Monday, March 8, 2010

Desk Space Doodads

My little desk space is filled with inspirations and knick knacks. I've got the craft books, of course, and a name plate engraved with my first and last, and that term author, too. Someone had given it to me after I finished my first novel, saying, "You'll look at it and remember who you are, and who you want to be."

I've got a small pencil cup that has one word on the front; it beseeches me to inspire. And one of those stones to carry or rub for good measure; imbedded in it is the reminder to create.
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Over the weekend I added a distraction to the mix. Spell Cube.
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It's a game. A plastic die. You give it a roll, and when the letters inside have come to rest, you spell as many words with them as you can. There's a points system, and you can time yourself, but I just like it because I'm a word nerd. And I think it'll come in handy for those inherent moments of procrastination.

What sorts of doodads and things are near your desk space?

37 comments:

Slamdunk said...

That sounds like a neat game.

I used to have some neat gadgets on the home office, but our toddlers take an interest in anything and now the space is clear--well except for leftover bits of strawberry pop-tart or whatever snack was last consumed.

Kristen Painter said...

Hmm. Not so many gadgets, but I have a Coach change purse, pieces of two castles I visited in England (those rocks were loose already, I swear) some random CD's, and a stack of notebooks, magazines and papers I need to go through. Really, I try to keep my desk as neat as possible. I rarely succeed, but I try.

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

My desk is only big enough to hold the laptop, printer, cat pencil cup and a small vase of silk roses. Wish I had a desktop that ran the whole length of all my wallspace and I could fill it with "doodads"!!

That game sounds like fun! I'll have to check around and see if I can find it locally.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Ooh, I like things like that. I don't have a desk right now -- my computer is parked on the bar in my dad's den -- but I have a framed four-leaf clover that my best friend gave me years ago (my birthday is St. Patrick's Day so it has extra meaning) and that always sits above my computer.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I have a children's book called Someday on the small open space of my desk.

A line, "Someday you will call a song to the wind, and the wind will carry your song away."

My mother gave it to me.
~ Wendy

Adam said...

I have some "thinking putty" (like silly putty, but... um... smarter I guess) and 20 sided die.

Ooh, and a posh knife, but that's not a toy!


Adam

Tamika: said...

What a great game! It sounds like an investment to wasting time. Building vocabulary has to count for something.

Jody Hedlund said...

Oh, I wish I HAD a desk so that I could collect doodads! But my writing stuff is scattered all over kingdom come!

Anonymous said...

I hardly have a desk space. One too small little table in a corner of the living room. Right now there are forms to be filled out for my son's doctor, a half dog eaten Barbie, a brush, a frog book, my camera, phone, and the remote. Absolutely pathetic and completely uninspiring. I need to carve out a space for myself in this house...I just haven't found that space yet.
-FringeGirl

patti said...

Oh, we ARE soulmates!!
I just don't have the doo-hicky game type of stuff but more of mementoes.
An old matchbook. Little notebooks gifted by friends. An tiny African basket (could hold a quarter, maybe) to remind me of precious missionaries. Oriental stacking boxes, to remind me of my parents and my WIP. Pictures galore. Skads of letters. Envelopes. Business cards. CD.

Gotta go WORK!! LOL.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!
Patti

Deb said...

Sounds like a fun game! My workspace is heaped in manuals at the moment, one of the "joys" of setting up a new computer.

Joanne said...

My favorite doo-dad is a small china plate in the shape of a sand-dollar. It's decorated with flowers and the quote "Things happen for a reason ... Just believe." My daughters gave it to me, and it inspires me every day.

Susan R. Mills said...

I need that cube! I love it.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Janna -

Ooo, I love word games. At our last Women's Ministries' meeting, one game centered around making as many words as possible out of the word, "covenant." Someone found 39 words.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Anonymous said...

I don't have a deskspace or a desk, I write in my living room recliner, and next to me is a flashdrive, a paper mache owl my son made, a wooden mini treasure chest that holds the TV remote, and a pull out table that holds my laptop so I can go back and forth from handwritten notebook to laptop.

