Imogen Hermes Gowar: Where I Write

I spent a huge amount of my time researching in the British Library, and in the editing stage I often take myself to a cafe, but when it comes to writing I am quite particular about my environment – I want near-silence and a bit of space – so I do most of that at home. Before moving to my current flat, which has the luxury of a study, my favourite writing spot was always the dining table very late at night, or in the daytime when everyone was out. There’s something excitingly illicit about having a shared space all to oneself; doing my creating when the world was asleep felt like stepping outside of normal time. I’ve got a nice desk now but I still choose the dining room table sometimes.

What do you have on your desk?

In a best-case scenario, not too much, as I find that makes my head feel cluttered. I always have a scented candle or an oil burner, which I’m aware sounds incredibly poncy, but there it is. There’s too much opportunity for self-flagellation in my writing process; this is something nice I can do for myself, and it sets up a quiet, meditative environment.