Where the Real Work Gets Done

Last month, I took you with me on my treacherous commute to work. This month, I'm giving you a peek of the inner sanctum :)

I'm a slow writer, and I'm within 10,000 words of completing a trilogy. Not completing as in ready to publish, but completing the first draft. Total word count for all three books: approximately 210,000 words.

Much subject to change, of course, once the editing begins. The word count will most likely climb.

Where have I spent countless hours? My desk.

It's six feet long and two-and-a-half feet wide. There have been days I've needed every square inch. But during the writing of this final book, it's looked much like this. But first the chair.

This is the most comfortable chair in our house! I'm serious. In addition, it doesn't get hot or collect dust and dog hair. Perfect. So when I'm sitting here, I can look left and right. When I look straight ahead, I see the monitor.

Left - my favorite windows. Followed by Flynn and Flo.

Left - actually on my desk - my Kindle in its black cover sitting on top of a couple of things I don't know what to do with yet. And some note cards about the trilogy. The little white box? If I told you what was inside, I'd have to, you know . . .

Right - the dining room you can see from last month's commute. On my desk, my calendar, goals book, glasses cases, my timer, the corner of my Coast Guard mousepad, and the great black space reserved for Live-In Handyman's occasional clutter.

Center - work area with my Book #3 notebook open. See the green tabs on the right? Those represent, by character, the plotlines I'm tying up in this last trilogy book. There's at least one page devoted to each.

The Notebooks. One for each book.

And finally, The Brain. This is what keeps everything in order and me functioning without losing my mind.

This handy-dandy Costco credenza houses everything. One book per basket. Plus the fourth one on the top row contains everything I'll need for taxes. The bottom row of baskets contain reference books, paperbacks of my beach books, extra supplies - like note cards - and knit scarves for those few cloudy winter days when I actually get cold.

Oh, see that little round orange box on top? That's where I put all the note cards after I've completed whatever's on them. When I finish the draft, all the cards will either be in the box or in the trash (if I didn't use them). Then I empty the box, put the cards in an envelope, and put them in the basket with the rest of the book information.

That's it. I hope you've enjoyed this romp through my office space.

Since the first Monday of July is July 4 - Independence Day -

I'll be back here on Wednesday, July 6.