Steampunk Fairy Tales: Volume 3 now available!

Read about it »

My Writing Table

When I first graduated from college, I wanted a huge desk. More like a table, really; I didn’t need drawers or anything like that, just a long, but narrow, workspace. I priced them, even at IKEA, and walked away shaking my head. Way too rich for my blood.

As a poor recent grad in need of most things in life, I kept a close watch on the free listings on Craigslist. One day, a solid wood door was listed. I loaded it into my tiny Chevy Cavalier and hauled it home.

Using a stack of old encyclopedias I got for free from a used bookstore, I decoupaged the door with the best illustrations and charts.

 

 

At Home Depot cut me two 4x4 boards to the perfect height. I spray painted them, then used corner brackets to attach them as legs.

I had a huge, beautiful desk for less than $50.

 

 

Right now it’s my writing table, and one of my favorite things about it is all the random information at my fingertips. Any time I need a new name, I scour the table until something sounds good. Cabot and George are just two current Echo Chamber Heist characters that were named from perusing my table.

Anytime I’m stuck, I take a look at my elbows for references to ancient mummies or information about elephant seals. Most of all, it’s just fun. I could afford to replace this ad hoc table with something nicer, but I love it just the way it is.

 

 

 
Related Article

DIY Document Holder
I like writing first drafts, particularly first drafts of tricky chapters, by hand. Being away from a computer helps me focus, and by writing things out, I’m less inclined to scrutinize my writing and delete it before it even has a chance at life. Read on
 
Random Articles

Sprint 17: When Everything Changed
April was an atypical month that diverged from our plans, but with good reason. Leslie applied to a developer boot camp, Academy Pittsburgh, and was accepted! Meanwhile, I started my first contract gig. Read on

 


Review of The Dungeoneers by Jeffery Russell
Jeffery Russell’s debut novel, The Dungeoneers, has a blend of humor that tickles my chuckle glands in a way that only Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series has done before. Read on