Watching the ninth season of Stargate SG-1 on DVD, I viewed a featurette about the props department. I never realized that props might stand for property. Also, did you know that if an actor uses an item, it’s a prop? If he wears it, the item is a costume. And if it sits in the background, it’s set dressing. Interesting, huh? That got me to thinking about props for writers.

What do I use, and what sits in my background? The obvious tools are pen and paper, computer and research books. When I travel, that might change to my laptop and PDA. These are the things I use for my writing every day.

But what about the set dressing? I am most comfortable in my home office, surrounded by books: nonfiction texts on writing, my fiction collection, research books on esoteric subjects. Then there’s my collection of paperweights I’ve added to over the years. Also meaningful are the theme-related gifts I bought for myself each time I made a sale at the start of my career, like the crystal globe for Circle of Light. On my shelves sit a "I’m having a Bad Hair Day" doll and mug, a jar of Writer’s Remedy magnets , and other trinkets given me by family, friends, and fans...all memorable to me as a writer. Framed photos of my family. A pencil holder from Area 51. A Brighton desk clock. A letter opener bought in London.. Some people might call this stuff clutter, but to me, they’re all treasures. They chronicle my life, and while they might be mere set dressing to strangers, these items are essential to my writer’s mind.

I often light a candle, although I sometimes go to public places to write when I'm in a slump, like a cofee shop or the library. The change of venue sometimes works.

You're lucky you can write elsewhere. I use a voice recogntion system and like to be alone when I talk to my computer.

I have to do my writing on the kitchen table, although I do keep notes of ideas all around the house. I am not lucky enough to have an 'office' yet. But in due time!
Then I tell my daughter (and my husband if he is at the home) not to bother me, talk to me, ask me anything, or tell me anything unless the house is burning down or some other similar crisis. They have often talked to me and my train of thought just zipped right out the window. And it was always for silly things like 'are we doing anything this weekend? or 'oh look at the cat!' Things like that.
I put my headphones on and put on my favorite music and that sort of puts me in the zone for writing. I sort of crank up the volume so I can tune the rest of the world out and focus in on my writing and muse. I will probably be deaf by 80 but at least I will have been able to concentrate.

That's tough, Barbara, when you don't have a nook you can call your own. I've found that no one except another writer understands what it means to be in the zone. Friends and family just don't realize that if they talk to you in the midst of writing, you lose focus, and it's so hard to enter that imaginary world even with normal distractions.

My "props" are similar - Framed photos of my book covers, some of my grandmother's antique trinkets, pencil box with special pens and letter openers and a doll my daughter made in Girl Scouts.

You know how in the movies they depict writers where they are smoking cigerettes and have cups of coffee on their desk? I have bags of wintergreen lifesavers. And when I am in the Zone, I have little piles of paper wrappers all over the desk and floor. (and I have a good dentist too! hehe!) The kids know that when they see this that I am really lost in writing my book. It got so intense one night that I was up till 2 AM and then I had a hard time calming down. I 'felt' that the characters could not rest until I worked out a pivatal scene. I was so drained the next day (and two pounds heavier from all the lifesavers) It gets intense for me. When my first book was over, I was actually 'sad' to 'let them go' where I guess with you and series writing, they are always 'there' hanging around waiting for their next adventure. (I probably sound a little crazy)I had to take at least two months off so I could put my own characters away as I didn't want them in the next book which got accepted! whoo hoo! I was a little scared to write the second book, not thinking I had it in me again, but now I know I do! (sorry for the long post)

I don't have a dedicated office and always wrote at a desk in my bedroom. Ever since getting my laptop, I've discovered that moving to different places around the house can inspire my creativity. My favorite place has become our porch, what I call our Zen den. Soothing colors, lots of candles, it's breezy, and being semi-outside makes me feel much less penned in than when I'm in the house.

I work in an office split between writing and my day job. I'm a clutterbug, but I like my thermal coaster for my coffee or tea, as well as the pictures of book covers I've set as a slide show screen saver. If I'm idle too long an animated display of what I've accomplished gets me going again.

Speaking of drink coasters, the ones on my computer desk are a gift from the Festival of Reading people in Lake County, FL. I'm speaking there again the first weekend in April. I also picked up a couple of coasters from a fellow mystery author promoting her book. Did this make me want to buy the novel? Nope. Does this mean our promo gizmos go into someone's purse or desk drawer without increasing our book sales? Probably. But since name recognition is the name of the game, all of these goodies score a hit when a reader picks one up.