It’s Moving Day: So Exactly What Does the Modern Writer’s Office Look Like?
By Tom Chandler on Oct 8, 2007 in Writer tools, Writing
Moving is stressful. It’s a lot of backbreaking work (and I noticed none of you offered to help).
The Writer’s Office doesn’t look like this. So what does it look like?
The good news? A new home office space is in my future. (New. That’s an exciting word).
Because I started down copywriting’s path when most copy was still being written on typewriters, I’m afraid my concept of the copywriter’s office might be a little dated.
Indeed, — in the era of powerful laptops and wi-fi — is the home office even an office? Or is it simply the whole home?
So I’m turning to you for ideas.
Where do you work? What’s your dream office look like? And what clever little ideas have you found to make your home office more workable?
Has anyone tried to go truly paperless?
My future is in your hands. (Sort of.)
Keep writing, Tom Chandler.
[tags]writing, home office[/tags]
My office? It’s wherever I have a comfortable chair and a laptop. The office these days is where I store papers, financial records, and so on. The place where I actually do my writing depends on where the sun is, where other people are, where I left the laptop last time, and so on. Most everything I need is on the computer or the Internet.
Tim S. | Oct 8, 2007 | Reply
My dream office has doors and isn’t located within arm’s reach of the refrigerator. Oh, and it doesn’t contain the only other computer in the house (in constant use by 3 kids.)
I do use a laptop, but find when I lounge on the couch, I don’t get much work done. If I’m plugged in at my desk, I’m much more productive.
Congrats on the move!
Julie Anne | Oct 8, 2007 | Reply
I promised myself a new laptop when my old house sold, but wonder how they fare on a productivity level (not writing, but all the other Web-based stuff I do) compared to a desktop.
Still, the “home” office might just become the entire home. It’s tempting…
Tom Chandler | Oct 8, 2007 | Reply
Welcome back…I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now…
On the current discussion…
All raising the question: do we work at home or live at work?
I find I tend to use my laptop downstairs for recreational web browsing and personal email and still sit at the desk in my upstairs office to get the real writing work done.
One requirement: Fresh flowers on my desk.
Melissa Elicker | Oct 9, 2007 | Reply
Sometimes the line between work and life blurs, especially when we’re all writing so much on our blogs, social networks, etc.
My fly fishing blog is a labor of love, but now it’s generating revenue. Am I still having fun, or am I now a serious businessman?
Tom Chandler | Oct 10, 2007 | Reply
That’s a lot of boxes! Is that just for your office, or the entire house?
Laura | Oct 11, 2007 | Reply
That’s the garage. The house is a forest of boxes…
Tom Chandler | Oct 11, 2007 | Reply
Tom, can’t you have fun and be a business person as the same time? If you still love writing for that blog and you make money at the same time, what could be better?
legbamel | Oct 13, 2007 | Reply
Ugh, moving. I’m still living with unpacked boxes from our big move 2 years ago (and my husband’s tacky beer stein collection which I wouldn’t let him unpack from the move BEFORE the last move.
But I digress :=)
I work in my office, period. I need physical separation from work space and family/personal space so when work is done, I get to shut the door on it for a few hours.
My special treat to myself? A really, really good chair.
Don’t work too hard, Tom, and when it’s time to unload the boxes, don’t forget to Freecycle.org
Roberta Rosenberg | Oct 16, 2007 | Reply
Leg: Writing my fly fishing blog will remain fun, but running a business ads a layer of drudgery — ad sales, billing advertisers, media kit, promotion, etc.
It changes things.
Roberta: I’m in my shiny office (away from the house hubub). Only problem now are those dolts at AT&T, who have messed up our phone & DSL order three times.
Guess who’s on dialup the rest of the week?
Tom Chandler | Oct 16, 2007 | Reply
Tom, I feel your pain. Took Verizon 3 weeks to get our order straight. I spent WAY too much time on dial-up during the duration. Finally dumped the DSL and went to cable. Now I’m thinking FIOS but that means a return to Verizon. Ugh.
Roberta Rosenberg | Oct 17, 2007 | Reply
Sounds familiar, and since we’re a ways away from the nearest switching box, I’m waiting to see what our actual throughput is.
We may be switching to cable yet…
Tom Chandler | Oct 17, 2007 | Reply
I think everybody messes up DSL. Qwest screwed up my order: I told them I have a Mac and they said “no problem,” then sent out a couple of clueless PC-only guys for my “free installation.”
My dream office would have a skylight and windows. Like Julie Anne’s, it would be separate from the refrigerator and have a door. There would be cozy beds for the dog and the cats, where they could be with me but not be able to sleep on the computer when I’m not there. And every wall would have shelves from top to bottom.
Cathy Goodwin | Oct 18, 2007 | Reply
I have quit the job for 3 years. Now I do business at home.Everything is good. :)
batteryfast | Oct 20, 2007 | Reply
Cathy: Skylights are good. Skylights are our friends. But here’s a stunner; I’m not 100% certain I want windows where I work.
My new house has stunning views (I live on the side of a 14,000′ inactive volcano), yet it’s easier for me to keep my head down and work while I’m in the “dungeon” — my bottom floor office.
If I need views, I can always take the laptop upstairs.
But shelves. Hmmmmmm, shelves…
Tom Chandler | Oct 20, 2007 | Reply
Interesting! I love light. But some writers need to be away from light. Amy Tan says she needs to be in a windowless room or she draws the blinds.
Cathy Goodwin
Cathy Goodwin | Oct 20, 2007 | Reply