Sunday Post: Goals…and the Writer’s Desk Competition

Posted on January 13, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…the past week’s theme was GOALS.

Did you set goals for 2013?

I did! If you click here, you’ll see that many of them involve writing.

When Nancy at Spirit Lights the Way issued a “Writer’s Desk” challenge, I knew I had to participate.

Nancy says:

“ Write a short essay or poem (between 33 and 100 words) about your writing desk, your writing rituals, why you write, how you write, how you stop writing, or . . . surprise us with a tantalizing tidbit about your writing life.”

For all of the rules, please click on this link. There is still time to join the fun…deadline is January 25.

I used to have a room that doubled as both an office for me and a guest room…it looked something like this:

Then, my husband retired and discovered the world of watercolor painting. I gave him that room to use as his studio and now it looks like this:

So I do most of my writing at the dining room table…and for me, fortunately, writing has very little to do with location, location, location and very much to do with motivation, inspiration and perspiration.

I WRITE, THEREFORE I AM by Vivian Kirkfield

A writing space by any name does serve me well.

By lamplight or with sunlight streaming

Ideas flourish while I’m dreaming.

From mind to pen words quickly teeming

Pages fill with stories beaming.

In quiet or with children screaming

Cluttered desk or table gleaming

I’ve found my heaven…not to write would be my hell.

Do you write? What inspires you? Check out the Writer’s Desk Competition and join in.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

Extra Post: The Writer’s Desk (kateshrewsday.com)

49 thoughts on “Sunday Post: Goals…and the Writer’s Desk Competition”

dadirri7 on January 13, 2013 at 11:03 pm said:

inspiring poem, i hope to read more of your writing this year 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 12:00 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much, Christine! I appreciate your kind words.
  
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Perfecting Motherhood on January 13, 2013 at 11:07 pm said:

My type of office! 😉
I used to have an office just for me but I reshuffled the bedrooms recently to make room for rentals and my desk is now in my small bedroom. Our kitchen table is still my very favorite spot to work at too. There’s something comforting about it I like a lot.

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 2:28 pm said:
  
  Isn’t that true..so many times when you have company, they want to hang out in the kitchen..I guess the warmth and memories of kitchen’s past has something to do with it.:) I just need to do a better job of organizing the storage of papers related to writing..right now they are in umpteen boxes, envelopes, etc. with no rhyme or reason to them.
  
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  - Perfecting Motherhood on January 14, 2013 at 2:39 pm said:
    
    I hear you. I did some organizing over the holidays and it felt very good (very cleansing exercise) but I still have a lot to do.
    
    By the way, did you get my calendar?
    
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    - viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:25 pm said:
      
      Oh my goodness…YES…your beautiful calendar came while I was away…my husband told me, but I didn’t have much computer access during the first 2 weeks of January…and wasn’t able to send you a response. I really appreciate your sending it…your photographs are among the loveliest I have ever seen…I’m so glad you are putting your work out there..and wish you much success..you deserve it!!!
      
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      - Perfecting Motherhood on January 14, 2013 at 3:35 pm said:
        
        Thanks, Vivian! It was fun to see the photos in my hands instead of just the computer screen. I’m glad it made it all the way to you safe and sound.
        
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        viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:
        
        Milka…you should be so proud of yourself…what a stellar accomplishment!
        
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        Perfecting Motherhood on January 15, 2013 at 12:01 am said:
        
        Thanks, Vivian! Still have a long way to go but it will be fun.
        
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restlessjo on January 14, 2013 at 1:56 am said:

Brilliant, Vivian! What a great use of a week when Jake doesn’t seem to be about to play. (hope things are ok with him?) I don’t have a physical space- just the laptop, pen and paper but I might give this a whirl. Many thanks for the ping, and also for including me in your sidebar. (in such wonderful company, too!) How do you do that- I keep meaning to look it up on WP? I think there was a recent post about it.

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 2:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for the lovely comments, Jo! I so appreciate your confidence in me regarding the WP blog sidebar…believe me, I still think of myself as a novice…and know there is so much more I could be doing better and faster. In fact, I am signed up for an online course being given by Lexie Lane of Wikimommy and VoiceBoks..it is in March and will include many webinars on Blogging and using FB, Twitter and other social media to enhance one’s online presence (especially if you have a business or product or service you are trying to ‘get out there’) and use your blog more effectively and efficiently: http://voiceboks.com/workshop/info/  Here’s her Goodreads profile if you want to know more about her..she just wrote a book all about this stuff: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6870670.Lexie_Lane  Regarding the sidebar on WP…yes, I’m sure there are WP tutorials that would walk you through whatever you wanted to do. If you go to your dashboard, you will see different headings..appearance (that is where the ‘widgets’ are that enable you to put an image with connecting URL or copy a ‘text’ from someone’s ‘button’ and then it will appear on your sidebar and link to their site)…media (that is where you can upload an image from your computer so it is available to use on the sidebar). But Jo, I am sure that there are so many other people who could explain this better…I kind of learned from trial and error.:) Hope you join in Nancy’s fun…it’s a quick little piece to write…and she has an unbelievable blog and a wonderful following.:)
  
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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 2:52 pm said:
  
  Regarding Jake…I think last post of 2012 (the one that many people didn’t think was a Sunday Post) alluded to the fact that he needed to attend to some business concerns…so perhaps he is finding the time crunch a difficult factor to master in 2013…it must take an unbelievable amount of time to visit and respond to all of his followers.:)
  
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restlessjo on January 14, 2013 at 3:47 am said:

Hi again, Viv. Just a sad afterthought. I don’t know if you know but Jake’s niece is missing. I discovered it on his Facebook page.

