Many
authors clean their writing space and post a picture of a neat, organized desk
in a well-appointed office they use for their work. I don’t have that luxury. No matter how much I tidy up,
my writing space is—well—something else.
My
upper back and neck developed arthritis. After an hour or so of sitting up to a desk or table to use a desktop computer, I find myself in pain. I gave up on desktops and
have been using a laptop exclusively for years.
I
have a small house without an extra bedroom to use as a writing office. My “writing office”
is scattered all over the house.
Here
is my primary writing space.
Hubby has the recliner, and years ago I laid claim to the couch. This recent
couch is the result of one of hubby's auction purchases. The price was right, but my first
reaction was, “White? Really? We live in the country surrounded by dust. How
will I ever keep this thing clean?” My remedy was to cover the armrests with
hand towels (someday I’ll quilt custom armrest covers. Someday.) The body of
the couch I cover with one of the quilts I’ve made.
I use an adjustable slant
task tray to hold my “main” 17” computer I use for digital work and managing my
social media/writing business. The old cheapo computer desk I used to use I turned
so the back is facing the couch. The desk, along with the T.V. tray next to it,
is my “desk top.” On the shelf designed for a monitor is where I keep my
wireless printer. The old slide-out shelf designed for the computer keyboard
(not visible) holds a shallow tray plus two pencil boxes full of office supplies.
As
for that mouse pad set-up I use, I found if I used the mouse directly on the
quilt, as soon as I released it to type, it slid down next to my hip. The downhill slope might have something to do with my
weight connecting with the cushion. Each time, the cursor got wonky and skittered all over
the screen.
To keep from constantly chasing the mouse, I set up this
platform using an old mouse pad and a medium bamboo cutting tray. To offset
that downhill slope, I use an old Kindle box shaped like a wedge. It’s not
classy, but it works.
I
ran out of wall space for book shelves years ago. I have some of my research
books stacked on bookcase shelves, but many are in baskets I purchased from
JoAnn. I like to sort my books by research/writing project collections.
Each book or series will have its own basket of research books, maps and
pamphlets. This bookcase is perched on the edge of my fireplace hearth. When it
gets colder and the hubby decides to start burning wood, I’ll have to find
another place for it – somewhere. * sigh *
I
even put the top of my drop-leaf table in front of my living room picture
window to work as a holder of research book collections.
For
a change of scenery, I often take my secondary
lightweight 15” travel/writing computer to the loveseat in our bedroom to
write. I sometimes have fewer distractions back there, and more gets written. Yes,
the loveseat is part of the set hubby picked up at the auction and it is white.
Yes, I need to make another quilt to put over it rather than use those cheapo
blankets we picked up at a travel center years ago. Someday. Meanwhile, along
with all my totes of quilting fabric in the background, you can see more of my
bookcases filled with research books.
If
you think you need a separate room to write, I assure you, you don’t.
About Zina
Abbott:
Zina
Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical
novels. A member of Women Writing the West, Western Writers of America, and
American Night Writers Association. She currently lives with her husband in
California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” When she is not piecing together
novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.
Connect with Zina Abbott:
