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Embody by Herman Miller

One of our most popular articles has just received an update.  Click here to find more ergonomic chairs to help increase your productivity, as well as updated links and a peek at the all new Embody chair by Herman Miller.  

In June of this year Founders’ Blog posted a very popular article about ergonomic chairs. What followed were numerous emails asking detailed questions about specific models.   The article was written to encourage writers to invest in their health when setting up a home work environment, not so much to profess ourselves pundits on the subject of ergonomic chairs.  Nonetheless, we’ve gone ahead and gathered a handful of videos on the internet that showcase some of the features of specific models. We are happy with the response to the June article and again want to encourage all writers to invest in two things: good computer equipment and a great chair.

Chris Pirillo uses the Grahl ergonomic chair and explains the importance of investing in a high quality chair.

Thorough review of the SwingSeat - very innovative product. Try it out and if you don’t like it, you get your money back including S&H.

Difficulty finding a BodyBilt video that showcases the entire chair. One of the best features is the seat - modeled after the old, farmer, tractor saddles.

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There is an insightful article over at Guardian News and Media which has researched the working spaces of 68 famous writers. Within the article each modern writer elaborates on their choice of space, furniture and gadgets. Posthumous articles by various journalists cover the work spaces of writers such as Virginia Wolf and Rudyard Kipling. It’s interesting to see some of the geek’dm, and antiquated work spaces used by the best.  

Having just posted an article myself about the best ergonomic chairs for writers, I offer Sarah Waters (Author of Tipping the Velvet) the prize for best chair.  She also has several maps plastering the walls which qualify as art in my office as well.  Charles Darwin’s Victorian digs surprised me, as I expected to see a bunch of dead specimens in jars and carcasses hanging from the wall. 

Check out  the article and see where the musings of many great writers have taken place.

Sarah Waters’ Writing Room

I’m not sure if I want this alarm clock, but I do know that I need it.  Yep, I am one of those perpetual snooze-button-hitters.  My alarm goes off on my Blackberry at 6:00 am every morning and I hit the snooze every ten minutes until 6:50 am.  That’s no longer possible with Clocky. 

This geeky little wheeled alarm clock started out as an engineering student’s project to wake her up.  How does it work?  You set your snooze time anywhere between 0 and 9 minutes.  Clocky will allow one hit of the snooze button before he shrieks and rolls away.  He works on both wood and carpet and can jump up to three feet!  Want to turn Clocky off?  You must get out of bed and chase him down.  How’s that for curing (or annoying) us Snoozers.  Rise and shine!

Clocky comes in various colors with a price tage of $49 and is sold in multiple locations such as Think Geek. 

Grahl Synchron 5

UPDATE: Videos - Best Ergonomic Chairs for Writers 

UPDATE 2: Refreshed Article December 5th 2008 with better links and more chairs. Plus, check out the all new Embody chair by Herman Miller.

This article has become so popular that we are going to continue to update it and post the updated links on the Home page, linking back to the original article. Godspeed in your search for the perfect chair!

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Every writer should invest in two things – good computer equipment and a great chair.  Forget the desk. A desk just holds stuff.  I don’t care if you use two barrels and slab of oak to create a desk. As long as the height is conducive to your body type. 

It’s 2008 and people find themselves sitting in front of a computer all day long, including writers. Unfortunately, proper seating can be the last thing writers think about.  You pick the cheapest or the prettiest chair from your local IKEA or office supply store and you live to regret it.  Invest in your health and give your body the proper support it needs to create that blockbuster!

Things to consider when buying a chair:

• Free range of adjustable motion (height, seat, back, arms)
• Upper and lower lumbar support (executive series)
• Adjustable headrest
• Durable material (it’s a long-term investment)

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Well, we are gearing up for the 25th Anniversary of the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival.  The Festival takes place here in beautiful Temecula, CA this weekend – June 6th through the 8th. 

Come and join us for musical entertainment, wine tasting, hot air balloon shows and rides, a kids fair, arts & crafts, exhibits, and food.  The wine tasting (yes, I know… I already said wine tasting), features premium wines from numerous Temecula Valley wineries, as well as others from Southern California.  LitCentral would love to see you there!

And for those of you who love gadgets as much as we do, even when it comes to wine there’s geek’dm to be had. I  have already reserved the babysitter, and placed my order for the coolest, craziest, most Tim-the-Toolman-Taylor corkscrew I have yet to see -  The Wine Ratchet Magnum!