Look how he's got a light fixed onto the top of his chair!

Shag me sideways! I've just seen the post-its! I'd read through the thread before, but not looked at the pic - and I didn't expect it to be anywhere near that many!

I obviously have a sick mind too as my writing area is very well-organised. Wax, for some reason, I would have imagined yours to be quite chaotic! And I still have an image of you sitting on an old box (was that what it was, before you read about everyone's back problems and got a sensible chair?)!

However, as I'm still homeless and staying at my mum's, my current writing area is in my brother's old bedroom. It stinks of stale fags, Jack Daniels and Pizza Hut no matter how many times I clean it and how many joss sticks I burn. I'm surrounded by boxes of my stuff and ironing boards and things. Yet somehow I don't mind it as much as I thought I would. It kind of feels like a little hideaway - and I guess that's what I want most from a writing space.

Normally, when I'm in my own home, my writing area would also be my bedroom. I have to have my desk by a window (so I can gawp out of it as another means of procrastination). I have lots of candles and ornaments and things around in my favourite bright colours (mainly turquoise and purple). I also have lots of folders and magazine boxes around and they are mostly purple too. OK, I know the colour thing is starting to sound slightly neurotic. Wait until I tell you that the desktop on my computer matches all my candles, ornaments and folders too! I have a pinboard nearby, but it just has more brightly-coloured postcards on it and things that make me laugh (silly messages from friends, photos, etc.).

I've never thought of two desks. Sounds like a damn good idea to me.

Cath

Yes, most of my last novel was written sat atop a box of old books held together by string. Since the trhead in question, I've invested in proper seating arrangements!

I like to keep the chaos on the inside of my skull, if possible. I find I can create a lot better in a tidy environment, overall. A wall of curling Post It notes would drive me mental.

JB

Shag me sideways!

Where? When?

I think that being organised is really important. I'm with Waxy on the folders things - every (sizeable) project has its own wallet, notebook and CD. Seperate ones for correspondance and paperwork (receipts, invoices etc.). It's while I'm working on something that things get messy. And when I'm working on a couple of things at once, well I'm sure you can imagine. But the important thing is that I know where everything is. Nearly. As Emma said somewhere else, it's about having your (messy, sprawling, artisitc, chaotic) writing self, and your neat and well organised business, professional self. It's important to know where things are so I can reach for them and produce them whenever I need to, be it in a flash of inspiration, or finding out when I sent magazine X, story Y. That info would, in fairness, be available on my Excel Spreadsheet - but the details of emails etc. are all in my file.

I feel like a geek. A rambling geek.

Nik.

PS Anyone see celeb X factor? Never usually watch that kind of thing but it was BRILLIANT! Those chefs were great, and Sharon Osbourne - you STAR!

PPS
Skip, if you click on the photy it'll take you to another one. There are seventy odd I think. His office is fascinating. What are his books like? Never read any and heard mixed reviews...

Where? When?

My word, you young scoundrel!

I've just looked at the other pics. Quite sick! But then I doubt I'll ever dedicate enough of my life to just writing for a room to ever get like that - I've got too many other interests as well!

Maybe he has hos own books there to remind him of his accomplishments and keep him in a positive frame of mind?? Actually, they look like they;ve been carefully arranged for the photo to me.

Cath


<Added>

p.s. Hey, I have a geeky love of Excel spreadsheets too.

p.p.s. I think it's important to keep Business stuff and creative stuff seperate. That's why I've got lots of playful bright coloured things round my desk and all my bank statements and things are hidden away in a cupboard somewhere.

Scoundrel? Hehe! Don't think I've ever been called that before. I'm as straight laced as they come. Honest!

And yes, Excel spreads rock! As do colourful, well used, battered notebooks. And Philips CDRs that come in different colours (purple's the best). And flourescant Post-its (not as many in my office as Mr Self's though - Thank God!).

I think you're right about his books,they do look like they've been put their for the benefit of the pictures. There's nothing wrong with a bit of shameless plugging.

Nik

I turned an old oak door into my writing desk and everything that isn't writing related (eg. admin!) hides under the floor in dusty piles. I burn frankinscense resin when I'm working and drink gallons of rosemary tea. Will Self's study scared the bejeezus out of me, but we all have our quirks - I will only write with my one lovely Mont Blanc pen with burgandy ink - also, when the afternoon sun floods my desk I put on a hat to shade my eyes!

Stranger and stranger, said Alice!

J

Yeah, fluorescent post-its - especially pink - are infintely superior to normal ones. I also used to have purple post-its that said "A message from Catherine" on them. They were cool.

Oh yeah, I'm all for lots of herbal tea whilst writing too. I used to smoke loads of fags too - and even have turquoise and purple ashtrays! But I've given up now.

Cath

At a distance my writing habits must look quite methodical - neat coloured folders, stacked according to size in piles for each project,
However, appearances can be deceptive and dare to open my 'work in progress' file and you would be faced by an illegible mound of scrawlings, headings, crossings-out, circles, stars... all of which only make sense to me.
I can be quite anal, however, about getting all my other work done before sitting down to write, so that i can clear my mind.

Celebrity X Factor - go Sharon, for saying what we've all been thinking! Can't wait to see how she judges Rebecca and James tonight! (although i don't mind the Major too much).
I couldn't watch the chefs (and i love JC Novelli) - looked like drunken relatives at a wedding!
Still recovering from Chris Moyles' dancing

Sammy