Things that I need on my writing desk

Welcome back, everyone! It has been far too long!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that I was gifted a new writing desk a few months ago, and I wanted to write about what I need to be in creative flow. I do the vast majority of work on my laptop, but aside from my computer, these are what I need on my desk:

• Notebook and pen. I get into creative flow more easily on pen and paper rather than with a word processing software, so I always have a notebook handy. I tend to stockpile pretty notebooks, so I’ve tried to use what I already have rather than buying new notebooks. I’m also very particular about what pens I use so I have a lot of them in a jar on my desk so they’re all in one place.
• Earbuds. I have really sensitive hearing; sometimes just the tapping of the keys on my laptop keyboard can drive me mad, even if I use a light hand. As a result, I use earbuds to block out noise, listen to YouTube, or have an ambient audio track playing in the background.
• Reference books. While my worldbuilding resource books (e.g., folklore collections, fiction books, etc.) are on my bookshelves, my writing reference books are on the shelves of my desk.
• Sticky notes. If I’m in creative flow, I get so hyperfocused that I can even forget to eat or drink, so I put up sticky notes with affirmations or reminders of what I need to get done that day. I love leaf-shaped sticky notes—it goes so well with the ivy strands that I used to decorate the back of the desk.
• Highlighters. I’m currently balancing my day job, self-care, class work, and creative endeavors, so I use color-coded highlighters in my bullet journal so I can see at a glance what I need to prioritize for that day. I keep them in a jar on my desk, and the rest of my colored pencils, markers, and pens are in a pouch on the shelves.
• iPad. For sketching, reading on my Kindle, or analyzing photos with a closer eye, I use my iPad more often than I have in the past.

What do you need on your desk? Let me know in the comments section below!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Until next time, stay magical, everyone!