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5.
AOTW: In On Writing, King describes his workplace, his "writing
room," if you will, and how it has changed and evolved or time.
What is yours like? And has the setup basically remained the same
over the years?
Noreen
Ayres: My setup is basically the same. Lots of books around
and as much clear, flat surfaces as I can manage. And I don't face
windows --- too distracting.
Daniel
Handler: After years of occupying corners I finally got a room
of one's own. On the wall, I put a photograph of my grandfather
and a bulletin board on which to pin possible book titles. In front
of the window I put my desk, which was built by my brother-in-law
Seth. On every other available surface I put books, lots and lots
and lots of them. I recently moved to a new apartment with a new
room. I added a stereo, tons more books, and a new desk, because
Mayflower Movers wrecked the one Seth made.
Laurie
Halse Anderson: I started writing in a closet (honest!). I used
a shutter on two stacks of boxes for a desk. As my confidence grew,
I moved to the basement. In the next house, I shared space with
the junk in the guest bedroom. Now I have a room of my own. Claiming
this space, making it my own, had a huge impact on my writing. It
has two windows that face south, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a
beat-up old desk and a comfortable reading chair. It is easy to
write here.
Jeffery
Deaver: I write pretty much anywhere --- on planes, in hotel
rooms, anywhere in my house. (My office sometimes gets so cluttered
I end up working in the kitchen. When the kitchen goes, it's up
to my bedroom. And so on and so on. I wish I had a bigger house.)
I like the writing area to be silent (or with jazz or classical
accompaniment, occasionally) and either windowless or shaded. When
it comes time to write the book itself I'll shut the lights out,
picture the scene I'm about to write then close my eyes and go at
it. (Yes, I can touch type. And yes, sometimes my hands accidentally
move over one key and I end up with a paragraph or two of encryption.)
Brad
Meltzer: It's always the same, but now it just has fancier furniture.
It's a desk and a computer, that's it. When THE TENTH JUSTICE got
published, we got a couch. There are also animation cels on the
walls, and books and papers are strewn everywhere.
Jonathan
Kellerman: I was a failed writer with a very good day job for
13 years. During those bad old days, I wrote from 11PM to 1AM in
an unfinished garage. After I got published, I moved the car out
and spruced the garage up a bit. That lasted for six or seven novels.
Me and the spiders. Then Faye and I bought a new house nine years
ago and I built myself a huge, gorgeous office nearly commodious
enough to contain my ego. My desk, like Stephen's, sits in the corner
--- but I never thought that out as any grand scheme. It just seemed
to fit that way. Books and art and my children's school projects
and a few of my favorite guitars keep me company. I've got a great
view but rarely take the time to notice. If I had to, I could write
in a closet. Or a garage. Once you get going, it's all internal.
Lisa
Scottoline: I have a small, bright office in my house, with
a table-desk and computer, but I play the radio, the TV, and CD
all the time I write. Golden retrievers come and visit, nosing coffee
mugs to the table's edge and turning their heads sideways to reach
my leftover lunch. My hubby drops by to visit and talk about the
furnace. Kids stop in and flop in the big chair to complain about
homework. Though I am a writer, I am a wife and mother, and my family
flows through my work all the time. Though I campaigned hard for
a door to my office, I never shut it. I think I just wanted to flex
my muscles.
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