Insecure Writers Support Group badgeFive things in my writing space… that’s the topic this month for the Insecure Writers’ Support Group post.

At the same time, we were reminded to stick to writing matters rather than wholly unrelated things. That’s fair enough.  It’s just that things in my writing space include my guinea pigs!

Fred and George upstairs

Cue perfect picture of Fred and George, the boys who set me off on my writing path.  They are the stars of The Princelings of the East (and most of the series).

Five things in my writing space

1. Guinea pig run

This lovely space was designed by engineer George (guinea pig) who designs planes in the books.  I put it together.  When I first got Fred and George, and then Victor and Hugo, they lived in the kitchen downstairs. I felt rather lonely up in my writing space. This was the solution. Fred and George came upstairs during the day, and I wrote their stories.

Eventually I got more guinea pigs. Some of them fell out with each other, and the run became a permanent cage (split into two) for various combinations.  I think ‘Lord’ Colman and his ‘nephew’ Kevin were the first to live here permanently.  Colman got to be Lord of Deeping, definitely a baddie, books 5 to 8.  Kevin moved from spoilt brat and possible baddie in 5 to wronged heir in search of his inheritance in book 8.  He’s a complex character in books 9 and 10, and I’m not sure whether his reform will help or hinder King Fred’s plans in the end.

guinea pig run in my writing spaceThen Dylan and Dougall came and lived here; they are the Princelings of the North (book 8) and also star in short stories of life on the Isle of Mull. Fred, George, Victor and Hugo all went there, but Dylan and Dougall never made it. Dylan and Dougall swapped places with Percy and Midge: Percy has a role in the books which he got before I got him, strangely enough; I mention Midge, along with his brother Oscar, but they may not get a starring role.

Just a few weeks ago I set it up so the current boys, Bertie, Biggles, Roscoe and Neville are up here permanently during the winter.  I really missed having the company over the summer after Percy and Midge passed on.  Apart from generally talking to them, I read them bits when I’m editing. If they get bored I know I’ve got to improve it!  I expect they’ll creep into the books somehow.

2. Reference books

On my left is a pile of the paperbacks I’ve written.  Despite being very good with my style sheet, I sometimes get to a point when writing when I want to check who did what with whom previously in the series.  It’s much easier to flick through the books than to open up the efile and search. That’s partly because I’ve moved from a PC to a Mac since I started writing them, though.

On my right is my Concise Oxford Dictionary, and, mainly used when editing, the Oxford Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms, and Self-editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King, which is worth its weight in gold.

3. Picture of a racehorse

writing space - Marvel, water and booksThis is Marvel, who is a very lucky horse indeed.  He’s the son of one of my racing club’s mares (I pay around £100 a year to belong to this club, and get a colour magazine every two weeks with updates about all twenty or so horses).  He had an accident as a foal when he was probably kicked in the head by another foal: he had horrific skull and jaw injuries. They thought they’d need to put him down straight away, but the vet suggested they saw how he was in the morning.  He survived that, grew out of his head tilt, and went to be trained.  Then he seemed to have a permanent lameness.  That improved over the summer and now he’s in training, and likely to run in the coming spring.

As an inspiration for writing, he’s brilliant.  That’s my excuse for having his picture there, anyway.

4. Water and suntan lotion

I should drink more water, especially when I’m sitting here tapping away. If I have a bottle with me, I might just take a swig from time to time.

Why the suntan lotion is there I have no idea.

There’s also a piece of paper sticking out from the books. It records a dream I had one time I was away, which I wrote it down for a future story.  It’s still a future story…

5. Coffee and tea cups

writing space coffee cupsI have one cafetiere of coffee (about one and a half cups) in the morning (after the one with breakfast), then it’s tea all the way after that.  I had a night where I couldn’t sleep last Sunday, and realised it was because I’d had four cups of coffee before driving home from the folks I’d seen at the weekend.

Does it help me write?  Maybe not, but I like the taste, and it makes me stop typing and encourages me to stretch my neck and arms!

How about you? What five things have you got in your writing space?

