Top Ten Things I need to WRITE!

A list of things you need to write that you may think are random...

I was thinking the other day about the things that I need in my office/studio/creative station. Particularly the things that keep me in working order as far as my writing is concerned. So, I thought it would make a brilliant blog topic (as an author) for reader’s to draw inspiration from as well as aspiring authors. It’s really funny that there are actual things required. The first I am going to begin with, is:

1. Thesaurus. Dictionary. Style manual. …don’t look at me like that, yes, a thesaurus. Funnily enough I find this one of the most useful things – mine is even pocket sized so that I can fit it in my handbag and take it with me for when I am out at the beach… or with people that have really boring conversational topics and I am a rude bitch and get into my writing rather than listening to them talk about the shoes they saw in that shop window that one time and how they really want them… I digress… I’m sure you are all thinking “why can’t I just use the synonyms button on word?” Well sure, you could do that… but unfortunately the notebook you carry in your pocket doesn’t have one of those, also – technology is killing everything… like intelligence. Dictionaries are good, because, despite the fact that most of us authors have an extensive knowledge of vocabulary, even we forget the meanings to some words. Rarely though…

Still, it’s good to have a dictionary on hand even if it is only to check the meaning to a word when you know you already know the meaning but are second guessing your own knowledge. The Style Manual is what will help you with manuscripts, editing, and pretty much anything else there is to do with the publishing industry as far as your book’s style is concerned.

2. An Endless Pile of Notebooks. Yep. An endless pile. I literally have a shelf on my bookshelf in my office that is full of empty books. The shelf beneath it, is the full ones, marked in date of when they were started and filled. Seems like a silly thing to do when you’re only beginning but trust me, you’ll thank the system later when you have changed plot lines a million times and can’t remember when you wrote a particular note in the book. Now you’re wondering how I get an endless pile of notebooks. Honestly, I buy them from reject stores and typo… sometimes the office shop. They all have different covers which helps remember when and what was written in it. Also – if you are working on a series, it’s always a good idea to have a set of notebooks solely dedicated to that particular story line. This way, other ideas for other stories don’t get all mixed up with a project like a series.

3. Pens – this one is kind of a no brainer.

4. Refrigerator. This is just a place to keep the chocolate and the milk for coffee… sometimes wine. Depending on stress levels.

5. Strategically placed desk and chair. See, this one is something that I consider highly important. The positioning of your desk should be so perfect that you have a window to gander out, no distracting movements in the corner of your eyes and obviously not be positioned within a draft. Cold feet on a winters night when you’re hammering out that story and don’t want to tear yourself away just to find a blanket or slippers. Or socks. The placement of your desk should also ensure that you are getting optimal concentration. Concentration is most important, as well as comfortability. As a writer we spend a lot of time sitting at our desk for extremely long periods of time.

6. Exercise machine. Yes, you read that right. Sometimes when I need to think something over that I have run through, I need to ride a bike or go for a walk to get the mind wheels turning again. Not only that, but you remember what I said about being trapped behind a desk for extremely long periods of time? Well, thighs don’t keep themselves fit do they… Especially with all that chocolate and wine. Obviously your exercise apparatus should be something you enjoy doing.

7. Reading chair. Mine, chesterfield. Just because I am really into everything antique haha. To be able to sit yourself down mid edit, red pen in hand and scour over your own manuscript WITHOUT A COMPUTER SCREEN, is just so much less stressful and tedious. Also, you need it for reading. As an author you need to read.

8. Bookshelf/Library. Fill this sucker with the books you have collected over the centuries. It’s great to have them there to pull out and scour. Keep one shelf dedicated to your own work, it will be so rewarding when you have your first edition of something and can place it in a bookshelf as an actual book. I also, have a range of books I use for reference – encyclopedias and research books. You’re wondering what there could possibly be to research on vampires. Well, there is actually a lot.

9. Computer/printer. Again, a no brainer. I’m actually though, thinking of getting a typewriter – the theory being that it will slow my writing down and I will be forced to think about the structure of a sentence before writing it without spell check or the ability to erase it a million times over and start again.

10. Sound system. For me this is one of the single most important things. I use music for everything I do, cooking, cleaning, singing, painting, drowning out the sound of my children screaming at each other and boring conversation, writing and even sleeping. You might think that would get really annoying but it’s inspiring. I find that music allows my brain to run in a smooth pattern, without erratic thought. That and, it’s kind of like my oxygen. So there you have it. A list of ten things you need to be a writer. Of course, they would vary depending on the person, after all, we as authors know all too well no two people are alike.