Your writing setup

Technophobe · Nov 24, 2009

This is a two-part question. Part one: what kind of writing setup do you have (i.e., where is it, what tools do you use, what do absolutely have to have)? And part two: if money and space were no issue, what would your dream setup be?

KTC · Nov 24, 2009

now...glass table. laptop. chair.

if i were a rich man, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum...glass table. laptop. chair.

Bubastes · Nov 24, 2009

Have to have: my Alphasmart Neo, pen, notebook, water bottle.

If money and space were no object, same setup, plus a small beach house.

Fillanzea · Nov 24, 2009

Ikea desk with lots of vertical storage and whiteboard, computer, tons of clutter.

Netbook for trekking out to libraries and cafes.

Supposedly it's bad feng shui to have your office and your bed in the same room. It's unavoidable right now because of my roommate situation, but if I had a ton of money, that's the first thing I'd change.

Matera the Mad · Nov 24, 2009

Large monitor squarely in front of my face (no scrooching over a dinky laptop), full-size keyboard with wide backspace key (you'll never guess why) and Winamp with a few good internet radio stations for when I'm tired of my eternal perpetual playlist of tracker tunes.

Feng shui be damned, I've got so much crap piled up between my computer corner and my sleeping nest that it's like another wall anyway. :ROFL:

BigWords · Nov 24, 2009

Laptop, coffee, cigarettes. Jack Daniels is optional, but advised.

DannySherbet · Nov 25, 2009

Technophobe said:
This is a two-part question. Part one: what kind of writing setup do you have (i.e., where is it, what tools do you use, what do absolutely have to have)? And part two: if money and space were no issue, what would your dream setup be?

In response to part one: a desk in the spare room, with a PC, a dictionary and a thesaurus, and an endless supply of freshly-brewed coffee.

In response to part two: see above. I don't think a breahtaking, panaromic view and regular shoulder massages would improve my writing.

Priene · Nov 25, 2009

Settee, laptop.

Come the glorious day: settee, laptop, panoramic view over the alps.

Stijn Hommes · Nov 25, 2009

Technophobe said:
This is a two-part question. Part one: what kind of writing setup do you have (i.e., where is it, what tools do you use, what do absolutely have to have)? And part two: if money and space were no issue, what would your dream setup be?

Part 1: I use an old computer in my bedroom; occasionally I do my writing or brainstorming on a pad of paper while travelling on some form of public transport.

Part 2: Dream setup: Better computer; big screen; separate writing area + view of the river Thames and downtown London.

thethinker42 · Nov 25, 2009

Laptop. Cat. Water bottle. Notebook. Government issue desk. Broken desk chair stolen from an aircraft carrier a few years ago.

Ideal setup: Same, except a slightly bigger desk and a comfier chair.

ejaycee · Nov 25, 2009

Enormous, second-hand desk. Large flatscreen monitor with gorgeous little japanese figurine things stuck to the top with blu-tack, smaller box monitor (just what I call them!) to the left of it, only ever connected when needed. Lots of writing books and a thesaurus piled on one side, lamp on the other, along with a filing thingummy with lots of paper and stuff in it. Mac Mini. Speakers so that I can turn my dramatic music to full blast. Comfy chair. Pink toy cat thing I've had since I was eight. This set of special dice with words on them for inspiration. Wacom tablet and pen. A twenty cent coin for flipping when bored.

Dream setup would be all that, but cleaner. And more figurine things.

frisco · Nov 25, 2009

My current set up is a large, rectangle dinner table clear of clutter. I have my lap top and an add on keybboard and mouse.

If I was rich I'd use the same set up, but i'd have a sexy girl rubbing my shoulders while I typed and a cheerleader squad cheering me on with every keystroke.

OK, maybe it would just be a full sized keyboard instead on the mini keyboard i'm using, but that doesn't sound nearly as much fun.

Adam · Nov 25, 2009

I have - Fair sized desk, big ass PC, decent keyboard and mouse, comfiest chair known to man.

I want - The same, only in a nice little cottage with another desk backing onto mine with my sweetie writing on it. I know, sickeningly soppy.

Linda Adams · Nov 25, 2009

Technophobe said:
This is a two-part question. Part one: what kind of writing setup do you have (i.e., where is it, what tools do you use, what do absolutely have to have)?

It's a desk and file cabinet in the dining room, with a desktop computer, monitor, printer, and scanner. I hate the desk--amazed at how all these "handy" nooks and crannies are useless for storage of everything except dust--and want to replace it.

Technophobe said:
And part two: if money and space were no issue, what would your dream setup be?

A separate room with a large window--nice view outside required--decorated in an island-style. As much unoffice-like as I could get it. Bookcases along one wall, a nice, normal desk rather than a computer desk, and a wicker chair and a small coffee table (for spreading out revisions). I'd also need a more unoffice-like file cabinet. I'm guessing I'd probably need some small side tables for the scanner and printer also--I never have enough room for all the additional equipment. An indoor palm tree, too. though probably a fake one.

Picture of the desk

Bookcase

Paint color I'd have to think about and try out. Same with the art, area rug, and curtains/shades. Definitely hardwood floors.

Phaeal · Nov 25, 2009

I have PCs, both at home and work. Lately I've been doing a lot of longhand writing. For said longhand writing, I MUST have:

--Parker Jotter pens (my current favs have fushia, aqua and lime green barrels)

--Jotter refills

--The greatest spiral notebooks ever devised by the mind of man: Cambridge Limited, hardcover with a magnetic flap that holds the notebook closed; inside the flap, an elastic loop to hold the Parker Jotter pen, a plastic insert page with two pockets to hold loose papers; a sheet of page labels and tabs; low-glare paper, with just the right line-spacing. All for $7.99! Perfection.

