My first monitor (the left one) is for research and writing.
You can see a sample of my Windows 10 task view setup below: My current setup is two monitors that each have 2 different screens up at any given time, each taking half the screen. Personally, as a writer and businessman, I’ve found it quite helpful to be able to have multiple pages open on my screen(s) while writing. In other words, with the new Windows 10 Virtual Desktops, laptop writing is now back in style! “I Must Task View a Question…”- Why use Virtual Desktops? So instead of just having one screen with a taskbar, you can have multiple windows with its own open software. Virtual Desktops allows you to create as many extra “virtual monitors” as you need in order to get a project done, without crowding your current workspace. Windows 10 is the first Microsoft OS to offer Virtual Desktops as a core functionality and it essentially extends a writers’ workspace beyond what can be seen on the screen at any moment. If only Windows had a solution for me…Įnter Windows 10 Task View – A Laptop Writer’s Best Friend Because of this, I’ve resorted to my two monitor office setup which I love, except for the fact that I’ve lost the freedom of location that I was so happy to gain when starting to write for a living. That being said, writing from a laptop can also be a huge pain in the butt when you’re constantly having to minimize and maximize different windows in order to gather all the information you need to produce a really great piece of content. Laptop workstations in a café, at the park, near the pool or anywhere else you so choose is almost always preferred to that of an old-fashioned “office”.
Distractions often take you one step back only to propel you two steps forward.
Changes in scenery help you to get over writer’s block and incite your imagination. There’s something about the inner calm that outside chaos can bring. Writing from a laptop in diverse settings is many times (in my experience) much more conducive to effective writing.
This is where the ability to manage task views is important. This can be problematic if you’re like me, and you don’t like to always be confined to a desk with multiple monitors in order to still be an effective writer. Whether it’s checking email, researching topics, gathering images, double checking client guidelines, wasting time on politically charged Facebook posts or finally getting around to typing out your content piece, everything requires screen real estate. As a content writer, you know the importance of being able to multitask.