Dave Eggers: shedworker

Writer and publisher Dave Eggers appears to be a shedworker, according to an interview at The Times-Picayune. Here's what he says about getting rid of distractions in order to write:

Writing is just a constant fight against your own worst habits and procrastination. I think you just have to eliminate as many of the unwanted distractions. Whatever works, whether it's going to a writer's retreat. I've tried everything at this point. Just working out in the shed behind my house, with a door that locks...that seems to work at that point.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday posts are sponsored by Euroffice, the UK’s most extensive office supplies website.

Decorated Shed (screencast)

Visit Decorated Sheds
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday posts are sponsored by Extraspace, the flat-packed, man-portable expandable garden building experts. Click here for more details

Colin Astbury builds his garden office on Twitter

Shedworking reader, engineer and decent DIYer Colin Astbury contacted us a while ago for some advice on garden offices and we're very pleased to see that his shedworking lifestyle is just about to begin: over on Twitter he's putting up photos today of the build which is being carried out by Cabinville. We'll put up a few more here during the day but check Colin's photostream for swifter updates. It's an interesting build as he has an unusual plot to the side of his property which is wedge shaped, 4.3m x 3.9m (at the widest) and 2.7m at the narrowest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday posts are sponsored by Extraspace, the flat-packed, man-portable expandable garden building experts. Click here for more details

Shedworking's staff birthday

The Shedworking staff are 41 today so in a fit of wildness we are taking the morning off. Here to keep you busy until this afternoon is how the Shedworking site looks on the marvellous Wordle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday posts are sponsored by Extraspace, the flat-packed, man-portable expandable garden building experts. Click here for more details

Shed documentary

In Australia the shed is used to combat loneliness and depression in the older male generation. Sharon Mascall reports for the BBC World Service's The Friday Documentary slot on March 26 (Friday) at 10.05am London time.

O-Pod garden office

Aidan Quinn, the brains behind the Eco Hab, a super efficient dome shaped home, has now developed the O-Pod garden office. Here's what he told Shedworking:

"This is a new cylindrical design for people who require space for an office, studio or workshop in their garden. My product is highly energy efficient, full of natural light (thanks to its transparent ceiling), most often erectable without planning permission and generally a joy to work in."

The O-Pod is a round structure built in a range of diameter sizes (3m, 4m, 5m, 6m and 8m - they can be organised in a satellite formation as pictured above) from coated box section steel frames, tanilised timber uprights, plasterboard, insulation and a breathable membrane with external cladding. Standard exterior finish is cedar shingles or tongue and groove cladding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday posts are sponsored by Atelier, garden studios which are sustainable, stylish, flexible, functional and future proofed. Click here for more details.

Cartoonist Colin Shelbourn's ideal garden office

As part of the Be My Guest campaign this month which encourages bloggers to guest post on other sites, the marvellous cartoonist Colin Shelbourn and I are swapping posts on the theme of sheds. Here's his on his ideal shed (and here's mine on his):

At present I work from home. A traditional garret has been set aside for my exclusive use so that I can throw ideas and ink around without upsetting the dogs. This is all fine but I'm beginning to outgrow it and beyond these four walls there lies a garden. Over in the corner, just past the compost heap, lies the ideal location for a luxurious shed or garden studio.

In between staring at a plastered wall, trying to think of cartoons, I occasionally doodle plans for my ideal shed. Here are some the requirements I've listed so far. Warm, friendly, plenty of room for books, pads, a computer and a drawing board. And light. Lots and lots of light. For this I need windows and, above all, a window facing north. It's a cliché but all artists like a north-facing window and cartoonists are no exception. You get the best light without all the glare. Wearing sunglasses at the drawing board may be the epitome of cool but they drop off in your coffee.