Well. It's been a terribly stressful week, but it's finished up in a pretty delightful way - Lots of tea, Barnes & Noble, snarky comments, Girl Scout cookies, and a bit of alone time. I took a moment to enjoy
I found, and don't remember how [most likely through one of the blogs I frequent daily.] I've been as of late rediscovering my true self, as we all do from time to time, and remembered that who I really am is a writer, born and bred. As I was reading it, I got somewhat inspired to think about these questions myself and it was quite fulfilling. Every writer must appreciate their Writin' Room. On campus apartment: It may be, but it's my own space, and I feel at home in it, which is perfect to promote creativity. So, check out the interview with author
, but here's mine below as well...
What does your desk—the bare desk itself—look like, and how did you acquire it?
It belongs to the university, so not much mystery in the desk alone, in all its nakedness. But it's a good size, probably not made of real wood, though it is pretty convincing, and the whole thing's really heavy. I would know. There's a big drawer where I keep papers I don't know what to do with, a medium drawer where I keep electronic stuff, and a smaller drawer where I keep materials-of-an-academic sense [stapler, pens, et cetera]. And a pull-out tray thing I just found a purpose for [dinner assistant]. And a drawer for makeup and jewelry, too, cos I'm a girl, and we need those. There are never enough drawers.
What’s on your desk?
My beloved black MacBook when it's not on my bed or my bedside table, speakers my sister gave me and my roommates and neighbours probably hate her for it, Halo tin in which is a whole bunch of packs of Trident Spearmint gum, a couple CDs [one for Musical Theatre class, one is a T.Rex mix from Chad], DVD player which now has a pink remote since someone from some party probably stole the old one, the perfect-sized television right on top of that, HP Photosmart printer that I yell at far too often considering I hope it lives forever. On top of the printer is a lovely display of memories: A Jack Daniels tin I bought at Sainsbury's back in '08 [it used to have a couple nips in it], memorial bottle of Jack for Mikey [miss you bunches, bud], the Dalek I got in Cardiff, a piece of the giant Christmas tree from IMC's Nutcracker '09 [hilarious to those who saw me haul it around three times a day], and, oh yes, an empty bottle of hand sanitizer.
What do you wish wasn’t on your desk?
Well, I recently cleaned my desk, so it's actually making me quite happy right now. But right now, there's a box of Girl Scout cookies I just bought, and it's taunting me. It's the kind we always called Samoas as Girl Scouts in Connecticut, but they call them Caramel deLites here which is both poor spelling and annoyingly lacking in creativity.
Are there artifacts in your office that relate to your current project?
I don't think I'll ever have an "office." Maybe if I ever get married. But I kind of like sleeping where I work. Anyway, most things relating to my current project are on my lappers/XHD, but there are bunches of England-related things on my wall [including a David Tennant Love's Labours Lost, an Underground symbol, a War Horse poster, LFC paraphernalia, English flag] and most of the book is set in current day London, and the main character is an actor from Liverpool, so.
Are there living things in your office (besides yourself)?
This is why I am planning on getting fish, yes, this week. But I hate what they look like when they die, so I'm nervous. I have a goat marionette and lots of dust bunnies under my bed. That's as close as I can get at the mo.
What else surrounds you?
Naturally, my bed, which I think is the most comfortable thing in the world until I sleep elsewhere in a real bed and swoon. I've also got a blue college apartment style couch, which is only in here because I'm on the first floor so when we moved the new couch into the living room, we had to put this one somewhere. On that, I've got a tiny television with a built-in VHS player, which I never use, a British flag, and a humongous scale model of the Globe Theatre that I made last semester. I've got a minifridge for beverages only. On that is a sideways milk crate that fits about half of my books that are in this state [about 5% of my whole collection - If I could have anything in my dream apartment, it would be a ginormous bookcase], a Strand bookstore mug, a Rough Trade record shop mug, a Hartford Whalers beer mug, and an empty Lucozade bottle. My guitar's over there by the unused couch - It's a gorgeous Martin DX1 acoustic and I treasure it - I'm extremely choosey about who can touch it. Next to that is my dresser on top of which sits beauty products, all of which are green, a lamp, which is blue, my five pound weights I lift whenever my arms are bored, and my brand new Aroma electric tea kettle since I dropped my other one on stone steps during a rainstorm amidst my last move. Next to that is my wastebasket, which is still covered in strips of luaun - I altered it to use as a prop for last summer's What the Butler Saw and it was quite the project. It was a good summer. Finally, the last truly mentionable item is my bedside table because it has somehow survived since my motel-life days. It's black, simple, and one of my favourite, and yet most forgettable things. It always has at least five books and a pack of gum on it.
What’s on the walls?
Starting from the window, which has blinds that are never opened except to peer out on the occasional drunken brawl outside, because it overlooks a street and campus life. Above the window is a quote from Doctor Who, yup: "The truth is, the world is so much stranger than that, so much darker, so much madder, and so much better." I wrote it using ink [literally], and a white oil pastel with ink-water mixture. Turn left. Poster from the RSC's David Tennant Love's Labours Lost, though I wish I'd gotten the Hamlet one since that got ridiculously famous. War Horse poster from the National Theatre. Posters from shows I've been involved with. KCACTF Dukakis Centre sign that the three of us took after our last load-out last year, and wrote a bunch of quotes from the week on it. Next to that hangs the goat marionette [it's large]. My mum got that for me. On the other side of the door: LFC posters. On closet door hangs the annual Britain calendar. February focuses on The Highlands. Bagpipers. Beside the closet are two vintage Clash album covers straight from the '70s. Wall behind bed has the big English flag. Behind headboard is London Underground poster, and beside that is 'the friends wall.' This includes, mostly, stuff my friends have made me [drawings, thank you cards, a Valentine card, birthday card, photo, and a legitimate photo booth strip]. I live in a campus apartment. Personalisation and non-empty walls are huge feats.
What have you lost in your office that you really wish you could find?
So many socks! My sock population constantly dwindles. Also, my London charm necklace. Actually, the second one. Because I lost the first one somewhere this summer. It's a doomed necklace.
What tools do you write with?
This necessitates a list:
-Black MacBook [which is covered in stickers and nearly four years of love. One of my greatest dreams is that this guy shall live forever.]
-Sketchbook, which I use for writing down anything and everything. From grushry lists to class notes to ideas. You can tell when I'm working on my book because I write in illegible cursive so no one can read it [sometimes including me]. I use sketchbooks for writing and those big yellow lined writing pads for sketching.
-Black Pilot Precise rolling ball pens.
-iTunes genius, or purposefully built playlists.
-Beer or tea or whiskey or Red Bull, depending on the mood.
-Photos [locations and characters].
Is anyone allowed to come in and clean?
I think that's a question for people who can afford to pay people who enjoy being paid to clean eccentric writers' offices. I have no office, and little money, so. I clean my own writin' room and it thrills me every time.
You can find me out on the red carpet as head photographer. It sounds fancy, but I'm just really excited to dress snazzy and in all black - That's one of my favourite pasttimes.
