Note: Starting today, on Fridays we are going to be running the first of a few special topics. For lack of a better phrase, we’re calling it “Reader Friday.”
The writer’s desk. Sometimes, it’s the place we rush to eagerly in the morning, impatient to spin magic from nothing more than thoughts and dreams. Other times, our desk is Hell on Earth. We’re chained to it, driving to make a deadline. Or struggling to fill a stubbornly blank screen.
One thing is true of all writers: We spend a lot of time at our desks. Where we work may say a lot about who we are as writers.
Here are some of the TKZ gang, as reflected by our desks.
Joe Moore – A picture of serenity
Just looking at the picture of Joe’s office makes me feel relaxed. But Joe, is it always this neat?
James Scott Bell – City View
Jim Bell shared a picture of his favorite writing spot–a local coffee shop with a great view of LA street life.
Jordan Dane — Have Diva Dog, will Travel
Jordan’s well-appointed office doubles as home for her Diva Dog, which she takes to signings.
Nancy Cohen — A Writer’s CentCom
Nancy’s writing hub looks like a setting for “War Games II”. Her next thriller?
Michelle Gagnon — Thinking Outside the Box
Michelle is in the middle of a move, so she’s temporarily between offices.
“It’s interesting, because lately I’ve found that I actually work best away from my official “desk”; on airplanes, or other places where there isn’t easy access to the internet so that I don’t get as distracted,” she says. “…I am toying with doing away with a real office in favor of working in different parts of the house depending on my mood.”
Kathryn Lilley — A Terminal Case of Wanderlust
I’m a restless soul, always on the move. I plug in my laptop wherever I happen to land. Yesterday, it was the dining room table. I took this shot as I wrote today’s blog.
Clare Langley-Hawthorne — The Exterminator
About her office Clare says, “You can see the Dalek on my desk…I can push a button and hear ‘exterminate’ when things aren’t going so well with the manuscript!”
John Ramsey Miller — Blogger Emeritus
Before he transitioned to his new silk-screening endeavor, John left us with a picture of his writing cabin. Alas, no chickens in sight–the evil fox got ’em!
Next Friday: Let’s see where you write!
For next Friday’s post, we want to hear about where our TKZ readers write! Send us a photo of your desk. You can send it to killzoneblog at gmail dot com.
If you have any thoughts about writing desks, or if you have any writing-related questions, feel free to post them today in the Comments. We’ll all be dropping in from time to time today; we’ll do our best to answer them.
Well thankfully I finally just entered the digital age & got a digital camera (yeah, I know. I’m always the cow’s tail on technology). But at least that means I can participate and send a photo (once I figure out how to use the thing).
Great looking writing spaces for all of you, though I have to say, Joe, that photo of your space does truly exude serenity.
It’s always fun to see where writers hole up for their creative endeavors.
Thanks BK! Speaking of the digital age, I almost lost this post due to multiple technical gremlins, including a laptop crash. Thank goodness for Carbonite, or I would have lost all the photos!
All I can say is, American authors have far, far neater desks than British ones. Clearly you lot cheated and tidied up before letting the cameras in.
I think everyone cheated, Michael, lol! I got lots of messages like, “Sending picture as soon as I clean up!”
You’re ON! Currently in process of repainting and installing a new floor and lights.
I think Joe took that picture off the Internet. No one can write in THAT kind of organization and neatness. That would freak me out.
Where would I hang my weird hat collection and my diva dog would virtually pee on the carpet & ruin everything.
Michael–I must be part British. The reason that I took a photo of the SIDE of my desk was that I was too lazy to clean off my desktop. When I’m in the middle of a project–as I am right now–it is utter chaos. I can mine diamonds from beneath the stacks of paper & research books.
Knowing that Jim has a main line to real coffee, probably flowing straight to a vein, he should be writing twice as much. No fair.
“Pass a scone and the Grey Poupon,please.”
Don’t feel bad Michael, my own work spaces being mobile as they are tend to bring messes from one place to another very rapidly as the picture I eventually send up will attest.
I aspire to build something like JRM has. One of these days I will do just that, create a sound proof outside office for both writing and recording.
Jordan, my writing space is neat and orderly but my mind is a mess.
Thanks, Joe. I feel much better now.
Oh wow, we’re getting some great photos from readers. Puts our offices to shame, especially in terms of verisimilitude (Okay, that’s my 50-cent word for the day!). Can’t wait ’till next week!
Joe, how did you get your two monitors to form a diptych? Either my eyes deceive me, or that stream is flowing perfectly across both monitors! Now that’s understanding technology!
I confess to cleaning up:) in reality you wouldn’t have actually seen the desk!
Kathryn, Windows XP/Vista/7 will run up to 4 monitors simultaneously. All you need is 1 video card with 2 outputs or 2 video cards with 2 outputs each. For a number of years, I ran 4 standard definition 4×3 monitors. Last year I switched over to 2 16×9 high def monitors, the ones in the photo. It’s so convenient to have my email open in one and my WIP in the other. With Windows, configuration is a snap.
I can see the benefit of multiple screens, Joe, but it would remind me of my energy industry commodities trading life. No way.
But if I had more desktop (minus screen 2), that would only mean more space for clutter. Ha! So you could have something…