As writers many of us have a designated spot for computers and the like. Mine's a table refinished by my grandma. Tables, any flat surface for that matter, are magnets for random bits of stuff. This is were this thread comes in. What random stuff is sitting on your writing surface? Mine: A pen from Glamis Castle. My charms from Oban and Iona. A vase of pussywillows.
Writing Area I Home --- Glass Table Wooden Chair Gaming PC One Empty Coffee Cup One 1/8 Cup of Coffee One Game of Thrones Lannister Coaster Ceramic Bowl empty of Cereal/Ceramic Plate with crumbs Glass Bowl filled with keys/rocks/misc crap TV half a head-turn away Writing Area II Mobile Tablet --- Tablet Mini Keyboard Starbucks Tablet Case with cellphone to prop tablet forward Empty Strawpaper Drinķ in front of keyboard Apocalyptica Messenger Bag proudly displayed leaning against the wall (Basically I use my case, keyboard and drink to keep my tablet at an angle. So I'm here writing my mouth never leaving the straw as I suck and write at the same time...)
I have a wooden desk and a leather chair which I call my racing chair Currently: A empty cup that had a chai latte in it this morning Drawing tablet My laptop Computer monitor Random pieces of paper with ideas on them Pens & Pencils Mass Effect 2 & 3 cases Xbox 360 with controller My iPod A white cat sleeping on my chair
A pen jar made from an old marmalade jar covered in stickers from apples, oranges and bananas. My iPod in its box, on top of my Parkrun token. Two "Souvenir from Townsville" coasters. A craft mat with cut-resistant surface. A pile of background notes for NaNoWriMo.
I actually don't have a writing surface, I did, once, and honestly I miss it. When I had one it would have a notebook, a night lamp, a collection of pens, I had a TV next to my laptop with my xbox nearby, connected and controller, so I could put on a movie or opera DVD while I write, and also, for some reason, and I almost always had the books I was then reading on my desk. Also, a Hunger Games mockingjay pendant. What I really need to help me write are my books. I've always liked a sort of organized clutter, I know where everything is, and woe to he who moves anything because I'll get my claws out!
Oh dear. Well besides my desktop computer, printer and accessories (like my Samsung CD reader/writer, which I need because my MacMini no longer has this driver), speakers, one flash drive, a hub and a copy holder, I have: Two magazine files with important papers. (Not cheating, I did actually clean these out yesterday, and do this periodically.) A timer 4 pens 1 pair of eyeglasses (I'm wearing the other) a cup of coffee a Hungarian dictionary an empty side plate that had toast on it a few minutes ago a battery case and instruction manual for an LCD battery charger a copy of Terry Pratchett's Jingo ...bookmarked ...currently re-reading it a hand-drawn map of the ranch house and surroundings that are the setting for my book a printout from Writers' Digest regarding creating moral dilemmas for characters a recipe for goulash (yum) a card from a friend, reminding me to write a note to them There is method to the madness, I promise.... and I did dust it all yesterday.
I actually work from home and my proper work desk has a Rainbow Dash my little pony toy, a Skegness mug, a glass of peacock feathers and various notebooks, bits of paper, random stacks of books and games that have nothing to do with my work and pens. I don't have a writing surface, it's just my laptop on my lap. Usually with a dog or two nearby.
Presently: a coffee cup the size of my head, and a lamp to keep the mood sexay. I'm one of those people that believes all things have a 'place,' and that place is not on a fracking table. Tables are surfaces for work, not clutter.
A Logitech gamepad Loose change A twenty-dollar bill A wallet A tape measure A black pen Two Lexar USB flash drives (16 GB each) A plastic bag from EBGames Three receipts A keychain on a Swiss army knife
More random crap that has spawned over the course of the last 24 hours and other things I forgot: Travel guides for France, England, and Scotland. Random books of folklore. The novel I'm currently reading, mass market, well loved, it lays flat... One of the two art deco dresser lamps from my great grandma. The ever present iPod and its dock. My manuscript portfolio, embossed leather from Ren Fest. An old painted glass powder box from a flea market. Keys. Hair clips, which the cat is currently trying to steal... And Rue's squeaky toy. This dog has eeriely good aim. My lap desk, too. It props my computer up to the proper height.
Some index cards with incoherent scribbling on them Phone charger Camera Some photos Assorted books (Dark Angels Codex, Analog Science Fiction book) Magic the Gathering cards Zip ties of assorted colors Plastic film canisters Mail
Plastic film canisters! Those things are impossible to find. Handy, but hard to find, since everything has gone digital. More junk on the table: Magazine: Doctor Who, the First Five Decades My behemoth dictionary...technically it's under the table, but... Rubberbands and some dust
We use legit film in my high school photo class so I've got too many of these things. I picked up three in class today off the floor. They're inconspicuous toys, so I keep them and mess around with them while I stare at my computer screen, trying to find the right words. Happens all too often.
