Your Monday mote

Do it standing up

From Life Magazine, January 1960: Hemingway at his standing writing desk on the balcony of a friend’s home near Malaga, Spain, where he wrote The Dangerous Summer.

Ernest Hemingway liked to write standing up.

Apparently, it helped him to maintain his focus and stamina, which in turn allowed him to channel more of his energy into his work.

The act of standing also created a sense of urgency, which meant that he was able to get his thoughts onto paper quickly and efficiently.

Hemingway believed that standing kept him from becoming too comfortable or complacent, a constant reminder that writing is a physical as well as a mental exercise. And of course, there are a few health benefits because it’s supposed to help with your posture and circulation.

There’s something undeniably dynamic about standing to write.

I’ve only ever had the chance to a standing desk once. It wasn’t an work of art like Ernie’s - it was from Ikea - but it did the job. And I enjoyed being able to stand, stretch and then sit down when I needed to.

However, Hemingway’s bespoke beauty of a desk is more than just a historical curiosity - it’s an inspiring example of how a simple change in routine can impact productivity and creativity.

So if you’re looking for a way to keep your writing, or at the very least your stance, fresh this week, why not do it standing up?

To paint a picture, I wrote this Monday mote earlier today, standing at a chest of drawers in my bedroom (because it was the right height, and the kitchen counter was too low). Yes, I felt like a bit of a pillock but it was also fun, particularly for the cat who looked most bemused.

By the way, can we have a moment for how contemporary Hemingway looks in that photo. The carefully coiffed hipster beard, the stripy boat-neck tee, the grey baggy pleated shorts and loafers wouldn’t look out of place in an artisan bakery in Hoxton.

Perhaps it’s time we all channel a little of Hemingway’s standing swagger into our writing routine.

*digs out stripy tee, grows beard*

Lisa

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” - Ernest Hemingway