Virginia Woolf used one. Hemingway wrote standing up. I just saw a video clip showing Philip Roth standing while writing. And the most recent well-known person to work while standing was Don Rumsfeld (who famously edited a memo re torturing prisoners, scribbling marginalia such as, “I stand all day long. How is that torture?”).

Sitting all day long typing and not even knowing where the time goes, I often feel my legs falling asleep or, prolly worse, pain spots in certain areas. I’m sure this isn’t good for circulation, or perhaps even my posture, because sometimes I find myself hunched over the table looking at notes. Now I’m going to try standing while writing. Gives me the chance to pace while I think, too.

After today, about 5 hours worth, I can feel the ache in my knees, hips, and lower back. So perhaps I’m just getting older. But I’ll keep with this. At least it burns calories. How do I know this? I’m fucking starving right now, and there’s a wine glass with my name on it calling me from the kitchen.

I know the photo looks like I’m using a bureau, and to raise the writing height to my comfort level, I’ve pulled out a drawer and upended it. Gauche beyond belief, no? Yeah, well, at www.standupdesks.com, I priced the “Virginia Woolf” and it’s $1450. I think I’ll do just as well with this makeshift jobbie until something better comes along.

Of course, I can always sit down when my back begins to give way.