Insecure Writers’ Support Group

I’d like to thank this month’s Co-Hosts: J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker, Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!

One of the most important parts of the monthly IWSG post is the visiting.  I apologise to everyone I haven’t visited recently, mainly because of problems I had with Privacy Settings and Safari, but hopefully I’m over them now and can get over to see you!

If you want to join in, and get all the support from this wonderful bunch of writing blogging people, plus hints and tips from the website, go here and sign up!

#IWSG | Five things in my writing space
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24 thoughts on “#IWSG | Five things in my writing space

  • 5 December, 2018 at 2:37 pm
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    You have an inspiring writing space! Funny, most of the time I find it easier to search the computer files than the books when I want to know about something from a past book. Like you, I keep extensive character and settings sheets, but there are always things I failed to note down. A good project for me at some point would be to fill in more detail on all the minor characters (a huge job, and probably won’t ever happen 🙂 ).

    • 5 December, 2018 at 3:55 pm
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      It’s usually when I want to know exactly what was said, or what was happening in the background when someone said something. But then, having time travel in your books lends itself to those sort of problems 🙂

    • 11 December, 2018 at 12:31 pm
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      I find him inspiring. I hope he keeps that attitude when he finally gets to the racecourse (which should be in spring)!

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:03 pm
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      I was resisting having one until George pointed out the advantages of the under-pen storage space…

  • 5 December, 2018 at 8:40 pm
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    I love your writing space and your inspiration! I need to start adding a water bottle . I drink too much tea. Happy Holidays!

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:04 pm
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      I have the water bottle. I don’t guarantee the water is fresh :O If you were British, you would know it’s impossible to drink too much tea! And Seasons Greetings to you, too 🙂

  • 5 December, 2018 at 9:19 pm
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    I love how those cute guinea pigs end up as characters in your books. Great run, Jemima. And I’m interested by your equine connection.

    Our pets just chase each other around the office and house,

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:06 pm
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      I’d be happy letting them run around the house were it not for several of them having a penchant for chewing electrical wiring. One of my friends lost several iPhone chargers to her first boy, Mariusz (who’s in the books).

  • 6 December, 2018 at 12:24 am
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    Those must be very happy guinea pigs. I had to smile at the sun lotion. Strange things have a way of standing in the most unexpected places.

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:08 pm
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      I hope they’re happy. Certainly Bertie is very happy to be back up here – he spent the summer nearer the garden, with the others downstairs. Now they’re all up here, since we number two less than last winter 🙁

  • 6 December, 2018 at 12:54 am
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    You have a very interesting writing room. Such inspiration with your little guinea pigs. And I love horses. We used to have some, many years ago.

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:09 pm
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      I’ve always loved horses, but never had one of my own. Thanks for visiting, Beverly

  • 6 December, 2018 at 12:12 pm
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    I bet those guinea pigs are fun…I’m pretty sure for me they’d be a distraction…but perhaps a comfort, too! Your horse sounds like a winner!

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:10 pm
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      When I’m concentrating I don’t notice them unless there’s some sort of emergency. I do notice when they’re not there, though. I kept turning round to say something to them after I’d moved the remaining one downstairs to join the other three last summer.

  • 6 December, 2018 at 6:07 pm
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    What an amazing writing space you’ve created for yourself. Now you have me thinking about guinea pigs and how much fun they’d be scampering in their maze.

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:11 pm
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      I warn you, Lee, you let them in and they steal your heart 🙂

  • 6 December, 2018 at 11:55 pm
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    haha if you bore the guinea pigs, you may need some editing. Great setup indeed.

  • 8 December, 2018 at 5:06 pm
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    Aw, I love the guinea pigs! So adorable. Thanks for introducing them to us.

    Your series sounds like a lot of fun.

    • 9 December, 2018 at 10:12 pm
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      Thanks, J. I hope you like the series… the first one is free 😉

  • 10 December, 2018 at 6:11 pm
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    I usually have a cat or two in my writing space. 🙂

    • 11 December, 2018 at 12:29 pm
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      What would we do without our alter egos 😀

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