Sunday 27 March 2011

The trouble is no desk, m’Lord

I’m feeling like a displaced oyster at the moment. (Bear with me on this.) When I moved back home I knew I’d be setting up my computer in my bedroom, which although swims in fitted furniture, doesn’t swim with a desk. So my options were balancing the PC on top of a chest of drawers, or on top of a dresser.

I tried the first option for a while but had to sit on my bed and twist around into the Uncomfortable Writer pose. After a while something had to give (chiefly my knees) and I shifted camp to the second option. This meant I could sit on a chair (whoop!) but again only at a diagonal as my knees fight the hard drive, which always wins (‘cos it’s hard, innit?).

If that wasn’t bad enough, the PC has decided to die a long loud death and doesn’t like me working on it anymore. I know I need to give it some more memory but the thought of chiselling off its dusty casing fills me with dread, especially as I seem to be Static Girl with anything shiny. Can Static Girl cause explosions? I’m not sure north London wants me to find out.

So the other option is working downstairs on a laptop. This means I get to sit at a table (double-whoop!) but have to pack everything away sharpish if people want to, say, eat dinner at the table, or anything strange like that. So I am constantly shifting folders of notes everywhere and have ended up in a noteworthy muddle. It also means I have to be shit hot at typing through Eastenders and conversations, as well as very dedicated to not spend the evening being sucked into films like Back to the Future. (Although who can fail to be charmed by lines like ‘the flux capacitor is fluxing nicely’?)

I feel like my writing needs a little corner to call its own. Some place that I’ve pegged off to say this area is for writing and typing. There is one other option by the cats litter tray but it doesn’t feel that auspicious, does it? I don’t suppose Tolkien started creating hobbits surrounded by Fussy Puss Litter, Extra Strength. It just feels a bit wrong. I know some authors write in their shed, but our shed has shed things in it. Perching on top of a lawn-mower being watched by spiders doesn’t appeal either.

Ah well, I know I’ll work around this and sort something out. Sometimes I think my brain spins up excuses for me to not write, as if I ‘can’t’ do it then I can’t send things away and my stories can’t be rejected. Oh brain, you cunning annoying thing, you. I don’t want this sort of protection – I want to get going!

26 comments:

The Words Crafter said...

I'm so sorry you're having all these issues. But at least you have your sense of humor! You had me laughing out loud.

Hope you get it sorted quickly :)

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Believe it or not, I was having shoulder problems from writing at my desk! I was turning like a noodle to prop my ankles up on the desktop and it threw my shoulder into tantrums. I'm writing on a laptop now..... that Mac Air thing I told you about... and I love it. The battery lasts forever, so I go write outside under the trees. HIghly recommended!

Old Kitty said...

I really really really hope you find a little corner of your own where you can set up desk, pc/laptop, comfy chair, good lighting and great big sign that reads "Artist at work, do not disturb, unless you have whiskers and four paws."! :-)

A room of one's own. You need one, darn it! I have everything crossed for you! :-) Take care
x

Maria Zannini said...

Oh, that's awful. When I couldn't sit at my desk anymore (back problems) I bought an adjustable little computer stand--kinda looks like the ones they have in hospital rooms that can adjust up and down as well as tilt.

Works great and I can write in bed if I want.

Anne Gallagher said...

Why can't you bring the laptop to bed? Just wondering?

Sage Ravenwood said...

Maria had the same line of thinking I did, an adjustable computer stand, or a wood tv tray that you can fold up and put away.

I know nothing inspires more than having a place of your own to write in. My desk in an alcove right before you go up the stairs to the bedrooms.

I use binders for notes and files alike. You can hole punch through your files. Makes everything easier to pack up.(Hugs)Indigo

Mystica said...

Hope everything gets sorted out soon. Your sense of humor is intact though.

dianefaith said...

I wish for you a place to write. It really does make a difference for some of us. I am lucky to have bought myself a small, teeny house, out of which I write. And babysit. And other stuff. But, this is my writing corner. It matters.

Carol E Wyer said...

Oh dear you have set off another coughing fit. I really shouldn't read amusing posts at the moment let alone ones like this which have you guffawing at lines like 'It's hard innit?'
You're welcome to come and share my space anytime...from oyster to sardine in one move.
Thank you for cheering up a grey day.

penandpaints said...

