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January 22, 2013

A SNEAK PEEK AT WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS - by Kathy Ivan

Everybody's been unwinding from a busy and hectic holiday season, and I'm no different. I just got the rest of my Christmas decorations put away today and it's the middle of January! I am already falling behind. Trying to come up with a blog post for today . . . well my brain completely shut off. Couldn't think of a single thing I thought would interest people coming to the PP blog.

Then it hit me. Literally. My spiral bound calendar fell off the corner of my desk and landed on my foot, a clear indication something had to be done with the stacks and stacks of stuff sitting on my desk.

Let me explain. I work a full time job in addition to writing. But I'm one of the "lucky" ones who can work from home. I'm basically on the computer all day long. I work at the computer. I write at the same computer. It is pretty much my constant companion. So I thought I'd share with you my writing space.



Ta da!!! Here's a picture of where the magic happens. The magic of writing that is. Most of my writing takes place seated at this desk. I have a dedicated office space, a separate bedroom which I have converted into a combination work/writing den of sorts. A large desk dominates most of the space as you can see but I love it. I love being able to spread out and have space for my papers, my ergonomic keyboard, and anything else I need, all within easy reach. (Sorry the pictures are a little dark, I couldn't get the flash to work right.)

My printer is on another table next to the desk, giving me as much space as possible to spread out. I like comfort when I writing. Sit me down with a glass of iced tea with lemon, my candle, and turn me loose. I always have a candle on the desk, too. I burn the same scent or fragrance throughout the story. Any time after that, whenever I smell that particular scent, it evokes memories of the story for me.

There you have, it my little corner of writing paradise. I know some people like to go to coffee shops or cafes or even bookstores to write, taking their laptops with them. Even I do that on occasion, but as they say there's no place like home, and for me my little writing cave is home.

Would you like to find out about other Plotting Princesses writing spaces and maybe see some pics of their creative areas? Let us know and we might feature other PP girls in upcoming blog posts.

By the way, Second Chances got a great review from Night Owl Reviews. They gave it 4.5 stars and a TOP PICK! Yay! To read the review, click HERE.



Whenever Kathy isn't at her desk typing away on her latest book, she can be found with her e-reader in hand, reading and wishing she had some chocolate chip cookies to go with the story. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? Okay, carrots and celery will have to do. Her latest release, Second Chances is available in print at Amazon in e-book and print, B & N, and other e-book retailers. She's busy at work on the sequel.

15 comments:

Sylvia said...

Hi Kathy,
I love your writing space. My office is up on the second floor and I have a window beside my desk where I can look out. My desk is an antique teachers desk with a cabinet where your typewriter can reside. I have my awards hanging on the wall over my monitor so it remind me during tough times, I can do this.

By the way, I know why your book is a top pick. It was excellent. I enjoyed it very much.

Elizabeth Essex said...

I am all envy! Your writing space is so spacious and ORGANIZED!!!

I have an office, but it has become such a shared space/dumping ground for the res of the family that I have abandoned it, and write on my laptop in my bedroom (mostly in my bed!) where I have room to spread all my books and pages out.

I did make an attempt to clean up the office, but since I can't change other people's behavior, only my own, I'm going to have to resign myself to a permanent mess. :(

Hope you have a happy and productive writing day in your wonderful space. :)

Cheers, EE

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Kathy! You have a very nice office and it's organized well. You should be having some fun in there. ox

Addison said...

Kathy:

I always love a peak into writers' caves - yours is lovely!

I also know what you mean about the joy of writing in your own space. I try other spots in the house and on occasion have tried the library or a cafe, but I always have my most productive writing sessions in my office. It engages my brain in a way no other place can.

Addison

PS
Congratulations on your very well-deserved Top Pick !!

Kathy Ivan said...

Aw, thanks, Sylvia. I loved writing Second Chances and it's thrilling when somebody says they like your story.

I adore having my own writing space. Although I work and write in the same space, it's my "comfort zone" where I can go and close the door when I need peace and quiet. Plus I love having a bigger desk now, so I can spread things out.

Kathy Ivan said...

Well, Ms EE, it's not always this oragnized. Especially during the day when I'm working, stuff is spread out all over the place. But I do try to keep the piles of stuff at least stacked neatly. LOL

Thanks for dropping by and sharing a few minutes in my "space."

Kathy Ivan said...

I do have fun with my space, although I'm focused when I'm back there. Once the day job is done, the writer's hat can come on and then I get to play in my wonderful playground. Having a separate space in the house to do this makes a huge difference.

Kathy Ivan said...

Thanks, Addison. I'm happy that people seem to like Ryan and Rose's story. The TOP PICk was a total surprise but a nice one. :-)

I have tried the different places to write. I even had a big comfy chair and ottoman in my sunroom, but there's no place like your own chair and desk to get the words flowing. Thanks so much for dropping by. (see you Friday!)

Pamela Stone said...

Great office. At my last house, I turned the formal study over to my hubby and took over one of the upstairs bedrooms. I covered one wall with a beach mural. Added one of those boat shaped shelves and a comfy wicker chair. A basket of seashells. No clutter, just comfy like sitting on the beach. Bought the awesome rolltop desk I'd always dreamed of. The room was awesome. My problem was that I was so relaxed when I went up there that I didn't write. Found that I still had better luck with my laptop downstairs in the middle of the bed or in a recliner. Go figure.

Here, I have a laptop desk at the end of the bedroom and my hubby, again, got the formal study. IT seems to work though.

Kathy Ivan said...

Pam, I had to laugh at your description of the office. We always think we want everything a certain way and we'll be more productive, get so much more done. But when we fix everything up just the way we want, the words stop coming. Although a nice beach to write at . . . hmmm sounds ilke a great place to be right now.

It does sound like it was lovely though.

Phyllis said...

Yes, Kathy, your office is very nice. My house is in a constant state of disarray, so although I may have the space, it is not set up. Besides I actually do most my writing any place and everyplace. The bed, at my other job when things are quiet...where ever. My best imagination time aka 'scene workout' time is while I'm driving. Those scenes come alive for me then.

And congrats again on Second Chances. It really is good!

Karilyn Bentley said...

Hi Kathy,
I love your writing space and the keyboard. I'm still on my laptop, but we have one of those keyboards on the other computer. Congrats on the review! I loved the book!!

Liz Lipperman said...

Love your writing cave, Kathy, but I am intrigued by the same-candle- until-the-end of-the-book thing. Isn't it funny how we all have our THING we don't want to NOT do for fear of breaking the magic? I use blue felt tip pens and a notebook with the metal squiggles at the top. Thanks for sharing your lovely work place.

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