If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?
-Albert Einstein
I'm excited to be working on the seventh book in the Through the Mist series. If you take a peek at the picture I shared, you'll get a glimpse at my wonderfully messy desk.
You’ll see all sorts of things scattered around—drawings of fictional locations, reference books that spark my creativity, and a few fun trinkets that bring a smile to my face. Look closely, and you might find a sticker that says, "Butter my buns, and call me a biscuit," along with a cute little dinosaur figure.
This delightful chaos really fuels my writing. While some folks thrive in tidy spaces, I find that I do my best work amongst the lovely disorder. I like to have everything scattered around because I usually have a million thoughts bouncing around in my head. Keeping all this stuff at my fingertips works for me.
See the graph paper in the picture? I like to create floor-by-floor plans for each location. I have one for Castle Fion. I also have drawings for Rose Hill Manor and the Munros’ townhouse in Edinburgh.
These sketches help me keep track of where everything is. For instance, if a character wants to head to the bedroom, I need to know if they should go right or left. Will they go upstairs? Where are the stairs located? See where I am going with this….
And, what about the open book? I found an old diary that chronicles 19th-century events in Edinburgh. It has really obscure things. Did you know that, on September 7, 1801, an earthquake occurred there? It was felt in New Town but not Old Town. How cool is that tidbit?
So, what’s the point I am trying to make? Well, I have two: I wanted you to see how I create the Through the Mist world.
And, I wanted to show that, sometimes, a messy desk hides a creative mind. Remember that nugget the next time you see piles of paper or detritus on a co-worker’s desk. There may be a method to the madness.