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 2:55 pm said:
  
  Oh no…I did not hear about that..so perhaps that is the answer. I will pray she is okay and found quickly. We do live in a sad sad world where the innocent suffer and bad things happen to good people.:(
  
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Susanna Leonard Hill on January 14, 2013 at 4:21 am said:

What a great post, Vivian! I love how you wrote about your writing – beautiful and articulate and poetic! I have an office, but it’s on the north side of the house and only gets sun (if there is any) early in the morning. After that it’s… well, it’s not sunny! So I sit at the kitchen table to work 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 2:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much, Susanna…I treasure your lovely words of praise.:) Yes, anyone who doesn’t have a ‘kitchen table’ or similar spot is really missing out.:) What beautiful memories I have of sitting at mine as a child, constructing dioramas with my mom…and of my kids, sitting with me, studying or cooking or just talking together.
  
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thiskidreviewsbooks on January 14, 2013 at 5:30 am said:

Great poem! 🙂 I like your husband’s paintings!

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:01 pm said:
  
  I will definitely tell him, Erik! Glad you liked the poem…and his paintings. It’s interesting, because although he was always very creative (refinished bamboo fly rods as a hobby during his teaching career and then wrote a wonderful book about it…which is on my book website), other than painting the walls in our homes, he had never thought about painting pictures until a few years ago. Now it is something he does every day…and he LOVES it!
  
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  - thiskidreviewsbooks on January 15, 2013 at 5:19 am said:
    
    😀
    
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Stacy Stenberg Jensen on January 14, 2013 at 6:12 am said:

I like your mobile spot! I’ve been having laptop issues, so my mobile location for writing seems a bit stalled. The desktop is fine. I wrote my January draft. Now to figure out what to take to Thursday’s meeting. I hope your new year has been grand so far.

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:06 pm said:
  
  I know…laptops…and computers in general…can be troublesome.:) I’m going to bring ‘The Tomato Turner’ revised and hopefully ready for the Highlights contest.:) But I have not yet written my January draft for 12×12…although visiting with my kids for the first 2 weeks of January was AWESOME and a great way to start 2013, it did put a crimp on my writing/blogging and keeping up with the 12×12 and Sub Six FB groups. Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday, Stacy…Jeanine won’t be there…she is flying to Boston.:)
  
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nrhatch on January 14, 2013 at 6:49 am said:

Wonderful poem ~ beautiful cascade of words. Great contrasts between the three work spaces, but as you say, it’s motivation, inspiration, and perspiration that marks the writer.

Thanks for entering, Vivian.

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:09 pm said:
  
  Glad you liked it,Nancy! Thank you for organizing the challenge. It was really helpful to think about where I write and why I write…it’s a great competition to start off 2013…I shared it with all of my social media networks…hope that helps generate more entries.:)
  
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  - nrhatch on January 14, 2013 at 5:29 pm said:
    
    Thanks! 😀
    
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Patricia Tilton on January 14, 2013 at 8:31 am said:

Enjoyed your poem as you captured many of the questions that were suggested — in a single poem. Love your mobile spot and the fact that you can work anywhere as long as your are motivated and inspired.

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:12 pm said:
  
  Glad you liked the poem! I’m grateful to you, Pat, for always stopping by to read and comment! I hope that now that I am ‘retired’, I will be able to do a better job of visiting and commenting on all of the blogs I love to read…like yours! I’ve saved your post where you review a picture book that addresses divorce…it’s a book that my daughter may unfortuately be happy to have soon.:(
  
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Catherine Johnson on January 14, 2013 at 10:08 am said:

That poem is amazing! Well done, Vivian and I’m impressed with the lack of clutter on your desk. I’ve tidied mine and it still doesn’t look like yours 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:16 pm said:
  
  You are so sweet, Catherine.:) Of course, my ‘desk’ is a dining room table…LOTS of room at the other end for CLUTTER…I just took a clever photo that didn’t show the entire table.:):) But I truly believe that clutter invites stress…if only because one cannot find what one wants and has to spend hours looking for a little piece of paper. Unfortunately, I have always been a pack-rat…as is my husband.:( One of my BIG projects for the next few months is to declutter the entire house…every drawer, cabinet, closet and room…of course, I haven’t told him that yet.:)
  
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Sunshine on January 14, 2013 at 11:08 am said:

You wrote the truth…without writing=hell. Well done!