-- Good coffee shop. Lattes. Lots of lattes.

If I were rich, I'd have a stable of laptops to take around to coffee shops, because if I were rich, it wouldn't be a catastrophe if I dropped the laptop or spilled latte into it. I'd also be writing in a self-designed study with attached screenporch auxiliary study on Cape Cod.

Freelancer · Nov 25, 2009

1. Desktop Computer with Ergonomic Natural Keyboard (That is essential) or my trustworthy Laptop (Depends what I do on the other computer, so this used to change day by day. But both are on the very same large desk.), my comfortable leather "Captain's chair", Tea, Coke Light or Coffee (So something with caffeine.), Large speakers.

2. Same setup as above.

DeleyanLee · Nov 25, 2009

1. Recliner chair, light blanket over my legs, laptop in lap, cat sleeping across my shins, beverage at hand on the side table, noise-blocking earphones playing music.

2. Why mess with perfection?

Jamesaritchie · Nov 25, 2009

Current setup for first drafts is a fine pen with a custom grip, and a nice, thick book of lined paper. Location often depends on the weather. When it's bad, I sit in my office and write, or sometimes go to a private reading/writing room at the library. Our library has a coffee/snack/sandwich bar, so I can stay there as long as necessary.

When the weather is great, I tend to write outside, sometimes a couple of miles out in the woods, sometimes at a local art park just down the street from the library.

Current setup for final drafts is an office with a desktop computer and a comfortable chair. . .one I can kickback and nap in when get too sleepy to write.

Setup were I filthy rich? Roughly the same, though I'd probably own a nice house along the western shore of Ireland.

The Lonely One · Nov 25, 2009

I prefer dining room tables. There's something romantic about it. I, on rare occasion, use a typewriter for first drafts of short things or beginnings of musings. But otherwise it's the laptop. I rarely hand-write but it's been known to happen. Half the trouble of that is being able to translate my own handwriting later.

Once and a while at outside locales or libraries.

If money were no issue I think I would ~~travel to places similar to what I was writing about. Spend time in certain cities, cafes, whatever, watching people. Getting a feel. And I would~~ have a suit made out of money, of course.

EDIT: if money were no issue I'd be flying a motorized hand-glider over some foreign coast and trying to make it through helicopter-hung rings like Pilotwings.

Michael J. Hoag · Nov 25, 2009

All over the walls like Stravinsky and Vonnegut.

If I were rich? Nicer walls.

CaroGirl · Nov 25, 2009

Currently: Frigid basement office with a high window and no view, messy corner desk, full-screen monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse, hard-drive.

Filthy rich: Main floor office with a view of the woods, tidy desk facing the window with the view, and then all the same stuff as above. Plus a large and bottomless glass of Chateauneuf du Pape (because I'd be able to afford cases of it).

LostInReality · Nov 25, 2009

Part One: beat-up old desk that might have been new before the Cold War, a corkboard and dry-erase board, computer, pen, paper....and an iced carmel latte on IV drip

Part Two: same set up, except a window overlooking the ocean

MGraybosch · Nov 25, 2009

Here's my current setup:

A table in a corner at the local Barnes & Noble's cafe.
13" MacBook with 2GB RAM running OS 10.6.2
Latest version of Scrivener on virtual desktop 1
Dictionary.app on virtual desktop 2
16GB first-gen iPod Touch with Nobuo Uematsu's The Black Mages albums on repeat/shuffle
Sennheiser PX-200 headphones.
A bottle of water and a cinnamon scone.

My ideal setup:

A small study in my own house with a paid-off mortgage with a nice, comfy chair.
A cuddly kitty curled up at my feat, or sitting on the desk watching me.
a 21" iMac, with a 13" Macbook Pro for mobile work.
A Satanophonic 666.1 surround-sound rig.

Mr Flibble · Nov 25, 2009

Um, I think there's a desk under all these bits of paper...And there's definitely a PC cos I can see the monitor and spill tea on the keyboard. I have piccies of my heroes around me, for ~~drooling,~~ inspiration. If I need a change of scenery, I've got a nice laptop too. Tea is essential, along with the ciggies.

If I was rich, I'd have a bigger desk ( for more bits of paper) and a nice shack in the middle of nowhere to put it. With leccy for the PC and kettle and fridge.

bsolah · Nov 25, 2009

Best place to work is in my study nook thing in our town house, but will write on the kitchen table if I feel like sitting near my partner, will write at work, and have written in pubs and cafes.

I work with my MacBook Pro 13" using Scrivener for novels or just Pages for short stories or flash. I sometimes use music, and depending on how serious I am, have snacks and drinks on hand.

I think the dream setting would be different mainly in regards to the desk, it would be bigger nicer, more organised with a hutch for reference books on the top, Bluetooth speakers in each room so my music stays on now matter where I sit without changing cords.

I don't like to work in a closed off office type space as I like people milling around near my and like to still be near my partner even if I'm off in my own little world.

Oh and less work and more time to use said space would be nice.

Your writing setup

Stand in the Place Where You Live

bananaed

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Geekzilla

Wellversed in procrastination.

Out to lunch

Know what you write...

Abnormal Romance Author

knows nothing of your ruined garden

practical experience, FTW

Not dead.

Soldier, Storyteller

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Writing Anarchist

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

"What's-it on the wall."

Living the dream

Lunch Break Novelist

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

AW's Resident Commie