Do you have a desk to write at? What's on it?
I love flipping through magazines. I rip out shots of home offices, kitchens, bedrooms, and anything else that catches my eye. I'm always drawn to the uncluttered, perfectly matched, comfortable looking rooms. The ones with warm colors, soft throws, and gleaming table tops.
What's on my desk? Easy! My laptop gets the largest section. It needs several inches of personal space, much like I do; I'm not one for being crowded. I also have a metal mesh cup with highlighters, pens, and pencils. A Christmas candle resides next to the pen cup. And I have a planner with notes stacked neatly on top of it. That's all.
I don't write well with clutter on my desk, but I need tools available. My laptop, candle, pens, and planner are vital.
Next to my desk, I have other small workstations. A tiny bookshelf holds beloved books written by my favorite authors, and my printer sits on top of the shelf. On the other side of my desk, I have a small set of drawers with a file divider perched on top. My desk faces a bulletin board, which I recently installed and can't live without. There's also a box of Kleenex for when Betsy and John and my other characters move me to tears.
What's on your desk? Is it indispensable? Is everything on there needed? If not, why is it still there? Can you find another place for it?
Join me on Friday, when I discuss my can't-live-without-it file divider. Seriously. It keeps me sane.
And...
Write Already! It's Wednesday!
Oooooo...what a delicious picture! I'd love to be surrounded by all that cozy color!
ReplyDeleteI have a messy desk and don't really use it other than to house my candles and pens and paper. It sits next to my comfy oversized chair that I write in. :)
Me too, Sherrinda. That is one rockin' office. Your comfy chair sounds right up my alley. Except I'd probably fall asleep!
ReplyDeleteNothing on my desk but a pencil/pen cup holder. And occassionally my laptop. My laptop is rather nomadic. It roams around the house. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a bookcase in my "office" but it looks NOTHING like that one!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, the hubby was just pleading with me to spruce it up a bit. LOL!
My dining room table desk right now has my cup of coffee probably too near to the lap top and I'm constantly worried about one of the kids bumping it and spilling coffee over the laptop. (I won't say that unnamed culprit spilled her own cup of coffee on the last lap top.)
ReplyDeleteSo, next to the coffee? The two writing books that I'm skimming through on the occassion the internet takes to long to load. Then my new notebook for jotting down ideas for my next book. Those new ideas pop into my head at the weirdest times!
Last thing on my "desk" is my to-do list. Actually my two to-do lists! Thankfully, one of them is mostly crossed off!
Wow! I don't know if I (as a former librarian) could have bookshelves arranged by color value. :) But that is a cool picture.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm writing, the space has to be clutter free, else I would decide to spruce up the area instead of write. One of the reasons I head to the coffee shop to write. There, I have a table with my laptop, sometimes my chapter-by-chapter synopsis, and a large Earl Grey tea.
Ah...paradise!
Katie: I love a clear desk! Those crazy roaming laptops...
ReplyDeleteJennifer: Ha! Sprucing up time, huh? Are you going to color code? Heh-heh!
Jody: Let's just blame that other coffee incident on the dog. Isn't that why we have pets? And ideas pop into my head at crazy times too. My friend suggested carrying a tape recorder, but I'm afraid I'd start playing with it too much. You know, doing weird voices instead of working.
Erica: Earl Grey...yummy! You just reminded me, I'm almost out of tea bags. My favorite right now is the Lipton French Vanilla black tea. Pure deliciousness!
Thanks for stopping by!
My lap top is a nomad until we get the new desk put up in the office and start unpacking everything. hehehe...
ReplyDeleteThough I remember my old desk. I am very much a packrat and all that tends to end up in the office, and usually on the desk. However, I do require a clean workspace, no matter how small. So usually at least half the desk is clean. :(
I always keep my notebook, my chapter printouts, and pens/highlighters within arm reach. Oh and a Diet Coke. And Gummy Bears. And a dictionary. And a chicken. And a boat. And a gold vault. And a... :P
Great question. Getting rid of the needless helps focus. As I told you before, I'm in the playroom. I'm lucky not to have any toys on here. The computer shares the desk with a TV.
