The center of your room

Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around.

Stephen King, On Writing

I'm sure there are those who would debate that point with Stephen King. And not just those in the arts. There are those in virtually every walk of life who live to work, rather than working to live. Or who view life and work as synonymous. If they weren't playing football (Tom Brady perhaps?), going into the office each day, working on cars, baking bread, whatever, what would be the point? In their minds, their work is who they are.

One gathers from reading King's memoir/self-help book On Writing that he has temptations in this direction, as well. Perhaps this is why he makes it a point to put his writing desk in the corner of the room, not in its center — and why he advises other writers to do the same. Symbols, even something as simple as this, can be important. If your work isn't in the center of your room, perhaps it isn't the center of your life.

Of course, this poses the question: If your work isn't the center of your life, then what is? Your family? Your community? Your faith? Your hobbies? Or is life itself at the center? Are your work, family, faith, etc., like spokes on a wheel, the things that make it work and keep it going? Wheels with a single spoke don't work that well.