Where we write: A glimpse into our offices

From time to time, we share interesting details about our writing lives. Our favorite writing books. Books we’re reading. Our upcoming publications. Today, a look at where we write.

Kate Flora: Because we have to houses, and also spend a month in Florida in March, I’ve written in a lot of different places. All I need is a seat, a surface, and my trusty laptop, and I’m off and writing. But about ten years ago, recognizing that I was writing at the kitchen table and had to clear away my work every time we had guests, I convinced my husband that we really needed a dedicated office. I call the space the cupcake box, since it’s a small room perched on the third floor of our 100+ year old cottage. Small since it has desks for me and for my husband who is working on a book and some law review articles. Small since it also has bookcases and a reading chair and my mother’s old dining table for reference books to spread out. Distracting because it has ocean views in three directions. Wonderful because it is bright and airy and in summer the winds blow through the room.

Kaitlyn Dunnett/Kathy Lynn Emerson: I don’t have Kate’s view. Heck, I don’t have any view (by choice), but this is where I do most of my writing.

The rest is done sitting on the sofa with an open looseleaf notebook and a pen with colored ink (sometimes red and sometimes blue, as long as it contrasts with the black on the printout). I revise that way, then make more adjustments when I type the changes into the pc. I did buy a laptop awhile back, when tariffs were first threatened, and also as a back up for when my ancient pc dies. At the moment (knock wood) it’s still going strong and the laptop lives on the kitchen table, essentially serving as (yet) another backup for each day’s work.

Kait Carson: Don’t be fooled. It doesn’t look this good in person. There’s something to be said for staging! Yes, the cats are always with me. Wouldn’t have it any other way. And they participate whenever then can. I take editorial help whenever I can get it – so not  proud.

My office is in the basement. The view isn’t great, unless you’re a cat – lots of squirrels, at least in the summer. In the winter the view becomes a snow drift. All that snow from the roof has to go some place. The photos on the wall are from my days of writing for the True Confessions magazine franchise. Each of those covers features one of my stories. A big deal back in the day.

Piper’s review of the first draft

William and Cub wait for the author to show up for work

 

Matt Cost writes in the living room with head phones on. This is his mess.