A Writer’s Tools . . .
My friend Pat from BoPress http://bopressminiaturebooks.com/blog wrote a really interesting blog recently on her studio and then even more recently, on her tools. She’s a miniature book artist and I was in love with the space and the equipment.
I wondered how my writer’s space and my writer’s tools could ever compete. My spaces, of course, are wonderful. At the shack, the table by the window listening to the waves and in town, the family room and the big navy couch, looking out to the Derwent and over shadowed by a complete wall of all my favourite books.
Tools-wise, it’s a whole other story. I have a little white laptop, an iBook G4, a pile of A4 writing pads, a brown and white container full of pens and pencils,
Pens, especially RED ones . . .
a couple of USB’s, and a thoroughly worn out thesaurus that my husband gave me in 2003 to replace my thirty year old one and which is now falling apart.
A worn out thesaurus
I have a few different dictionaries and some special encyclopaedias. As I’m a fantasy writer, my reference books relate to myth, legend, folktale and imaginary lands.
A small selction of reference books . . .
I have a pile of journals that contain notes and inspiration, because my daughter is a bespoke journal maker and graphic designer and keeps me supplied.
My special journals . . .
I have a wireless printer, in fact wireless everything. And I have a friend called Doctor Google. I do have lots of reference files in the office, filed under the title of the book to which they relate. I was a reference librarian for a short term after I left university many years ago and that part of me says I should cross-reference everything in an effort to keep track. But at the moment I can rely on my memory to tell me where things are stashed.
My other tools are two demanding Jack Russells, a pantry filled with camomile tea, a Spode Blue Room coffee mug and the four CD’s of Cary Lewincamp, whose work I adore and which is a quiet and ambient counterpoint to whatever dramas may be going on in my brain. http://www.cary.com.au/sound-1.htm
And that’s it . . . boring, isn’t it? Compared to an artist’s space and an artist’s tools?
Now if it was embroidery, that would be a whole other story . . . and one that I just might write about one day.
Baby rug embroidered for Marcus, newborn son of English writer Simon James Atkinson Turney.
the dictionary of imaginary places looks like a good addition to a home library.
as a blogger my workspace and tools are minimal. i’ve moved the laptop to the big dining room table. to be able to interact with family instead of cooped up in the back office. meals to the left and jigsaw puzzle in the works to the right. notebook or calendar diary and pen or pencil are present as needed.
Good morning Velvet. I love hearing what sort of tools and space people make use of. I’m pleased you are like me, vacating the office for the more friendly space elsewhere. My friendly space is free of people, so I am able to concentrate, but it is where the music and the dogs are so that’s important. I’m intrigued that you have a jigsaw on the right of your table. My mother is a jigsaw lover (she has some divine old wooden ones from her own childhood) and has dozens and dozens and sometimes they take over her dining table.
I hope a few other people will tell me what their tools are and how they work. I’ve just spent an hour in the office, filing research and getting out invoices on my writing life for the tax man. So boring! The filing of the research is okay, because it’s amazing how just one word or an image can sow the seeds for a new story. But tax stuff? Ugh!
I forgot to get a photo of the most important things in my workplace: Hannah and Beeper, who lie in their office bed all day while I work. So often they slay me with cuteness, lying side by side in the same position, but I can’t get any pictures because Hannah is so photo-phobic that she’s gone as soon as I get the camera out.
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places is wonderful!
The dogs are a vital part of it all, Pat, aren’t they?
Oooh! A Dictionary of Imaginary Places? What a wonderful idea that is.
Also, that embroidery is delightful. I’m absolutely in awe. I’ve been working on a cross stitch pattern for a year and half now. Last year, I think I dropped a row (I miscalculated) and every time I’ve gone back, I’ve just looked, looked and then given up. 🙂
This embroidery is exquisite.
Thanks TFI. Embroidery is my sanity saver and a giant relief after concentrated writing. I love all sorts, but stumpwork is my favourite, followed by wool embroidery on blanket and silk and wool thread on silk. As to cross-stitch, I can’t count and it has been a disaster. Left it behind years ago. I’m a rule breaker and cross-stitch doesn’t allow that!
