I love this series from the UK Guardian on Writers rooms – check out Louis de Bernieres little shack (where’s the computer!)
I thought you might find it interesting to see where I work and what tools I use. My office is at home, which is currently Ipswich, near Brisbane, South East Queensland, Australia.
Joanna Penn's writing room
Here is the picture and some of the key tools I use that are featured (please note: I am the epitome of author 2.0 so this is technology focussed). I am not a hugely tidy person. I don’t find this too cluttered although I am sure some people will be appalled!
- Laptop. My laptop is the core of my business right now. Everything I do is on here. I have a Dell XPS M1530. I am a huge fan of Dell. They do everything online and there is a number on all equipment. If you need help, you tell them this number and they know all about you. Brilliant!
- Netbook. That’s the little Dell mini 9 I got for a recent birthday. This is tiny handbag size and has wireless internet and word-processing software. It’s for working whilst travelling, or for those free wireless cafe meetings I am increasingly having! I also use it for taking notes at conferences and talks. It is cheap enough to carry around with no worries (whereas I will not take my laptop out of the house!)
- Moleskine Notebooks. I have tons of notebooks. I’m a journal nutcase, so don’t think it is all techy! Moleskine is branded as the journal of Van Gogh, Hemingway, and Chatwin – so yes, I fell for the advertising! You can see a stack of them on my bookshelf and a black one on my desk. The one that’s open under the headphones is red. I use notebooks for drawing, idea creation, diary and thought entries, taking notes while watching videos or listening to podcasts. I don’t separate work and life anymore – it’s all in the same journals.
- Headphones. I use these when listening to videos, audios or using Skype so I don’t disturb my husband while he also works. These are Logitech, very comfortable with a microphone too.
- iPhone. I LOVE the iPhone! I have the data plan so I email, tweet and surf on the move. You can also now buy my books on the iPhone under the Smashwords catalogue so that’s exciting. Amusingly, it is sitting on top of the Filofax which I have had for 13 years and cannot quite get rid of yet… it won’t be long though!
- Poster on the wall. This is my overview of my business plan so if I get distracted for too long, I can glance over. I need to make sure that everything I am doing is focussed towards achieving the goals I have set for my writing and my business. Sometimes I find myself being aimless so this helps!
- Dictaphone. This is a little Sony mp3 recorder that I use for interviews. Although I have just downloaded the “Speakeasy” app which makes the iPhone a recorder as well. I’m going to start doing podcasts soon so they will be used more.
- Mug of tea. I am English! I need endless cups of tea to write with. It is an addiction!
- Bookshelf. I have a few books here that I have used recently, but I have a ton of other bookshelves in other rooms.
- Rugs on the floor. You can’t see much of it but it’s a glorious blue rug from India. I also have a red one out of the frame. I have travelled a lot but one of my aims is to be paid as a speaker and an author to travel back to India, and other countries. These remind me of that goal!
That’s about it for the important stuff. I’d love to see your pictures and hear about your writing places. Please do post a comment!
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What a great idea for a post. I love the picture of your office, as well as the way you outlined the core tools of your trade. I will do the same thing on my blog and give you all the credit for the idea–after the creative pen as the poets say. Thanks!
penn sorry!
Here’s the link to my writer’s room (with the link back to yours):http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2009/07/07/my-writing-room/.