I feel your pain. It is difficult to find your own spot. I write on the laptop in the living room, but the tv is a problem, with flux capacitors and the like calling out to me. I always have neck ache from curling up for hours on end. It's not good.
Good luck finding your writing arena!

Sarah said...

I use a laptop and have a few spots. I just carry it all over the house. Sometimes I sit on my bed, sometimes in my kitchen, sometimes the living room. Sometimes I plug in headphones to drown out environmental distractions (what a terrible way to refer to my family :)!). But I certainly respect writers who carve out a little spot that is only for writing. I really do think it helps some people get in the right mindset. I do that with music, and the space around me doesn't much matter. I hope you find a way to carve out a little space for yourself soon!

Out on the prairie said...

I have to have some room. I like the full keyboard against my laptop also.I always have my office in an extra bedroom,after trying to do all in my bedroom originally.

MorningAJ said...

I tend to sneak upstairs with the laptop and sit on the bed - but there's a TV up there too and it's quite tempting to 'have it on in the background'. (Yeah - background - right!)

Do you have room in your garden for an extra shed?

J.B. Chicoine said...

Oh my goodness! I can't even imagine trying to write in 'community' space! I'd say that if you're getting any writing done at all, you are doing quite well!

Ev said...

I'm laughing! All our writerly brains must work the same way when it comes to procrastination. My brain always tells me that the ironing or the washing or the needless cleaning HAS to be done when my laptop is calling. I don't have a desk either. But I barricade myself into the tiniest box room in Dublin, sit on a kitchen chair, legs stretched across onto the bed and balance laptop on my lap. Comfy enough actually. I edit downstairs with the 'fambly'about but can't write the first draft with noise and distractions. Keep at it girleen!

Ev said...

PS - Was it Virgina Woolf who said every woman needed a 'room of her own'?

Kittie Howard said...

Oh, Jayne, your sense of humor is precious. Really chuckled over the kitty potty.

I inherited a logistical problem when my hub's work allowed him to do more from home. He truly needed to spread out at this computer. I needed to get the old brain to spread out...so we had wifi installed and I got a netbook. Can plop anywhere, even go outside (within 200 feet). The battery lasts for four hours. If my brain lasts two hours, it's an Einstein day!

Hope you get this sorted out soonest. Meow to the kids.

Anonymous said...

I think this is the best opening line in a blog ever!
I would love to have a desk of my very own but, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit, I seem to do all my best writing lying in bed. Lazy yet highly convenient.

Daniel said...

I'm in the same boat as you, moved back with my folks, put most of my furniture in storage. I solved the problem with a nice comfortable beanbag chair for the winters, and a patio furniture in the summer.

Unknown said...

I feel for you and I hope you get everything sorted out. I love my corner of the couch, where I can still be in the center of everything going on at home. But my latest must-have tool is my stepsons laptop lap desk. It's a table just big enough to fit my laptop on top, that has beanbag cushions attached to the bottom, so it forms to my legs very comfortably. Best thing, it keeps my laptop cool because it isn't directly sitting on my laps. Awesome.

Terri Tiffany said...

I hope you find that perfect spot to spin out your words!!

Arlee Bird said...

A corner of your own is nice and a home office is even nicer when you can get it. Maybe living with the inconveniences will help you gain more writer discipline than some of us have. Then there's always the library or a coffee shop for an hour or two.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge

Happy Frog and I said...

I hope it all gets settled soon, you need a place to focus your thoughts and write. x

Kathryn said...

You always write such a humorous post even when in dire straits.I hopoe you find somewhere better to write soon.

Ruth Fanshaw said...

Could you get a little folding table to use in the bedroom? You know, the kind people eat TV dinners off? :)

craighallam said...

I love your constant new superhero names for yourself. Made me chuckle.

I know what you mean about having a space to write. My spare room (or The Pit as it used to be known) is now full of unbuilt flatpacks and has been for some time. That means I'm relegated to anywhere else in the house. Anywhere! I've even thought of being one of those pretentious peple who sit in a coffee shop and write. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Hope you get some solidity soon!