by Victoria M. Johnson
First let me say that I
personally am not a pack rat. I do
have an affinity for certain things, such as office supplies... and books... and
pens... and um, gadgets... but I'm more like an aficionado than a hoarder. Really. I don't seek these things out when I'm shopping; somehow they
seem to find me. Friends and
family add to the dilemma by finding items they know I'll like and before you
can say office supplies I have two
dozen purple pens, oodles of heart-shaped post-it note tablets, and more lovely
journals than I can possibly fill if I lived to be a hundred years old.
When I open a drawer of my
credenza--to innocently grab a paper clip--I'm shocked at the number of notepads,
whiteout correction tapes, and stacks of neon colored 3 x 5 cards that are
inside. It's as if they multiplied
overnight. Envelopes, postage stamps, and mailing
labels fight for drawer space. Where
did all those highlighters come from?
But the excitement doesn't stop there. I also have gadgets like extra flash drives, cables, hard
drives, and other technical necessities.
Let's not talk about my iPad, scanner, and four-in-one printer. Notice how I haven't brought up books
yet?
I'm perfectly happy in my
office. Though it's starting to
get crowded. And I'm curious if
other writers find themselves in this situation. How many pens and how much paper do we need to be a writer? None of us ever want to risk not having
something to jot down those brilliant ideas that come to us, right? A friend once asked me if I ever get
writers block. "Only if I don't have a purple pen," I replied. I'm not obsessed. Purple makes me more creative. Purple turns me on.
Which leads to the big question:
how many reference books do we need?
I can say I have all that I need.
Until I see another book that has new insights and inspiration. Then I will want that one too. Surely I'm not the only writer who
behaves this way? Take my quiz below
and let me know how much you have in common with me.
1. Do you have more than two
drawers of office supplies?
2. Do you have five or more sizes
of post-it notes?
3. Do you own more than three
thesauruses?
4. Are you happy you can write
off office supplies on your taxes?
If you want to read more about my creative writing space, click here.
Victoria M. Johnson
knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer. She loves
telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new
plots. Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction
debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma, (A 2012
Bookseller’s Best double finalist). Her
other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot
Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films
and two micro documentaries. Visit her website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com and find Victoria's Amazon author page or connect
with her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
How did you know, Victoria!? Yes to all of your questions. I also have shelves and cartons of books and magazines that may provide the answers to my research questions. Not to mention reams of paper, notebooks galore and pads of lined paper....
ReplyDeleteYou are SO neat!!!
DeleteHi Leigh--
DeleteWe must be related! Only my drawers are neat, the office, not so much. Thanks for taking the quiz.
Victoria--
I call it "constructive chaos." It's how I write. Touch anything on my desk at your peril.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina--
DeleteOh, that's a nice way to describe it. We writers are that way about our desks aren't we?
Victoria--
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI must not have the illness. I only have 2 sizes of post-it notes. Okay, three. Ooops. there's another one. Shoot. I'm ill. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sofie--
DeleteThat's what I'm talking about! They seem to multiply on their own :-)
Victoria--
I don;t have two drawers of office supplies because I don't have an official office or desk. But scattered around the house, I have more tand han 50 pens in various bright colors, all kinds of necessary electronics, shelves of research materials, including a complete set of The World Book Encyclopedia, copyright 1985 (for historical research).
ReplyDeleteHi Jean--
DeleteAha! One doesn't even need an office to have her necessary "stuff."
Victoria--
I love post-it's. I think I hoarde them. Otherwise my desk drawers are a mess. I lose everything including all the cords to my cameras, Chargers cell phones. I really need help.
ReplyDeleteGreat column. Makes me want to organize. Sort of
Hi Kathye--
DeleteI LOVE post-its too! I do love my drawers of writerly supplies. One of the smaller file drawers holds my cables, cords, digital recorder, multimedia reader, flash drives, and those types of items. It saves time to have them handy. See photo above.
Victoria--
We are sisters. I love all kinds of office supplies - post-its, multihued pens, bright bulldog clips, etc, but I work only on the computer. Sigh. I am envious of your neat drawers - even if I straighten mine the next time I open them everything is jumbled again. Sometimes I wonder if everything runs and plays inside the closed drawer.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan--
DeleteI wonder the same thing, too! It's comforting to know I'm not the only writer hooked on office supplies :-)
Victoria--
I have all the things you talk about, but not nearly so neatly organized. God bless the person who invented post-its. (I'm told it was an accident.)
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy--
DeleteWhat would we do without post-its? I didn't know it was an accidental invention! Thank goodness for making mistakes.
Victoria--
I've heard that, too! I think it was supposed to be a new kind of glue, but it didn't fully "stick." Who knew they were creating a dream come true?!
DeleteI have 3 sizes of Post-Its if you count the ones that are shaped like a Christmas ornament with a reindeer on them. Those are usually the only ones I can find. Post-Its grow legs and run around my house, much like the Scotch tape and the scissors!
ReplyDeleteHi Sierra--
ReplyDeleteCute post-it shape and thanks for the note above. It makes sense they were making a new type of glue! It's hilarious your office supplies do that too :-)
Victoria--