This month’s Writer Wednesday prompt is “show us your favorite item on your desk,” and my first impulse was toward one of the stuffed animals in my writing alcove (once upon a time the dinette area, which explains the chandelier). The desk is really a six-foot long all-purpose table, the kind with collapsible legs, long enough to hold all my computer equipment (tower, external hard drive, monitor on a stand, keyboard and mouse, and printer). Then there are containers of binder clips and paper clips, a mug of pens and markers, assorted flash drives (six at the moment—remember when they were exotic and very expensive?), scattered business cards, a stapler, stacks of those note pads that come with charity requests, a folder containing the pages from my last critique group meeting, and so forth.
The inventory doesn’t even include the cards, certificates, calendar/clock, and assorted keepsakes on the window shelves behind the desk, or the old computer desk to my left, with plants, notebooks, box of charging cables, another box of music CDs, reams of paper, spare toner cartridge, mail rack, and a box of light bulbs (for the chandelier).
And the stuffed animals: a fat bumble bee watching me from the top of the tower, a small dinosaur on the window shelf, and a cheerful yellow creature of indeterminate species, covered with multi-colored polka dots, supervising from the old desk.
But my favorite little item, I realized as I went through the list, is a small pin-back button, mounted on a binder clip, which has sat near or below my computer monitor for more years than I can remember, through several computers and multiple desks.
I have half a dozen other Sandra Boynton buttons pinned to a strip of seam binding hanging from a bulletin board, including the very appropriate “I’m Not Messy, I’m Creative.” But “Keep Smiling” has held a place on my desk for a very long time. Jack probably gave it to me—he liked buttons and funny post it notes and, for that matter, stuffed animals. And heaven knows we managed to Keep Smiling for a lot of years.
To visit the desks of the other Writer Wednesday bloggers, check out the list to your right. And see below for Her Hometown Reporter, a new release from our own KD Fleming, and the schedule of upcoming Writer Wednesday topics.
TOBY HENDRICKS HAS THE INSIDE SCOOP ON GINA LAWSON
The reporter is looking for a story that’ll be his ticket out of his small Georgia town. With her political connections, legal assistant Gina Lawson could help Toby realize his aspirations. Their friendship is just an added bonus, but falling in love isn’t part of his five-year plan.
Gina’s devoted to her family and community, and doesn’t plan to ever leave. Though she finds her favorite reporter maddeningly irresistible, she must guard her heart. But when a betrayal of trust threatens to shatter both their dreams, will Gina and Toby learn that they share the same values after all?
Pick up your copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Harlequin!
Kay Hudson 
May 06, 2015 @ 07:21:04
Love it! I must have a button that says, “I’m Not Messy, I’m Creative” I seem to be messy on my household, do everything desk and yet when I write, I need a clean surface. Now at my feet are stacks of books, notes, notebooks and a box with everything for that current story. 🙂 I wish for shelves….
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May 06, 2015 @ 07:37:25
I have a cat carrier (Nutmeg likes to nap in it) and my giant plastic file box (with stack of unfiled papers on top) under my desk, Jean.
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May 06, 2015 @ 07:43:41
Love it, Kay.
I collect fortunes from fortune cookies. I have them taped to both sides of a sheet of paper encased in a clear page protector.
I love refrigerator magnets. My favorite is a yellow, wild-eyed bird with the phrase, “The house was clean yesterday, sorry you missed it.”
Great post and I love the live plants you keep nearby.
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May 06, 2015 @ 07:50:38
Hi, Karen! I should post a pic of my refrigerator–covered in magnets, including a big dry erase calendar that I mark up every week.
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May 06, 2015 @ 08:31:33
I love it, Kay. I have a button near my desk that my kids made in grades school that says “Creativity takes Courage”. I look at it all day long because I often feel like I have so little of each.
I also love how colorful and happy your desk looks. Just like you. 🙂
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May 06, 2015 @ 10:17:45
Thanks, Sharon–“colorful and happy,” I like that. I hope so.
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May 06, 2015 @ 09:37:44
Great post, Kay. I love your “Keep Smiling” button. I need to get some buttons! I had a fortune from a fortune cookie that I kept for awhile, but it accidentally got thrown away. The day after I made the decision to turn in my notice at my day job so I could write full time, my husband took me out to a Chinese restaurant. My fortune said, “Your success with astonish everyone.” I don’t know that God speaks through fortune cookies, but it sure felt like confirmation that I was doing the right thing.
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May 06, 2015 @ 10:18:44
It’s funny how often fortune cookies hit the mark, Carol (although that may be an example of seeing what we need to see!).
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May 06, 2015 @ 09:54:17
I have a framed pic/poem by Houston photographer/poet: Mark L. Thompkins.
The photo is the back of an average man on a residential sidewalk. He’s gripping a full cotton bag and a steady stream of sand drains from a small hole in the bottom. The accompanying Poem is titled: AS IF I.
Dressing me in
This skin,
Pushing me
Out the door
At a spot not of
My own choosing,
You handed me
A bag of time
With which to
Buy my own life.
As if I should know
What to so with it.
It’s the most poignant photo and set of words I’ve ever come across. Have had it for years, and when my eyes land on it and I reread the poem I’m awestruck all over again.
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May 06, 2015 @ 10:21:26
That’s lovely, Sarah. Thank you. I hope I have enough sand left for the things I want to do!
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May 06, 2015 @ 10:54:39
Kay, I love that your favorite item made you think of Jack and the love you two shared for so many years.
It’s a great mantra for live in general and for us as writers. A rejection may come, not-so-good news many arrive in the mail, but as long as we keep smiling and stay positive, we’ll be okay!
Hugs,
Pris
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May 06, 2015 @ 11:06:07
I really didn’t know that button was what I was going to write about, Pris, until I sat down and looked over all the odds and ends on the desk. It’s been there so long I take it for granted (and I shouldn’t!).
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May 06, 2015 @ 12:09:12
Hi Kay!
Great pin! And thanks for showing us your office. (I’ll bet not too many other authors can say they write while bathed in the light of a chandelier! ) 🙂
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May 06, 2015 @ 12:22:37
I’ve thought about replacing that chandelier, Tammy–five forty-watt bulbs prone to frequent burn-out. But I’m used to the light (I notice immediately when one goes out), so I bought a box of CLF bulbs for it. At least I shouldn’t have to change them as often.
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May 06, 2015 @ 15:05:59
I LOVE your office, Kay. It gives off happy, creative vibes 🙂
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May 06, 2015 @ 19:26:34
My previous office had a wall behind the desk–I much prefer the window!
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May 06, 2015 @ 17:13:22
Love it! Such a simple message, but a really important one. 🙂
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May 06, 2015 @ 19:27:56
Thanks, Jamie. I need to remember to look at it every morning. And tonight, after listening to a voice mail from the pharmacy that apparently can’t find my prescription.
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May 06, 2015 @ 22:52:46
What a happy workspace! And I love the idea of a chandelier. Although you didn’t add it there, it’s quite a fine idea to have an elegant and romantic chandelier in a romance-writer’s space! And yes, “Keep Smiling”! I love Sandra Boynton. 🙂
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May 06, 2015 @ 22:59:28
Well, the chandelier’s not bad if I remember to wash the globes once in a while. Heck of a cobweb catcher, though!
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May 07, 2015 @ 10:11:40
I really love Sandra Boyton – haven’t seen her stuff in a long time but I recognize it and remember buying her stickers. I love to look at people’s living spaces/working spaces – so thanks for sharing. My favorite thing in my office is a wikd kidz zombie doll. I got it from SpaceCityCon a few years ago. They’re hand made by a woman and her daughters.
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