Establishing a room of one’s own has always been part of the literary vocation. And in a year that has seen the entire world—not just fiction writers—relegated to the confines of home, the themes of safety, belonging, and self-determination in the face of (occasionally life-threatening) external pressures have never resonated more deeply. Whether seeking identity and refuge in a new city, life’s most indulgent pleasures, or relationships—precious, volatile, and sometimes both—the characters animating the shortlisted works for this year’s Amazon Canada First Novel Award mirror the desires of their authors to carve out a space of their own. So, we asked them: how does writing help you make a home in the world?