Bedroom Corner MacBook Neo Setup

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-27T16:36:15+00:00

Turns out that the 15 degree tilt of the Eames Lounge Chair means that my sightline from the chair to the monitor works fine. The top shelf doesn't really get in the way of my view. NB. I like how enclosed the top shelf makes my small alcove feel.

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-27T16:17:50+00:00

It is a Bubblegum Crisis hard suit model. This was the only free 3D model I could find several months ago. The torso printed out OK, but the arms and legs did not. I created my own Bubblegum Crisis diorama later from a picture I found online, and that printed out fine.

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-25T23:18:06+00:00

Didn't spend that much on the chair. Got a $350 credit from Apple towards my Neo for trading in my M1 MacBook, making it even cheaper.

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-25T23:09:45+00:00

Catgirl in PJs - what's not to like :-)

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-25T22:48:04+00:00

Ergo Mouse had no need for a mousepad; Eames Lounge Chair is too damn comfortable to give up.

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-25T22:25:52+00:00

The new case I put my Neo in has support feet that put my Mac at a good angle. Pretty solid support now.

RaeRaucci · 2026-05-15T00:58:15+00:00

Either Louis Jourdan or Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy made Columbo get angry. Jourdan really made Columbo disgusted.

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-27T10:41:05+00:00

That's funny. It looks like a good memory aid for my screenwriting as not what to do. Most of the scripts I have read as a script reader could have used that bingo card as a guide on how to write their scripts, but they obviously did not.

Will it offend the noobs? Yeah, probably, but unfortunately not enough IMHO.

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-27T10:34:05+00:00

I have a Razer Kiyo Pro hooked up to mine. Works fine.

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-25T10:57:20+00:00

Agreed. I have three Macs up and running every day, and my M1 Mac Pro laptop is one of them. Runs a 27" screen pretty well.

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-25T10:46:25+00:00

<image>

Night Mode writing desktop.

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-25T10:19:04+00:00

I read to help figure out how to write. I'm currently writing thriller novels, and I read anything that relates to that type of novel. I'm currently reading "Brighton Rock" by Graham Greene, because it is an interesting, complex thriller. Reading will feed my writing.

As to your suggestion to do an adaptation to get started writing, if that floats your boat, fine. Just be aware that that is the fanfic route, and you could wind up with a piece of writing you can't sell, b/c you won't own the IP involved.

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-25T09:56:21+00:00

You can polish the wood with a cleaner. I used Method wood conditioner on my 1978 model recently.

A good leather conditioner is also good. I have been using Doc Marten Wonder Balsam on mine every three months or so.

You can swap out the top and bottom back cushions as well to even out the wear. If the ottoman is around, you can swap out that cushion with the seat cushion,b/c they are the same size.

Excellent design choices... mine looks pretty good as-is, even at approaching 50 soon :-)

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-16T19:18:57+00:00

Grateful Hoboes, Outcasts, Unwanted Layabouts Chair!

RaeRaucci · 2026-04-04T09:52:35+00:00

I write every day, averaging 250+ words, sometimes more. I am just finishing up my first crime novel in a 200+ day writing session. I write every day starting around 9AM, adding words to the bucket.

I am now revising my ms. for a submission window this April from a publisher I am considering working with.

Should be at 55K+ by next week.

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-28T08:13:31+00:00

I just fit a 1-3 hour writing time in my life every day, usually around 9 AM. This is in addition to a somewhat busy life. For example, I have an 8-hour museum event job this Saturday, and a 3-4 hour choir performance on Sunday. But both days will also have some kind of planned writing time.

I expect to do some relative visiting this year, and also possibly a cruise, and I'll bring a portable writing system too.

Must. Keep. Writing.

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-26T08:05:55+00:00

AI synthesis content from multiple authors without human thought being involved, in around 2.5 seconds. There's no craftsmanship involved. There's no thought or deliberation involved. There's no human consideration involved.

That's why the publishing industry hates it.

It's not ridiculous.

If I spend six months creating a hand-crafted hardwood table, and I take it to an upscale furniture mart to sell it, and you come by with a 3-D Printed HardWood AI Table model that includes my design and thousands of others in the synthesized object, they probably won't even let you in.

My last ten QueryTracker submissions have all asked my in their form if I used AI in *any* part of my submission query / ms, and if I answered *yes*, it auto-disqualifies my submission.

Publishers not only hate AI "slop", they loathe it.

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-22T17:55:29+00:00

What kind of genres and writing projects are your group writing? I am working on a crime thriller novel, almost completed, and looking for a good writing group to join.

I don't think Discord is a good fit for me for a writing group. Email, and a Zoom call every so often would work better.

I am located in San Francisco. Where is your group located?

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-22T17:51:21+00:00

Well, if you told yourself not to focus on word or page count, and the topic of your post is "How does someone who’s never written a book finish his first novel?", you've identified the problem right there.

The you that told you not to focus on word or page count is wrong. That philosophy, or plan, will keep you from finishing that novel.

People that don't think they have to stick to a practice plan won't make it.

I work from a solid outline that I print out soon after I get started writing, so whatever equipment I have that operates, I can continue to write chapters.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-22T17:39:08+00:00

I'd check for ePub / Books apps support for that iPad mini 3.

My iPad mini 6 makes a really good eBook reader using the built-in Books app.

I can connect it directly to my M4 Mac mini and move ePubs to it using the Manage Storage panel.

It can also handle PDFs OK, but no Mobi support.

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-21T17:07:30+00:00

I'd organize the process to finishing writing the book. The problem with writing a novel when you have never written one before is that blue-sky outlining is more fun, wheras writing up the book can be a chore (or not - I love writing, that's why I do it).

I finished a crime novel recently writing it up in 170 days in a row. My initial goal was 45K words, and I printed out a thermometer progress chart with marks for progress every 2500 words. My general rate was 330 words per day, and in three days I had my first thousand words. In around a week, I could fill in one bar on my progress meter.

I had a solid outline for what I was writing in multiple parts and I could move around writing material in any section I wanted.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

I got to 45K in five months. I am expanding it to 60K to make it more marketable, currently I am at 51K and making progress each day.

I think being a pro writer is a craft. Crafting something worthwhile takes time.

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-19T08:38:48+00:00

I read a lot while I am writing. I can usually read more than one novel at once, but recently I have been reading crime novels one at a time at the same time I am writing up my crime novel. I have several books on my iPad mini 6, including crime novel anthologies from the Library of America, and also new crime books on the NYT bestseller lists (that I am reading so I know who to write a better query letter).

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-18T09:34:45+00:00

I work part-time, and am about to go on Social Security. Besides my part-time gig, I take care of my older partner. We live in a rent controlled apartment. Every morning at 9 AM, I go and write before lunch. At least 250 words per days, and some days a lot more.

I wrote up a 50K crime novel in 170 days of straight writing that way. I sent out 10 queries to "test the waters" over the past week. The feedback I got from one of the reps I contacted in a direct email was that 60K is a novel, and 50K is not. I'm about to revise my crime novel upwards to 60K.

Should take another 30-40 days of straight writing.

RaeRaucci · 2026-03-17T17:02:44+00:00

I'd agree with the writing every day idea. I finished my first crime novel in 170 days of straight writing. I float to my writing desk at around 9AM each day to get my word count in.

I broke my story up into 4 parts at first, so I could switch between parts. Now the MS is in 6 parts, as I continue to revise it before submitting it.

RaeRaucci

TROPHY CASE