Desk Esstentials
I mentioned earlier that I work at a little desk in my attic … and voilà! This spot right here is probably my happiest of all happy places (next to Paris, that is). I regularly redecorate this nook – depending on the latest trinkets I’ve come across in my travels – but right now, these are my ten desk essentials:
1. Postcards. I’ve collected postcards for decades and have a large drawer-full of them to choose from when mood-boarding the sloping ceiling above my desk.
2. My structural editor, Di, was a wealth of brilliant advice when it came to cutting and reshaping early drafts of The Parisian Corset. One of her tips that I took to heart was to see a draft as a block of marble, and to remember that a work of art is as much about what you carve away as what you reveal. Which is why I tacked a few images from the Musée Rodin to this pinboard – a prettily visual reminder to keep chipping away!
3. I can never have enough cute little trinket trays, mostly because it makes my clutter seem organised and quite chic. This one is from the Parisian ceramics brand, Astier de Villatte, a gift from a dear friend, Elsa.
4. I’m forever making pots of tea, which is mostly an excuse for procrastination, especially when I take an unnecessarily long time to set my tray. The little jug here is from Café de Flore – I buy myself something from their glassware or crockery collection each time I’m in Paris.
5. More trinket trays! These ones hold a few special objects that have inspired possible future books …
6. A Paris-themed screen saver because … of course! This is an image from the campaign for Chloé’s Love Story perfume.
7. My pen holder is a glass from Marin Montagut, one of my favourite shops in Paris. It’s the most fabulous treasure-chest of a place, selling whimsical Parisian-themed objects that make for inspired souvenirs but also lovely workspace touches.
8. Along with post-it notes scribbled with random words and thoughts and reminders, my wall also features quotes or texts I find inspiring. At the moment, there’s a line from one of Nancy Mitford’s letters, a paragraph from Bonjour Tristesse, and Anaïs Nin’s wonderful quote, ‘We write to taste life twice.’
9. I have books in piles all over my attic room – and throughout the house, actually – but those at closest reach include my most consulted reference books. In this pile, along with my decades-old thesaurus, is a selection of old Paris travel and French etiquette guides.
10. I use the Bullet Journal method for my diary. That and Scrivener (the novel-writing software) have been life-changing when it comes to organising both my life and thoughts.
