Under the Hood With Skellie
In Interviews by Skellie
I write blog posts and business notes in Text Edit on my 13″ Apple MacBook
The laptop itself is pretty bare — it’s never been connected to the internet and I haven’t installed any apps on it, but I find this is a productivity godsend: there’s only so much time you can spend fooling around in Photobooth, making yourself look like a Roswell-style alien, before returning to the task at hand!
My main workhorse is a PC that a friend custom-built for me in 2006, though I’m collecting parts to build a new rig as soon as possible. One thing I will keep is my black 22″ monitor!
I transfer blog posts to the workhorse with a Cruzer Titanium 2GB USB thumb drive
I use a combination of two Moleskine notebooks to keep on top of things — one 2008 Journal with a full page for each day, and an unlined mid-sized notebook for brainstorming and note-taking. I write deadlines on a calendar that hangs above my desk.
I spent years sitting at a rickety wooden chair and have recently upgraded to a high-backed ergonomic leather chair. Let me tell you — scrimping on my spine is not a mistake I’m going to make again!
The last piece of the puzzle is an HP LaserJet monochrome printer
When I travel, I’ll scan everything and take it with me, think about hooking up the MacBook to international wireless — or mooch the free stuff — and bring my Moleskines and thumb drive along for the ride. I’ll use iCal instead of my paper calendar. Other than that, the system will remain pretty much the same.
March 16th, 2008
For a person who makes a living online I’m surprised that not all your computers are online. I guess that makes sense though, being productive is priority number one.
March 16th, 2008
Any chance we can talk you into posting that Roswell-style alien picture?
I could probably use a little disconnecting myself.
–Clay
March 16th, 2008
Hooray! Great to hear that you really are working on paper, Skellie.
I’ve read interviews with several successful writers who say they work best on machines disconnected from the net, often out in a potting shed!
March 17th, 2008
This sounds a lot similar to my setup. I’ve tried the online management stuff but a big whiteboard for the task overviews and then a smaller one for the “daily to do’s” works well for me. Glad to know I’m not the only one
March 17th, 2008
Soo simple
cool .. I thought, there will be an endless list of stuff that you use..
March 17th, 2008
Two basic differences ‘tween your setup and mine: I use “vi” and not text edit, and my MacBook is connected to the Internet. We have almost the same printer (mine is a 1022n) and probably for the same reason: when you print a lot, you do not want ink-jets.
But I don’t keep paper notebooks. I write stuff “in my head” and then later do it on the Mac Book. I don’t use calendars either, except the big paper one that I use so my wife knows when I’ll be out - I carry that stuff in my head also. I can’t lose my head (or if I do, the rest doesn’t matter).
March 22nd, 2008
I use a 13″ Macbook most of the time myself, although that is my usuall everthing machine. Right now visiting another city, it’s handy to borrow a pc where I’m staying.
I don’t see a subscribe by email option for your site here. Do you offer email subscription? Please email me if you have one. I would love to read all your posts and email is the only sure way since I don’t use a feed reader.
Thanks!