When I lived in LA and socialized as much as I did with writers, I always enjoyed getting to see their writing space. Each was so different and a reflection of each writer’s personality.
For example, I just got a new chair recently. And it swivels back very nicely. So for the first time in my life, I’ve started to kick my feet onto my desk and write stretched out like that. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve taken to doing the same thing at my office. I’ve been writing for over two decades – and now because of a new chair, I’ve completely changed how I write.
So what’s your writing space look like? What type of chair do you use? How about your desk? Is it messy or organized? I know one write in LA who had this corkboard thing on the wall, where he had pinned there literally hundreds of little snippets of paper, each with an inspirational writing quote. Do you have anything in your writing space to inspire you?
Perhaps you write outside the house or office — a coffee shop, library, outside on a bench. I knew a writer in LA who used to go up to the Getty Museum on the 405, plunk down on the grounds there, and bang away on his laptop.
How about you? What’s your writing space look like?
I do have a desk that is normally on the messy side, but I don't do a lot of writing there. I tend to sack out on the couch or drag the laptop into bed with me an do my writing there.
I used to have some inspirational quotes and such printed out on poster size sheets of paper and tacked up on the wall. One was a Stephen King quote from On Writing that is (I think) "If God gives you something you can do, why in God’s name wouldn’t you do it?"
I'd seen an interview with Neil Simon a few decades ago where he stated he'd had a lifetime of back problems from writing at a desk so he decided to write in recliners, lounge chairs by the pool, anywhere but a desk. The alarmist in me took over and I decided to do the same, fearing repeated trips to the chiropractor.
Additionally, the whole idea of a DESK where you HAVE to be CREATIVE or ELSE kind of puts a hex on my output and I get spooked.
Besides, to keep stuff flowing, I must be able to write ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.
Strangest place I've ever written? Back pew of my synagogue during a particularly long winded Yom Kippur sermon. Not sure if my sins were washed clean that year or not….
Lots of paraphanalia…
Stuff unique to my family:
One of my mom's oil paintings of a wide river flowing down off a moutain. Two foldout desk pictures of my brother's son at six months old (he's now 1 and half years-old).
Stuff unique to my wierdness:
Two wind-up monkey toys: one flips, one moves side-to-side. A Curious George Circus bank which currently houses about 14 bucks in loose change. Cut-out from a Curious George calendar from two years ago with "George" sitting on the floor, pen in hand in process of writing something on a piece of paper with the caption below reading, "George sat down on the floor and began to write." Taped above this a cubicle name tag bearing the name, "Eric Henrikson;" something acquired when I was a manufacturing technician at SeaMED in 1997/1998. Brett Farve cutout picture of him in a Green Bay uniform cranking back the pigskin in preparation to zip-off one of his rocketshots circa 1998. Also taped to my computer is a LUV Pets promotion tag — of the original "Chimpy" doll, an "I Voted" label, and a "This vehicle is protected by WD-40" bumper sticker.
Posters and concert tickets line my wall featuring Christian acts: Natalie Grant, Annointed, Jonathan Pierce, Out of the Grey, Clay Crosse, Carmen, and Kevin Max.
Two Christian poems from Bettie N. Renner from 1997: a lady I knew from a Catholic prayer meeting that met on Tuesday nights in Puyallup; float in varrious places about my desk.
Stuff indiginous to most writers:
A well worn, and in need of replacing "cheapie" roll arround chair from Office Depo. A wide desk from Boeing Surplus, with a very handy top shelf. Fuzzy rug below — which I love when it's hot enough to write barefoot. Push button desk phone. A "New American Standard" dictionary. A currenly empty clear glass candy dish, which I like keep stocked with cherry licorice. A three hole punch. Stapler. Avery CD label assist (very handy for putting computer generated label on burnable CD's). A HP d-135 printer (NEVER buy one of these: the cartridge cost will KILL YOU, and the red color fades to easily). 4 bins which stock: pens, rubber bands, brads, paper clips, brads, screw type script fastners, reinforcement labels for three hole punch, an open container of index cards, handy clear plastic file tabs, staples, Scotch removeable mounting square ($1.99 value: can be yours for $1.50 plus postage). A 12" ruler. A fly swatter. Two, two drawer lockable filing cabinets atop which stands two peg boards. A bin of red push pins on the desk by my computer's spearkers. And finally a six tray, metal paper filing tray.
Hey, you asked. Now all I need is for Scott to throw out the question, "Who's willing to clean the writer's writing space?!"
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
Note: that last part was a bit of joke. Acutally there's quite a bit of organization to this area of my bedroom — unlike the rest of the room…
Since I lost my office to my 87 year old mother-in-law — brought her down to North Carolina from Ohio to take care of her — I now do my writing on weekends at the coffee shop. Saturdays from 6:30am – 11:30 am. Sundays from 7:30am to 11:30am. Which is good for me, I guess, as my old writing desk was always clutterd with papers, books, etc. Now all I have on my 'writing desk' is my laptop, a BearClaw, and hot, black coffee.
Keep Writing!
Mike
I have an office in our home, with a big desk covered with books, papers, notes, and charms … along with a printer.
I write here. My office has lots of books and a TV, but I don't watch it much. These days there's much more stuff stored in my office.
Unless we move, my office will probably be converted to our son's room.
I've written in many places, though.
Mine is just my desk. Most of the time it's covered in crap with just barely enough room for my keyboard and mouse. Quite often I have at least a twelve pack of empty coke cans competing for space with my elbows as I write.
I clean it thoroughly once a month, or if I suddenly feel not lazy.
A e-notebook. Simple, light and portable. Then I can write anywhere.
If by chance should have the opportunity I prefer to connect a real keyboard. The e-notebook's keyboard are a little too small to be comfortable in the long run.
Since I have a laptop, I can essentially write anywhere, and normally do. My bed-side table is a makeshift office, which always has 5-6 literary books, Syd Field's book, a notebook, a few scripts, my favorite gel pen and chap stick. I know I shouldn't, but I tend to get the best ideas right before bed, so I normally write in bed right before I fall asleep.