My nightstand has my "On Writing" book, Anne Lamott's "Bird By Bird", and all my Writers Digest magazines.

Deb Shucka said...

Is it like Boggle? I'd never get any work done -be so busy making words. :-)

I have robin eggshells, feathers, special stones, bird figures, a lavender/sage candle, and my computer sits on a bright 50's cotton tablecloth. I love my corner desk that faces a huge picture window facing our side yard.

Christopher said...

That looks like a great time waster.

Angie Muresan said...

Wow! How do you get any work done? I am easily distracted so I have nothing around that will make me shift my focus.

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

That's great!

I have a plastic bottle that looks like an old fashioned medicine bottle. It says 'Writer's tonic" and has magnets with words on them.

Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novel said...

I love games like this. I have my monitor resting on 3 books about Roman Greek and Egyptian mythology, which husband Dave keeps threatening to reclaim. A box that once contained Laurent Perrier Rose, which Dave and I shared one Christmas - the box is now my pencil case. A programme from a ball in Fontainbleau. Assorted books, CDs and a diary. A tiny cuddly horse, called Huf, given to me by my good friend Paul. A wooden writing box with bleacher-style slots and tiny drawers, given to me on my birthday by Ram, who died that same year on Christmas Eve in a car crash. Who needs distracting toys when my whole desk is like a memory box.

Tess said...

oh, like Boggle, right? I used to love that game back in the day...

doo dads? Not too many. mostly work stuff (since I also do medical billing from the same desk). There is a flashlight, though. why? I dunno.

Janna Leadbetter said...

You know, I've never once played Boggle. But from what I guess about it, I think it's very similar!

You guys have some neat stuff on your desks!

Jennifer Shirk said...

Ooh, that sounds like a nifty game to have on my desk! Sadly, I only have paper, pens, my phone and a box if tissues. :)

MeganRebekah said...

Does food count? I have lots of snacks and drinks by my desk

Kathy said...

I've just got my computer, pencils and pens, papers, a phone, some CDs, nasal spray and some gloves.

I do crossword puzzles. Does that count?

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

LOL...I have something at my desk at work that makes me giggle. I found some FLARP and open it up when I get stressed. (Flarp is some ooey-gooey stuff that when manipulated in its cup, makes the "fart" sound.

I like to giggle.

Capri K @ No Whining Allowed said...

That looks like something I would like!
I have nothing non-functional on my desk. I am boring.

Jessica Nelson said...

Cool game!
I have NO doodads. Seriously. I guess I'm a boring person. lol

septembermom said...

I like the idea of doodads. Now if only I would get myself a desk...

I work on the laptop on my kitchen table. Maybe my kids' lunchboxes could be my doodad inspiration? LOL.

Nadine said...

So fun!

I share a desk with the hubby so I only have half a desk. I don't have any doodads on it but I do have a photo of a cheetah on the board in front of my desk. His mouth is wide open and every time I look at it, I go "Rwoar." I love it.

JLC said...

Looks fun. Almost the same concept as Bananagrams. :) Enjoy your distraction!

Kara said...

This looks like a smaller version of a game we used to play as kids called Boggle! Since I don't have a space, I usually play solitare on my computer. In fact I usually start with a game before I write:)

Jill Kemerer said...

Kitty pictures, because they're adorable! And flash drives, iPod cords, Webkinz codes, and a few crafts the kids made me.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Bananagrams! That's another game I want. :)

I have other stuff, too. The pinch pot my oldest made in kindergarten; it holds rings, a few coins, and two buckeyes (one from Kat Magendie!). I've got Webkinds codes tucked away, too, and lotion, kleenex... You know. Stuff.

Tom Stephenson said...

To Dirty White Candy - your desk is your boat. X

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Sadly,no-gadgets. Sorry, I have to go-to the store-for gadgets.

Marian Perera said...

My work area is pretty cluttered, but there are always stacks of books, a friend-made green china pot of pens and a few clementines because I like eating those and the orange color looks striking next to the green. :)