Please excuse any gremlins in my content or layout today. We’re staying on a really remote beach with no internet access so I’ve driven to the nearest village to post (and get a cup of good coffee..)
While I’m on “holiday” I’ve been missing my “workbench” at home – actually four kids, two adults and a dog squeezed in a two bedroom holiday house with me frantically trying to meet a book deadline does not a holiday make, but that’s for another post. So here’s a a bit of a tour of my normal work spaces.
Before I left home I took a pic of the gorgeous and very unexpected Christmas present from the partner-in–parenting-crime this year – the Contract for Marriage cover framed!! Doesn’t it look great? It still feels pretty special every time I look up from my work bench and see my very first cover with my very first book couple looking back at me. When I’m in day-to-day writing mode it’s easy to forget where this all leads, but seeing my cover takes me back to the thrill of release day, of my first fan letter, and makes me want to have it happen all over again.
This is my main office with the grunty computer and printer, as well as some of my reference books. We have half an acre of garden and I can look out on it when I’m writing and depending on how the current book is working out, I either have no time to see the view, or else I see a patch of dirt that definitely needs weeding “right now”!
The greenery at the window is Star Jasmine and it gives the whole office a gorgeous smell when I have the window open. That trophy you can see on the top of the printer is something the girls in my local writing group gave me when I was first published and it makes me all warm and fuzzy when I look at it. You can’t see it in the photo but I have a tropical fish tank nearby and the sound of the water is soothing when I’m panicking about a deadline.
This is my other writing space. When I’m in here it usually means that things are not going that well and either a) I’ve been yelling too much at the kids or b) the kids have been yelling too much at me. I use my laptop here and it’s also where I sit when I’ve printed out a chunk of the book and just want to read.
In both places I’m joined by my pooch, Cosmo. She (yes, a girl. The kids picked the name about two years before we got her) is always at my feet and often makes little barky, whiney, snuffly noises in her dreams while I’m working.
I love to see other people’s houses and, especially the places they do their work. Do you have a special place to do your reading or writing?
I do most of my reading in bed since that’s where I am most comfortable:)
Hey Yadira! So lovely to see you here. You know, I should have put my bed in as my “other, other writing space”! Love my bed and it’s my absolute favorite place to read, too.
OH, what a lovely writing space you have! My desk is tucked in the corner beside my bed. It’s cozy, but it works for now in our too-small-for-six-people house. I go and crank on the fan and the music and block out everything but the words.
Hi Stephanie! Yep, cosy is on the top of my list for writing space must-have, too! Sometimes I don’t get to the office if the bed is feeling ‘specially cosy! Sounds like you’ve found some great ways to be productive in your office space.
Enjoyed your pics Barbara! I actually have plans to post my writing space when I blog this month too. I’m showing that along with a pic of my desk at my “other” job.
If I had your lovely office maybe I’d be able to write in one. I have an office, but it’s small with a tiny window and just doesn’t seem to provide me with much inspiration, so I tend to gravitate to my living room where I have lots of windows and wonderful views.
Ooh, I can’t wait for your pics, Christine! It’s funny about the view isn’t it? After a writing session I could swear that I didn’t look out my window once, but when there’s no window I sort of get all antsy. Your living room sounds great. Wanna see pics of that too!