This is a guest post by Edrian Blasquino, a college instructor turned wordsmith, with a passion for both teaching and writing. With years of experience in higher education, he brings a unique perspective to his writing, crafting engaging and informative content on a variety of topics. Now, he’s excited to explore his creative side and pursue content writing as a hobby. Find him on LinkedIn I Facebook I Portfolio
10 Desk Essentials Every Writer Needs for Productivity
The image of a writer hunched over a battered typewriter, papers scattered everywhere, may look nice in movies, but in real life? It mostly invites lost ideas and coffee stains on your best manuscript.
Your work environment counts a lot, whether you are a novelist, freelance copywriter, or weekend blogger. The right tools can make the empty page less daunting and cajole those stubborn words to flow more easily.
Here are ten desk essentials every writer needs for a productive writing session:
1. The Best Modern Office Desk
Before imagining notebooks and writing instruments, begin with the foundation for your creative space: your desk. The best modern office desk should have ample space for your computer, and ideally leave your space uncluttered. Whether it’s a chic stand-up desk or an enormous L-shaped desk, it should fit your space and working style.
2. A Comfortable and Ergonomic Chair
You may not notice how long you sit in your chair until your back hurts. Trust me, a bad chair can ruin your day. Get one that feels good! Also, ensure it is supported at the back and has an adjustable height option. Wheels are amazing. If you get bored or stagnant on your task, you just spin or scoot around.
What to look for:
- Lumbar support to maintain proper posture
- Adjustable height to align with your desk
- Breathable fabric to prevent discomfort during long sessions
- Armrests (optional, but helpful for reducing shoulder strain)
3. A Trustworthy Notebook
There’s no replacement for the adrenaline of writing out a novel idea longhand. Even with computers, every writer needs a notebook that is easy to access. It doesn’t need to be much—just a simple notebook that you’ll jot down midnight inspirations, unexpected plot twists, or shopping lists masquerading as poetry. Extra credit if you’re using one notebook per project or buying them because they’re adorable.
4. Quality Pens (and a Backup Stash)
We writers can be such perfectionists with our pens! Some like to write with smooth gel pens, others with retro ballpoints, and some even use luxury fountain pens (seriously!). The trick? Find the pen that makes your writing acceptable—not fabulous, but not chicken-strangled across the page. And don’t stop at one! Get several, because pens love to run out right when you get your best idea. Keep a bunch in a cup or all over your desk. You’ll be thankful you did when you need one in a hurry.
5. Proper Lighting
Straining your eyes to see your screen or notebook in low light is a perfect way to welcome headaches and fatigue. Natural light is excellent, but sometimes more of a luxury (for example, if you’re a night owl). A decent desk lamp with adjustable brightness and warm color keeps you awake without making you feel like you’re being interrogated.
6. Noise-Cancelling Headphones (or Your Favorite Playlist)
Some authors need absolute silence; others need a softly muted coffee shop and a deliberately selected music soundtrack. Noise-reducing headphones can block out noises—blasting housemates, revving cars, and irritating neighbour canines. Or, if you’re a musician, create a soundtrack to get your juices moving. Pro tip: film scores are ideal for writing—no distracting lyrics, only atmosphere.
7. A Mug for Your Favorite Drink
No writing space would be complete without a mug—coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or simple water (for our virtuous friends). Your go-to drink is ritual, gratification, and motivation for early morning idea creation and midnight revisions. A favorite mug makes your writing place a bit more cozy. Just wash it out periodically; no one wants science experiment week-old coffee.
8. Whiteboard or Corkboard for Brainstorming
Stumped on a plot point? Hit with an idea for something else? An adjacent whiteboard or corkboard offers somewhere to map out ideas on paper, tacking up notes, or leaving motivational quotes on view. Also, a means of keeping yourself on top of where you are, or at least seeming organized when drop-by visitors arrive.
9. Plants or Personal Touches
A splash of greenery can take you and your desk miles ahead by making it look like a creative space rather than a cubicle. Research indicates that plants are good mood enhancers and boost productivity, as well as provide something to stare at when you can’t get the sentence out. If you’re more of a “black thumb” than a gardener, a low-maintenance succulent or quirky desk ornament can add charm and inspiration.
10. A Timer (for Productivity Sprints)
The truth is that writing is very often about staring at the wall, rearranging paper clips, or wandering down virtual Wikipedia rabbit holes. A timer (digital, analog, or in-app) is a writer’s best friend. Try the Pomodoro Technique: Write for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and start over. It’s incredible how much you can accomplish before several minutes are up — and how earned those breaks sound.
Final Thoughts
In practice, few writers have an ideal setup at their desk, as life gets in the way. Instead, we try to put in place whatever makes us feel comfortable, inspired, and prepared to fill the next blank page. The ideas above provide the bare bones for a writing workplace, but at the end of the day it’s all about keeping your butt in the chair and your fingers on your keyboard, one word (and one coffee refill) at a time.
Hppy writing!
A complete list for any writing project. I have most of these items in some way, although my desk and chair can’t be called ergonomically suitable.
Nice! I’m not quite there, but haven’t lost hope yet 😀