Where I Write

A recent NaNoWriMo newsletter asked us to share pics of our writing areas with other NaNos. Alas, I can find the blog, where there are some interesting pics, but can't figure out how to share my own. And I must have deleted the newsletter, like the dimwit I can be on occassion. So, here for all of you to see, is my desk. Please keep in mind that since I write on a laptop, the dining room table is also a frequent destination for work.





You can also see the beginnings of my small desktop toy collection. There are at least three turtles on my desk! And then there are the Littlest Pet Shop toys. That stack of notebooks, folders, and loose papers in the background on the left? Those are all writing related tidbits I kept unearthing as I was sorting through BOXES of files and such this summer. I’ll sort through them soon and see what kind of treasure might be waiting for me to finish up. The big, golden globe is one of those glitter filled bouncy balls that I sometimes play with when thinking something over.

Finally, against the wall is a big corkboard where I can pin important notes and bits of inspiration. Right now the center has images relating to the novel I started last year. To the left of my desk (not in the picture) is a two-drawer filing cabinet with yet another box to sort through sitting on top of it. I may move that out to the dining room to hold the printer. I’ll then have room near my desk for a small book shelf.

That’s it: my little haven. I just need a small desk fan and it will be complete. Hope you enjoyed the tour. If you have any questions, just ask ‘em in a comment.

Headaches and Deadlines

Some point every summer, I regret pitching article ideas to Llewellyn. My kids are home being a distraction and as hurricane season hits, my head aches almost non-stop. I live in Ohio, so you can hopefully appreciate that last bit. How a tropical storm forming off the coast can affect my own sinus system here in Ohio is something I'll never understand. I'm too busy being out of it with the pain. You would think writing would be impossible. I spend chunks of the day as my deadlines approach thinking the same thing. And then, miraculously, I manage to get them finished. I have one remaining article to proof and it's over for the year.


As for my kids being home, well, they've actually been pretty good about letting me work this year. Probably my biggest distraction is feeling guilty over not spending much time with them during the day. But the truth there is that they really just want me to let them go off and play their games, or swim in the pool, or watch tv. Sometimes, my youngest, Monkey Girl, who's 8, is bored and wants me to play a game with her or to go sit and watch her in the pool. Unfortunately, that's usually when I'm in the middle of something, but we manage to work it out. Most of the quilt is all in my head. Wonder how many of us suffer from that - imagined guilt?


And as for the writing? I honestly enjoy it or I wouldn't still be doing it. There's a challenge in finding something new to write about each year. Something that no one else has done lately, or even done at all. And it's a fun challenge to put my unique voice on an often short article, to make it mine. So I guess I'll keep writing for them as long as they let me.