Tour A Tech Editor’s Desk (Mid-Edit)
I walked back into my office from a quick mid-edit break the other day and couldn’t help laughing at the way my desk looked. It doesn’t matter how often I clean it, if I’ve been busy editing it’s always cluttered with various tools and scraps. (Note: any text or photos that would identify what this pattern is and who wrote it have been blurred or removed).
Here’s a brief tour of my tech editing desk, mid-edit:
Screen big enough to compare two versions of a pattern side by side (in this particular photo, I’m checking that all the edits I suggested in the first round got addressed in the second version (that’s why the file on the left has only a few green comments and the file on the right has quite a bit of markup).
Laptop to provide a second screen – in this case so I can check my spreadsheet for this pattern if there’s any number discrepancies between the two versions. For other patterns this screen might hold photos of the finished object, charts and schematics, or just serve as space for an extra browser window if I need to look something up. I also highly recommend the Branch laptop stand – I got mine for Christmas and it allows me a lot more flexibility of angle than the literal cardboard box I was using previously (also it’s easy to adjust by hand but still stays at whatever angle you set it unless you are actively trying to move it).
Coffee. In an insulated mug so it doesn’t get cold while I work.
My cute decorative box where I keep my pens for color coordinating my paper calendar, my good art eraser (for when I’m doing hand illustration) and a few small cord adapters that are otherwise too easy to lose.
Scrap yarn and needles for testing stitch patterns or methodology. Used most recently to get a feel for a new-to-me stitch pattern so I understood what I needed to look for in the edit.
Measuring tape. This one belonged to my grandmother and is actually made of fabric. It’s helpful to have a measuring tape around to visualize distances when something seems off about a pattern’s proportions.
Pencil and scrap paper for drawing quick diagrams or making myself mini models (particularly helpful when trying to check joining pattern pieces together in the round, or picking up stitches from a particular direction on the shoulder).
Photo of my husband and myself from our engagement photo shoot. This photo has been in my eyeline at my office – wherever it has been located – since we took it 6 years ago.
My absolute favorite lip gloss – Tarte Jelly Glaze. A nice subtle hint of color if I need to hop on a webcam. This is Strawberry, but I’m also a big fan of the Grapefruit.
Mockups for the new Birthday collection in the Stationery Store (available now!).
My handy reminder of how to spell “stationery” (a fun letterpress souvenir from my favorite local stationery shop last year on Stationery Store Day!)
I don’t know if every tech editor’s desk is as messy as mine, but I bet we have a lot of the same items (other than the stationery store bits, of course). What does your desk look like when you’re hard at work?
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