Boring?! I find it fascinating and look at those journals! 🙂 And “A Dictionary of Imaginary Places” sounds wonderful- I have to add that to my library.
My daughter makes brilliant journals, Lua. Her business is ostensibly graphics but she is a fine book-artist and runs Peppercorn Papers on the side. She can always make me a journal for Christmas and one for birthdays, I shall always be happy . . . although I find I need lines to write on more and more!
A Dictionary of Imaginary Places? It is a good book and is one of many resources that I use either from my own library or the State Library. My favourite book is Carol Rose’s Spirits, Faeries, Gnomes and Goblins. I wore the library’s out until I discovered a secondhand copy on Amazon and now have my own. It places huge emphasis on myth and legend and is my Bible.
But I think I should get a pay off from the authors of ‘Imaginary Places.’ . . . you all seem impressed!
Hmmm. My writing space is whatever keyboard I have to hand in whatever location I happen to inhabit at the moment I have enough time to write. I am so disorganised, I even store the WIP online!
I only have one keyboard SJAT, so that’s why my little laptop is my other appendage. And I don’t have a tiny wee babe affecting my writing time!
I need to hear more about Book Three! I think we all do.
Ah, I dream of having my desk face out a window as was the case in our previous flat –I WILL have a view again in our next abode. 🙂
In the meantime, I have my little “office” that sits in what was a walk in closet with a window. It’s not just workspace, but also sanctuary. It’s a place I love to be.
p.s. – at least your worn out Roget’s still has a jacket! Mine has been naked for decades!
But the jacket is free-standing and often flutters around the house on it’s own. The inscription on frontispiece is what will make me keep that thesaurus forever!
Oh, your daughter’s work is lovely! And all the more special for you, I bet!
My writing space currently tends to be the bed unless the Gent is in bed (which he often is during the morning/early afternoon if he has a late shift), in which case I try to get the sofa if the living room is empty. I don’t like to have people or music or distractions around me if I’m writing fiction (blogging is a different matter).
I write my first draft and edit on my laptop (cute metallic dark brown with a hint of copper Sony), but for note-writing, research and other bits and pieces I have a couple of Moleskines gifted to me by my young man and various pens, notebooks and other items of stationery – I am addicted to stationery, particularly from Paperchase.
Writing-related books are an Oxford Conscise Dictionary and an Oxford Thesaurus, a little grammar/punctuation book, plus numerous research books on the 18th century, novel-writing, the Ottoman Empire.
And I will warn you now, I’m uber-organised, and I mean to such a degree that it’s actually sad. I have hundreds of files/web pages and images stored on my laptop in very organised files relating to various things from what things were worth in the 18th century to the medicinal use of herbs. Anything on paper (cut out from a newspaper/magazine, photocopied or printed) goes into a box file with a post-it sticking out from the top with the title written on it, with an index at the front of the box.
I warned you it was sad!
Oh Clare I am so impressed. (By the way, my daughter is Clare also). I print off any computer sourced info and file it in my office, as I mentioned, under the file that relates to that book (ie: Stumpwork Robe, Last Stitch, Paperweights, Shifu etc) and at the library, I either print or hand-write notes and they are filed the same way.
As soon as Paperweights is on its way back to London, I shall have a day where I do your thing however and begin to file under subject, which i enjoy doing. As I’m a little OCD myself, I actually don’t think you’re sad at all.
And PS: I quite like Moleskine, may have to be a purchase in the future. Going to check up Paperchase as I have just spent a couple of days sourcing nice papers for writing. Have decided to ‘write’ to all my friends for a change! Maybe there is another blog there!
Yes, I am trying to actually write to people, too … i’m starting off with a couple and will see how it goes!
I do love Paperchase, though wouldn’t neccesarily say it’s the best for letter-writing type stationery – they are good for pretty notebooks, fun patterned pens and various other bits and pieces with cute patterns. They often have things that have a damask type design – I have a fabulous flocked photo album in a pink and black damask pattern. Lush!
And, sorry to hijack, but you have awards: http://gentlewomanthief.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/a-very-proud-recipient/
🙂