ReplyDeleteThat really was a great picture...I'm drooling.
~ Wendy
My actual desk has a sticky note pad, great lighting, and lots of fun paper clips (in shapes of horses, cats, dogs, monkeys, etc.) Where I write has my bible, laptop and various edited pages.
ReplyDeleteThat picture does look fun, though, but I'd be afraid I'd fall asleep too often on that couch.
Ralene: Okay, I'm laughing! It sounds like you're most comfortable surrounded by things you love. Let me know when you get that desk up!
ReplyDeleteWendy: No toys...nice! Does the television distract you? I'm not a daytime tv person, so it wouldn't bother me.
Eileen: I found the cutest paper clips last week--shaped like little clothes hangers!! Too bad I'm cheap because they were adorable! And I'd fall asleep on the couch too. Probably clutching the little Pug.
Thanks for stopping by!
On my desk...desktop computer. Lamp. Desktop calendar. Pictures. Pens. Bills. I've been trying to keep it clean, but sometimes it doesn't work so well.
ReplyDeleteI'm a clutter bug, and I don't fight it anymore. My desk has stacks of papers, empty water bottles, pens and pencils, and then random little things like dead batteries and Thank You cards and colored tape. As long as I can fit my laptop on it when I get home from work. I'm good. As soon as the computer is on, I feel like I'm lost in the realm of the screen, so the other stuff doesn't bother me. In fact, it feels a little cozy.
ReplyDeleteMy printer, my laptop, my inbox and a small file box but then when I spin my chair around, I have a wall of cabinets with another long counter where everything else is. I love my office --but mostly write in my bedroom.
ReplyDeleteMelissa: I just got a shiver down my spine when you said "bills." You're a brave soul to keep those there!
ReplyDeleteDavin: I bet you write better when you're surrounded by things you love. Don't fight it!
Terri: Oh, I'm swooning--long row of cabinets?? My dream come true...
Thanks for stopping by!
I need a nice space. I'm envious of your desk area. Our little office nook is always crowded with bills, mail, and random items my children leave here. Even though I have a nice big window that overlooks the canyon, it's hard for me to write here. Your post is getting me to thinking about making my own space!
ReplyDeleteI love the picture!
ReplyDeleteI used to write at a desk, but the laptop is better for me. I have a place where I keep all my story notes and such, but my main desk is my lap. Which is very strange when I could be sitting at the desk with a computer on top of it. >.<
I love organization, but my desk (I have two, but don't write at either) is always in some state of disarray.
For a second, I thought that picture was your real writing space....I was going to be super impressed!
ReplyDeleteOn my desk: stacks of books, notes, a sunflower pen, rolodex, fax, scanner, copier (three different machines...oi!)
Lol, I use my laptop for everything I write. And it's always on my lap. So my desk is my lap. I love that picture you put up. I'd LOVE to have that in my office, too!
ReplyDeleteKara: There's an alligator Webkinz on the desk next to me as we speak. Kid stuff sneaks in here every day! Big window overlooking the canyon. Sigh. Sounds gorgeous! And I can already tell it would not work for me because I get distracted!
ReplyDeleteDanyelle: Never change something that works for you; your portable office works! And I hear you on the organized space. For me, it doesn't have to be clean, but it does have to be tidy.
Tess: Don't I wish! Color-coding? Oodles of bookshelves? Adorable dog? So not me!
Cindy: Me too! Except I'd probably have to hire someone to make it look that cool!
Thanks for stopping by!
(I'm mesmorized by that great picture! Color coordinated books and everything!) In my world I sit at the kitchen counter/breakfast bar. It's sort of my command post lol!
ReplyDelete