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- viviankirkfield on January 14, 2013 at 3:23 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much! Yes, Sunshine…2012 was a year I immersed myself in writing picture books…to the extent I could and still keep up with my job, home, husband, etc. And, it was the happiest year of my life in so many ways…I was always smiling (well, I have always been a person who is almost always smiling)…I felt filled with bliss…quite a wonderful state of mind to be in.:) I’m looking forward to 2013 as I intend to continue writing…just need to find a way to balance the social media (blogging/twitter/fb/etc), the writing (picture books and writing contests), household stuff (yes, laundry and dishes do have to be done occasionally) and personal time (last year I read only two books for ‘pleasure’ and my husband often had to ‘pry’ me away from the computer to sit and watch a movie with him). If you know anyone who has mastered that plan, PLEASE let me know.:)
  
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  - Sunshine on January 14, 2013 at 10:20 pm said:
    
    oh, i feel your words you laid out here, Vivian, and WOW, you are one busy person!!
    
    seriously, i don’t know how some serious daily post bloggers manage it all. for me, i started out insanely obsessed with thinking i should post something everyday regardless of quality. thankfully this “bug” has slowly tamed itself and this year, i hope to focus on equanimity…staying balanced with online and personal life.
    
    from inspiration from blogger Kozo over at EverydayGurus, i have started 10-minute meditations in the morning. i will have to let you know later how this will help do everything i think needs to get done. haha. 🙂
    well, abundant creative energies to you and blessings for this new year. ❤
    
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    - viviankirkfield on January 15, 2013 at 4:38 pm said:
      
      Oh Sunshine…thank you for sharing this with me…I, too, started out thinking that a daily post was a necessity. But I couldn;t just post a photo or short piece…so every post took HOURS. After 3 months I realized that it was taking over my life and I had no time to write picture books.:) The meditation sounds awesome…I will check out the site you listed.:)
      
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jakesprinter on January 16, 2013 at 5:06 pm said:

Great entry Vivian ,I really love it thanks for sharing my friend 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on January 16, 2013 at 11:11 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Jake. Hope all is well with you.
  
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2e0mca on January 25, 2013 at 1:10 am said:

Great Poem – your workspace is definitely a lot tidier than mine 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on January 25, 2013 at 12:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, Martin…I appreciate the kind words and your stopping by.:) Of course, you didn’t see the rest of the dining room table where I shoved all manner of stuff. Maybe I should post a photo of that. :):) Nancy’s challenge was lots of fun!
  
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  - 2e0mca on January 27, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:
    
    LoL – the other end of my office is my work office and also suitably untidy. The we get to the Ham Radio Station… I’ll leave that to your imagination 😉
    
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    - viviankirkfield on January 27, 2013 at 4:11 pm said:
      
      But are you happy? Do you accomplish what you set out to do? Then it is PERFECT for you, Martin. 🙂
      
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Grannymar on January 31, 2013 at 4:02 am said:

I love your poem, and agree that writing/blogging is very much to do with motivation, inspiration and perspiration. My poor effort was my very first attempt at a writing competition, so for that alone I am happy.

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- viviankirkfield on February 2, 2013 at 12:17 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for stopping by…I’m off to reread and visit all of the finalists…congrats to you for taking such an important step.:)
  
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Pingback: The Writer’s Desk ~ Let the Voting Begin! « Spirit Lights The Way
kateshrewsday on February 2, 2013 at 2:46 pm said:

Hi Vivian…congratulations on having a shortlisted writer’s desk! Beautiful entry….

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- viviankirkfield on February 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Kate…it was fun! And ALL of the entries (yours included) were note-worthy and well-written. It was lovely to see how others find their muse.:)
  
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dearrosie on February 2, 2013 at 6:03 pm said:

Hi Congratulations on being a finalist in the competition. I love your entry.
I also write at my dining room table although I have a desk in the spare room. I don’t feel inspired when all I can see is wall – from my seat here at the dining room I can see the hummingbirds visiting my patio.

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- viviankirkfield on February 2, 2013 at 8:56 pm said:
  
  I agree…I don’t think I would like to work in a closed-in office room…right next to my dining room table there is a glass slider to a small zen-garden patio…that is my view as I work…but writing, for me, is not work…I’m having a ball.:)
  
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bluebee on February 2, 2013 at 10:12 pm said:

Love your poem – not to write would, indeed, be hell. “Ideas flourish while I’m dreaming.” – the mind is amazing 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on February 2, 2013 at 10:37 pm said:
  
  You are so sweet! Thanks for the lovely comments.:)
  
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Tom (Aquatom1968) on February 3, 2013 at 2:53 pm said:

Hello Vivian, I’m just catching up with ‘the competition’! Great poem, and well done to you too for making the final seven! Good luck!

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- viviankirkfield on February 3, 2013 at 5:00 pm said:
  
  It’s hard to find time to do all that we want/need to do…takes some pretty powerful juggling.:) Thanks for stopping by, Tom!
  
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