Your working environment can play a major role in how you produce work. Being a freelance writer, my main office is my home, and I have space and tools to help me whilst working in my home office. I’ve discovered there are certain things every writer needs to own. Work environments are everchanging. But what remains crucial is the equipment to create a productive and effective work environment.
Here are my recommended things that every writer needs to own.
1. An Ergonomic Chair
A chair assisting you with back support is fundamental. When writing, it can be especially tempting to launch forward whilst typing on your laptop or writing in your notepad. However, making this a habit can cause long-term problems for your back posture. As a freelance writer who has worked on journalism newsroom shifts, I’m all too familiar with this.
That’s where an ergonomic chair comes in. An ergonomically designed chair supports back muscles and keeps an upright posture. I have this one, and its comfy cushioned material and mesh design are a great combination for lightweight comfortability. Furthermore, its high back structure, coupled with its headrest, helps support your upper back.
It also has two moveable armrests to lift or leave it down to your desired position.
2. Comfortable Desk Space
Space is everything! Who wants to feel crowded when working? Limited space can impact your productivity. As a writer, you may have several books or documents in your working space. A desk like this is great as the drawers are designed to limit clutter on the desk surface and enough space to hold your other office supplies.
3. A Website
As a freelancer, you are a business owner. So, having a website can be a key way to show that you are serious about showcasing your portfolio and levelling up your business. Your website acts as your digital shop front. So, choosing the right website builder to create your website is a key step. Choosing a site that considers writers in its themes, software options, and more is best.
WordPress is a leading CMS for websites as it was built with writers specifically in mind. It integrates well with Bluehost as a website builder and is a great SEO-friendly option.
4. A Virtual Workspace
Every writer needs a digital workspace for them to write with. Google Suite and Notion both offer this for writers. They have different documents for you to write and share with your team if you are working with others.
Notion offers four different plans, including a free one allowing you to invite up to 10 guests.
On top of offering documents for writers, Notion also offers additional writer resources in other plans, such as unlimited blocks for teams, bulk PDF exports, and audit logs. The company also offer free trials for their Business and Enterprise plans.
If you’re dealing with a fair few people throughout your working project, their Plus plan may be best for you, as it allows you to add up to 100 team members. Their enterprise plan allows you to invite up to 250 guests.
5. A Diary
A diary to keep your daily to-do list is a basic necessity to help keep you on track with your schedule. This simple mid-year day page diary should do the job. Keep it with you throughout your day, wherever you choose to work, so you can always reference your schedule.
6. A Notepad/Planner
A notepad is another basic office essential for note-taking. But planners can also go hand in hand with this. There’s a range of notepads and journals, some personalised to help you jot down notes and organise your days. Planners, in particular usually have guided prompts to help you reflect at the end of your day or a structure designed to help hold you accountable to the type of day you would like.
Essentially, planners go a bit further than a notepad, which is more inclined to let you write freely.
I earned enough coins on The Sweatcoin app to purchase the planner in this photo. Sweatcoin allows you to earn coins simply by walking! Even in your own home. The more you walk, the more sweatcoins you earn, and consequently, the more rewards you can get.
7. An Ergonomic Mouse
Being a writer means you’re likely at your laptop a lot. This mouse is easier on your hand muscles than a traditional mouse. It does not require a wire; it comes with a USB stick connecting to the wireless mouse. So there’s no need to fuss with tangled wires! Even if you have a laptop, like me, the ergonomic mouse gives you more freedom to manoeuvre on your desk space.
8. A Hard Drive for Storage
Despite the popular rise of iCould storage, hard drives are still handy. I got this 1TB Toshiba Hard Drive to store my files. As a writer, word documents don’t take up much space. But even if you wanted to use it for photos, 1TB is a generous amount of space for this. The physical weight of this device is very light and portable, too. So, if you want to take it to the library, it’s very portable.
9. A Good Pen
A go-to pen you write comfortably with is a key addition to your office stationery. A ballpoint pen, like this, comes in handy as the signature retractable design opens and closes with a click. It eradicates the problem of losing a pesky pen lid.
10. A Pen Pot
Speaking of keeping things together, a pen pot, like this mesh one, is incredibly useful in keeping your utilities organised and not searching for your pen every time you put it down! It is a worthy mention of the office essentials for writers.
11. A Paper Shredder
Office work can include a lot of paperwork- especially if you’re a self-employed writer who needs to keep important documents for tax purposes. Keeping this information secure is essential. When you need to discard important paperwork with private information, shredding documents is a safe way to do this, instead of scrunching it into a ball and throwing it in the bin. This Amazon Basics shredder does the job pretty well for me. It’s a spacious size, allowing me to shred a fair amount of paper.
12. A Keyboard Cover
If you’re like me and your Macbook Air came with a keyboard cover– you’re already ahead. But it’s worth investing in one if your laptop or computer does not come with a keyboard cover. From crumbs to accidentally spilled drinks, keyboard covers can go a long way in protecting your keyboard from malfunction.
Even natural elements, like dust, can build up over time and affect your keyboard. Keyboard covers are a simple tool to help maintain the longevity of your laptop or computer. Ensure you get the right one designed for your specific keyboard, as they vary.
13. Informative Books
A stack of staple books within easy access can help you when working. No one wants to be shuffling around to look for a book when you’re trying to retrieve a quote quickly. Or you may want to browse a book on your break quickly. Having key books with easy access to your home office desk is especially useful for writers. I’ve added businesswoman and YouTuber Patricia Bright’s Heart and Hustle to my staple books – check out my review here. Whatever your staple books are, find a suitable space for them in your workspace.
14. Grammarly
Ensuring your grammar is top-tier should be a priority if you’re a freelance writer. In this day and age, there are a range of tools to help assist you with this. Grammarly is one of these popular tools. They have a free option available, as well as a subscription service.
Think of Grammarly as your handy writing assistant. Beyond spelling mistakes, it suggests alternative sentence structures and syntax to make for a more engaging read.
15. ChatGPT
Since coming onto the scene in 2022, ChatGPT has had controversial reactions from writers. But, the notion by many writers now, including myself, is that ChatGPT won’t replace writers. However, a writer who uses ChatGPT will likely replace one who does not.
ChatGPT is a useful tool for coming up with ideas for your copy- similar to Google in some ways, as it can help with researching.
Admittedly, I did not know what to think when this AI tool was announced, but I have since used it with some of my freelance writing projects, and I now see it as another assistant tool for my writing. It’s not to be used to write out content completely for you but more to prompt you with ideas in the direction your writing could go to improve it.
Put It To The Test!
I hope these office essentials for writers help improve the quality of your workspace. Now that you know what you need, here’s a video guiding you on how to keep your office essentials organised:
