Creatively, it puts me in panic mode, unable to see the wood for the trees. It’s also bad stress-wise. Breathe. Notice things. The solutions to most creative problems surround us constantly – we’re just too busy to see them.

4. Allow yourself to be bored. Into that vacuum, ideas and characters will come.

5. On that note, Agatha Christie (apparently) once said, ‘The best time to plan a book is while you’re doing the dishes.’ I’m not sure if she really did say that (that phrasing sounds American to me, surely she would have said ‘washing up’ if she said it at all), but the sentiment is nevertheless true. A mundane task is perfect for sparking creativity. Some of my best lightbulb moments have happened while I’ve been cooking or (my preferred option) pacing back and forth in my kitchen, with a glass of wine while waiting for the oven timer to go off. Giving your brain some other physical task to occupy it (as long as it’s mundane and requires minimal processing power) allows the other thoughts to creep in. This is when I solve my biggest plot twists and really ‘hear’ the voices of my characters.

And a few things for some quick peace:

1. A walk outside – find some nature.

2. A ten-minute meditation – I use the Calm app.

3. Listen to some classical music.

4. Read.

Despite being a writer, I’m always surprised just how effective that last one is. The process of getting completely lost in another world is perfect for stilling the mind. TV and film just isn’t the same. It’s nourishing too – I always turn to other books when I’m struggling to write my own. It’s genuine soul food.

With peace comes creativity. We all have to fight to create peace in today’s world, but I hope you find yours.

The quiet life

Social media is dead!