Around ninety-five per cent of my writing is done at my desk. It’s not a very tidy desk, but it’s at a window overlooking a wood, so the view is spectacular in all seasons. On the photo, taken from my office chair (you can just see my screen bottom right), it’s around five o’clock last Friday afternoon – almost sunset. I’ll spare you a photo of the desk itself. #notaprettysight
I like my desk; we’ve got into a lovely writing rut, the two of us, and I need every one of the approximately 297 items that live on it. Here are a few of the most important:
1) My tiger. He’s really a screencleaner, but his main function here is to provide a wrist rest while I’m using the mouse. If I don’t have him, my wrist aches all the time I’m mousing around. I’ve tried proper wrist rests, but none were half as good as Tiger.
2) My magnetic wobbly pen. The brilliant thing about it is – it never gets lost. You stick the pen into the holder and it stands up, ready to grab next time. No searching, no time wasted. Best of all, you can buy refills for it, so it’ll last forever. Of course, if my desk was tidier I might not have to search…
3) My computer specs. These are especially designed to remove glare from the screen while you’re typing. The moment I put them on, my eyes say, Ahhhh! Writing a book means staring at a word doc for hours every week, and these really do make a difference.
4) My sticks bowl. One of my sons made this at primary school – I love it. I always save the day’s work onto at least two sticks, as well as having it on a cloud. No way do I want a repetition of what happened a year or two ago when I clicked something I shouldn’t have. Here’s the bowl looking pretty with just one stick – I removed another four sticks, three batteries, a memory card from a camera, a metal guardian angel, my Tippex roller, two paperclips and a 5 cent coin for the photo…
5) Last but not least – my sucky sweeties, to help when my writing gets stuck. These ones are from Aldi and with yoghurt, fruit and no sugar they’re not really unhealthy… are they? (Don’t answer that.)
(The red ones are the best.)
So there you have it, five must-haves on my writing desk. What are yours???
I just had a long hard look at my desk, but sad to say, I don’t appear to have any must haves! Maybe that’s why my muse doesn’t hang around for long…
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Sounds like you have a lovely tidy desk – your important things are probably all in their proper places!
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Gosh…my desk is CROWDED! : glass ducks, pot of pencils, small gear thing (haven’t a clue what it it) downloads from Victorian Web, plant, small stone from granddaughter and occasionally, the cat!
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Sounds like mine, apart from the cat! I did consider posting a pic of my desk au naturel, but the dust bunnies didn’t want me to… so the photos were taken on the dining table, which is less busy. You need stuff on your desk! 🙂
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Even though shared I thought I should also respond here, Linda. Hope that’s okay?
5 things on my own desk. My Spider plant ( was once told there were benefits to have plants alongside computers ( just be careful when watering and, apparently, no scientific proof of the benefits – hey-ho), Ceramic pot in the shape of an elegant ladies head that hold my pens and pencils (given to my by friend and children’s author, Sharon Tregenza when she moved away from Pembrokeshire). Small photo of my three children when they were all less than three years old ( we had twins, we weren’t just careless!!). A Narberth Book Fair pen (memories of the book fairs I jointly organised with my friend brilliant author, Thorne Moore – until we bowed out last year to try other ventures. My National Trust diary, bought for me by my husband, David, (because he constantly says he doesn’t know where I’ll be and when because, “you have so much going on”). My Suffragette notebook,(given to me by former student and author, Simon Moffett- because he said he saw it and thought of me – I give talks on Suffragettes, a subject I researched for my last book, A Hundred Tiny Threads, the prequel to the Haworth trilogy). My five things; not the only things, just the most useful.
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Lovely – thank you, Judith! I’ve just been watering (sparingly) the spider plant we were talking about. I love the sound of your ceramic pot, too!
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You’ve just inspired me to share my own desk! I’ll be sure to tag you in x
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Excellent! I’ll look forward to reading yours!
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