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My Book Baby: The Labor and Delivery Room

Wed, 2012-10-10 14:56 -- Jocelyn Green

Last week, I turned in my second novel, Widow of Gettysburg, to the publisher. Whew!!!!!! Before I clean up my desk and get ready for the next book, I thought I would give you a glimpse into my office--which I also refer to as the labor and delivery room for my book baby. If you've ever wondered what a novelist's desk looks like, I offer you exhibit A. Take a good look, and then I'll explain.

I know this looks more like a page out of an "I Spy" book, but if you look closely you will see some key items, such as:

  • Two computer monitors. I let my husband talk me into this arrangement a few years ago and I'll never go back, if I can help it. Usually, I have my research up on one screen, and the Word document of my novel in progress on the other. Or I'll have the novel up one one screen, and separate Word doc on the other to make notes such as "Make sure Major never climbs the stairs until the attack scene" or "Insert a scene at the cemetery somewhere"
  • Index cards, everywhere. The cards in the black container are my research. The cards scattered on my desk were once in a specific order as my book outline, but I rearranged them and threw some away as I went along.
  • Lots of research materials. A notebook full of notes, an open book about the Gettysburg aftermath, a binder full of photocopied first-person accounts from Gettysburg civilians.
  • The glimpse of red on the lower left corner of the picture is a little stop sign with the word "QUIET" written on it, glued to a popsicle stick. I use this with my kids.
  • The other corner of the desk has the Tangled DVD on it. I often let the kids come in and watch a movie in my office if it's a weekend day.
  • The clipboard holds a waterstained poem my husband wrote me before we were married. I dug it out of a filing cabinet at some point and keep it around now for inspiration. :)
  • Beneath the clipboard is my Bible, but it's NIV, and writing books set in the Civil War, I can only use the King James version, because that's all they had.
  • VERY important: under my desk is a mini fridge. It's a new addition to the office as of this summer, and very helpful. Stocked with beverages and healthy snacks like string cheese, apples, and carrot sticks. It's really hard to write hungry, and if I go downstairs to the kitchen, I might be tempted to wash dishes or clothes, which makes it really hard to write, too.
  • A coffee warmer in front of my keyboard. A must have.
  • I'm sure you can't see this, but I do: my first grade daughter's spelling test. How did it get there? I don't even know. I also see half of a plastic Easter egg. Hmmm. It's October, right? Really not sure.

Even though I delivered a book baby last week to my publisher, it's now going to be fixed up in the editorial phase before it releases in April 2013. (I guess that's like the baby being in the NICU before being released from the hospital?) So as I said, it's time to clean, but I thought you might like to see the craziness first. Widow is the second in my Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series. The first book was Wedded to War, which released in July.

About the Author: 

Jocelyn Green

Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King; Wedded to War; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. As a speaker, Jocelyn inspires faith and courage in her audiences. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, strawberry-rhubarb pie, the color red, and reading with a cup of tea. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

Comments

Submitted by Gabrielle on
I love your office!! Wish I could have one like it. But since I'm not old enough to have my own house and the house I'm living in right now with my family isn't big enough for me to have an office. However, my dresser in my room has become my makeshift desk and it is constantly a mess with all my papers, books, and pencils. Looking forward to reading Widow of Gettysburg.

Submitted by Gabrielle on
Love the concept of having two computers. I will have to remember that when I have a place of my own someday.

Gabrielle, you are clearly way ahead of where I was at your age! I am sure if you stick with your writing, I will be reading your books some day! A successful writing career does require a bit of talent, but even more than that, hard work, determination and discipline. THAT was the the good news for me when I decided to give fiction a whirl!

Submitted by Anne Payne on
Double monitors are a terrific idea. I love that your office includes your family! It's perfect!!!

Submitted by Pattie on
Wow, that is some desk!!! I bet many writers would envy that space!

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Hey everyone- yes, it's a great desk and I LOVE the two monitors. I should tell you that I had a really gross and falling apart particle-board desk up until last year, when my husband's Coast Guard design studio closed. I inherited his desk when he got a job outside of the home. And ALSO I have to say even with this great desk and set up, I still suffer from writer's block and self-doubt. If only the perfect writing environment meant writing came easy. It's still hard. But I am grateful for my office anyway. :)

LOL! Oh yeah! the sign of a great researcher. heehee. I do love the two computer screens though. That is just too cool. and a huge desk! Nice! you just have to spin around is all. Everything is at your finger tips.

Submitted by Kathleen L. Maher on
i love that you are organized even in your post-natal phase. Hey, you know what you have and where it is, so yes, that *is* organization. :) I write like a bohemian--sometimes at the kitchen table like now, and sometimes on my husband's recliner, and then sometimes on the couch. Occasionally (as in maybe three times in my life) I'll work at my desk. And I'm never quite sure what I'll find on that desk, or if it will find me. . .eek!

LOL, Joss ... yep, mine looks like that, only more condensed with piles ... ;) As long as great books come out, who cares??? Hugs, Julie

That's so funny. I often need a change of scenery, too, so I switch to a laptop so I can write in the kitchen, family room, playroom, etc. Speaking of post-natal, yesterday I realized that the lack of response from my editor so far (it's only been a week and a half, but still...) is giving me a case of post-partum depression. I fear I may have given birth to an ugly baby. LOL On the other hand, I do know that whatever problems the manuscript has right now can be fixed. It may take surgical removal or transplant, but we can get this baby ship-shape. Right? :)

Submitted by Kimberly Drew on
The half of an Easter Egg cracked me up..and strangely made me love you more. :) haha I think at your book baby's first well child check up I would say, "looking good..and the projected rate of growth puts it off the chart!" lol Got a link to this blog from a RiverNorth post about your research for the book. Very enjoyable to read. It's dark and pouring rain her in NJ...it's not as sweet as sharing a REAL cup of coffee with my old friend, but cuddling up with your stuff on the couch in front of the window will do.

Submitted by Jocelyn Green on
Aw, Kimberly, I miss you. :) Thanks for being with me in spirit today, I sure do wish I could spend an afternoon with you too! So glad you liked my little half Easter egg. Ha! Sadly, I'm about to start novel 3 and though I did clean my desk after taking this picture, it is now a disaster again. And some of the stuff, I have no idea where it came from. Oh well. :)

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