India Holton is a bestselling author from New Zealand. When she is not writing about dashing rouges and posh leading ladies in her cozy seaside cottage, she is wandering forests and beaches, boating, and sipping tea. Her fantasy romantic comedy novels feel fresh as the ocean breeze, with charming and humorous characters and passionate romances. Her newest novel, The Geographer’s Map to Romance, has a perfect balance of playfulness and adventure with a light academic feel to keep readers hooked on the love story unfolding.

Imagine you’ve come home after a tiresome day out in the world. You change into something warm and soft, put a delicious meal into the oven, then cuddle up in your favorite chair listening to quiet music while rain pours down outside. The delicious smells of cooking fill the gently lit room, and you know that soon you’re going to be wonderfully nourished—and that there may even be pudding for afters.

This is what a novel in the “cozy” sub-genre is to me, albeit in paper and ink form. (The proper definition is “feel-good stories with low stakes,” but I am incapable of passing up any opportunity to use an extended metaphor!)

Although the plot of such a novel can center on anything from wicked lady pirates or zombies to small-town bakers, it’s the author’s intention that makes it cozy. We want to make you feel warm—to quietly touch your heart or inspire laughter—and to ensure you close the book at the end with a comfortable sense of having been nourished.

Creating a Cozy Atmosphere

As a writer of cozy fantasy, creating such a novel is for me quite a personal endeavor, because I use myself and my life as a writing tool. Of course, authors do this on different levels when working in all genres, but I tend to be extra mindful about it when writing something cozy or light. I try to prime myself for treating the work with the gentle, benevolent attitude that I want to shine through the finished book.

For this reason, it’s an essential part of my process to create a lovely, snuggly coziness around me as I work. (Alas, it’s a hard job, but someone has to do it!) This isn’t just so I have a nice ambience to work in, although that’s a great side benefit! It’s a specific resource that I use, allowing me to draw from that ambience to inform, infuse, and shape the book.

It doesn’t take much. One very simple example: there’s always tea if I want it—a hug in a cup, fragrant and warming. Indeed, I usually start my writing sessions with tea or hot chocolate for this reason, even if I then switch to water. It’s less about wanting the drink than about wanting the feeling it inspires.

I thought I’d put together some tips on creating a cozy ambience for anyone who’s interested in supporting their work in this way—or in merely creating calm, soft comfort for themselves as they write. Of course, everyone’s idea of calm and softness is different; you might love to work in the quiet night, or you may find peace in a busy cafe. You might think red is the most serene color ever, whereas it makes my eyes scream. So please do take any of this as it suits you and change the details where needed.

As much as is practical, gentle your environment.

This may mean creating a separate room for writing, a dedicated nook in a larger room, or just a clear space at the family table, with a vase of flowers in front of you. It may mean writing in bed or cuddled up on a sofa. (I used to do the latter exclusively, until my back began to complain!) Of course, lots of us write in the midst of family life, so gentling your environment may look more intimate: wearing headphones, writing first thing in the morning or after everyone else has gone to sleep, or simply not sitting down to your story until your mood is light, and when you know it’s safe to focus on work rather than your children.

Treat your senses.

Fragrances are great at working directly on our emotions, so a spray of vanilla, a scented candle, incense, or something yummy baking in the oven can not only prime you for feeling cozy but also remind you of how important it is to include aromas in your story, so they can work on reader’s emotions too.

Keep the light in your working space low and warm.

You may like to have a single lamp on your desk that makes a haven of light in an otherwise dark room. Or you may even want to work by candlelight on winter evenings, which is one of my favorite things to do.

Calm your visual surroundings.

This will be very personal. I like nothing more than a blank white wall behind my computer, to prevent distraction and create a sense of quiet, whereas others may prefer color, patterns, or a view outside the window. Do whatever works best to make your subconscious feel safe so it can focus on writing.

Use sound to soften the world.

This may mean a quiet room or a soundtrack of music that supports the energy of the story. The great thing about music is that it can be a resource to tap into when you want to get into emotions or a mental zone very easily.

Create a vision board.

Create a visuals file or Pinterest boards filled with images that may not even be specific to your story, but that have a tone you want to mentally absorb.

Write lists of words that express the mood and aesthetic of your book.

Read other cozy novels to get you into the rhythm of the genre.

I just recently finished reading Sangu Mandanna’s A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping, which has the same lovely charm Sangu is known for, and also Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore, a wonderfully assured and delightful debut fantasy romance from Emily Krempholtz.

The helpful thing about this approach is that you can create a writing bubble in all kinds of situations. For instance, when I move house and everything around me is chaos, all it takes is a cup of tea, a warm cardigan, and the right soundtrack to settle me into a cozy little zone that both supports and infuse my creativity. Also, I don’t have to be in the right mood to work, nor particularly inspired. It’s all there for me to draw from. Loveliness and comfort as a professional aide!

Happy writing!

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

Elodie has harbored secret feelings for Gabriel, the man she married out of convenience, for over a year. Their married life has felt estranged, so Elodie has put her mind and energy into what she does best: managing magical disasters. Little does she know, Gabriel has also been pining over her for the past year, but neither wants their emotions to risk their next assignment. When magic erupts in a small Welsh town, it has enough power to take down all of Britain, so the pair head off to save the country and, hopefully, their marriage.

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