Hi! I am excited to have Marianne Hansen, another awesome writer friend, here as my guest today!

In one of the Shopaholic books, there is a scene where the main character tries to pass herself off as an experienced horseback rider.  In order to do this, she buys a brand new riding outfit.  If she looked like she fit the part, she figured that would make all the difference.

I think the reader is supposed to laugh at this scene and think how silly she is thinking that clothes will be able to hide the fact she can’t ride once she is actually on the horse. When I read this, I thought:

“I wonder if this would work?”

I tried it with mountain biking – I own padded shorts- but I have to find babysitters to go and I think that hampers me more than anything else.

Where I really try this is with my writing.

I have a new desk.  I have new paper clips that are in funky, awesome shapes like t-shirts and lips.  I have a fountain pen from Lamy.  I have a black notebook from Surrey International Writer’s Conference (I will never be able to use this at SIWC, though, because I think if I bring it, I will look like I am trying too hard.  I am trying too hard, but I’m going for the not trying too hard look.  Much harder to achieve.  Especially the hair.)

I even have a sweater with leather patches on the elbows and my study in the new house will have a fireplace.  I will look like a writer!  I even have a MacBook which is obviously more stylish than a PC.  Especially if I get that cover I want.

But none of this means that I am sitting down every day and writing, like a writer actually does.  It means I procrastinate by buying everything I need to actually write without doing it.

But I will look so GOOD when I finally do.

Thank you so much, Marianne! I have to admit, I do the same thing–look for the perfect writing outfit, notebooks, and funky-colored highlighters.  🙂

What about you–do you find yourself shopping for the perfect outfit for writing (or anything else)? Do you have any other “must have” items? Are you as jealous as I am of those paperclips? 😉

To find out more about Marianne, visit her blog, find her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.