What’s in Your Wall … paper?
Sep 27th 2008
Sabrina JeffriesOn Writing! & Sabrina Jeffries
About a year ago, I switched�my computer wallpaper�from an image of pretty little fish that came with the Mac to a montage of images of whatever actor most closely depicts my current hero. It turned out to be a good idea–everytime I see the wallpaper, I’m reminded of the book. So far, I’ve had Richard Armitage (for Anthony Dalton), Jake Gyllenhaal for Martin Thorncliff in my upcoming novella, Rodrigo Santoro for Diego Montalvo of Don’t Bargain with the Devil (coming out mid to late July 2009), and�for Cousin Michael …�a great actor who shall remain nameless.�:-)
A good friend of mine has Bono on her wallpaper. She does different images every week, but it’s all Bono, all the time. And�I understand that some people put pics of their family on their wallpaper. What’s up with that?�
Seriously, though, I always find it interesting to see what wallpaper a person has on their computer and how often they change it.�
So where do you stand in the wallpaper scheme? Do you find pics to use or do you just put up one of the pretty computer pics that are provided? If you choose pics, is it celebrities or family or something off-the-wall? Do you manipulate the pics? Switch them out? How often? Most importantly, what does your wallpaper say about you? (Psst, mine says that I spend WAYYY too much time in my cave with my characters.)
54 Comments »
54 Responses to “What’s in Your Wall … paper?”
LisaK on 27 Sep 2008 at 4:09 am #
I’ve got one of the provided wallpapers, a red desert with the moon shining on it. I love it and for some reason I never change it. I think pictures of my family or friends would rather irritate me – maybe because mostly the quality of shot pics isn’t as good as the one from the provided ones, and that bothers me.
And what does it say about me? Maybe that I’m an artist and that the contrast between the red of the desert and the blue of the sky appeals to me? I don’t know.
Margaret on 27 Sep 2008 at 4:22 am #
I change my wallpaper frequently. Once in a blue moon, I will put up a current picture of a grandchild. Not often. I don’t much care for people in my wallpaper. I like scenery. Especially since I don’t travel anymore. I can go via my monitor. LOL
I mostly do seasonal. Right now, I have a lovely autumn scene of fall in it’s full golden colors. There is a small stream meandering thru the middle and a leaf strew path along the near side. So, I can take a mental walk along that path and see where it leads. I’m sure it ends at a cozy bungalow tucked back in the woods. Maybe a bit smoke is coming from the chimney. Possibly someone is there to welcome me home.
In the heat of summer, I will put up snow. Dead of winter will sometimes find wildflower meadows. I Google Images, pick a subject and browse thru their many photos. Does this make me wishy-washy?
evlqn on 27 Sep 2008 at 4:26 am #
My wallpaper is a photograph I took this past winter. It is a shot from the bridge near my house of Amazon creek after a snowfall. The screensaver is a slideshow of all the pictures I have in my Easyshare program 1529 pictures to be exact.
Lisa you are right some of the quality is not so good but some of the pictures are outstanding, but all of the pictures evoke a memory.
PJane1031 on 27 Sep 2008 at 4:44 am #
Wow! Talk about a timely topic, Sabrina! As I was driving down to my mom’s after work tonight/this morning, I was thinking that I wanted to change the wallpaper on my laptop. . . just got done doing that and wentd to read your blog!! What did I change it to, a photo of a cute guy, of course!! A
At work I can also personalize my desktop/wallpaper, but there I keep it fairly generic–just have a wallpaper of my favorite NFL team.
Now, it’s off to bed for me for a couple of hours, then I get to drive my mom to a wedding of an extended family member. Captive audience in the car for 5 hours (2 1/2 each way). Oh, joy!!!
Becky on 27 Sep 2008 at 6:40 am #
My wallpaper cuurently is a picture that I took at Stourhead Gardens when I was in England, but it looks like something the computer might have provided. I feel slightly justified, however, since I was actually there.
Before this one, I had the Twilight movie wallpaper [my sister thought I was ridiculous], and previously, I have used a wallpaper my friend and I made of snapshots of the best kisses in as many movies as we could find. Very romantic, or very sad. You be the judge.
Freshechelle on 27 Sep 2008 at 6:59 am #
my fancy new ‘puter is perfect for a slide show of my pics from Idaho, Venice, Scotland and Chicago from the 35th floor of a hotel.
my old office computer features a picture of Thorner, Leeds, UK where I spent a summer as a kid, found the pic on Picasa.
my screen saver is my pride and joy, a marquee that reads: Damn, you look good today.
Sabrina, you might want to insert this quote among your hot guy inspiration wallpaper. It really puts a spring in my step.
Lisa H on 27 Sep 2008 at 7:53 am #
Hi everyone! I missed you guys! Just got home from 10 days in Disney World with my family. We had a great time but I missed my goddess blogs!
My wallpaper changes about every month. Most recent favorites are Captain Jack in full regalia, and Johnny Depp on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. I also have Johnny in a tux and Johnny in jeans, t-shirts, hats and even a robe.
He is the one my hero in my current WIP is modeled after. I wish I had a nice pic of my Johnny in Regency attire (I’m sure there is one out there somewhere)
Every now and then I put up a picture of my kids, but, I can see them every day, looking at Johnny is a special treat!
Jessie on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:00 am #
My wallpaper was a picture of me and my boyfriend, but for a long time it has been a picture of John Krasinski. At first, I changed up his pictures, but I’ve stuck with the one I have now for a while. It might be THE perfect picture of him, so it looks like it’s staying that way.
Mary on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:20 am #
On my laptop I have it set to change pictures every 5 minutes. All are Jeffrey Dean Morgan (he who was Denny on Grey’s Anatomy.) I used him for a hero and I’m just not over him
My laptop at school has a picture of the car from Supernatural because it’s just so cool and that’s my favorite show. My teacher computer has JDM’s picture, too, from the last scene in PS I Love You 
My student computers are seasonal.
Meg on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:23 am #
My wallpaper is one that came with the computer. It looks like you are standing under a palm tree with a big limb hanging down with the georgous ocean beyond. I guess I should mention that the calendar hanging on the wall next to my desk is one called “Tropical Escapes.” What does it say about me? Probably that I am Really ready for a vacation!
Louisa Cornell on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:26 am #
My wallpaper is a big green jungle leaf. It came with the computer. I am afraid I am NOT technically inclined and I have never tried to change my own wallpaper. I wouldn’t mine having pictures of hot guys on it. I have several FROS guys on my desktop for emergencies!
I wouldn’t mind having a picture of the hero of my current WIP on the screen. For research purposes only, of course!
Meg on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:27 am #
Sorry, I am having to do this in pieces again. Stupid Internet.
If I were to change it it would more than likely go to something else aquatic. I just love the water. I guess that’s something else it says about me. I doubt I would put pics of the family up for my wallpapaer because that is what I use for my screensaver.
Michelle B on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:30 am #
Wallpaper? I share a computer with my DH and the kids at home. Our wallpaper is whatever DH wants it to be. Ususally it’s something to do with Nebraska football. I have never cared what it was, nor do I know how to change it.
My cell phone has wallpaper and a year ago when I took Daughter #2 to college we had time to kill, went to a movie and were the only ones in it. We got to admiring our pedicures and she took a picture of our feet together and that was my wallpaper for a long time, until youngest son saw it. He took a picture of our dog and now that is my wallpaper.
What does this say about me? I guess that maybe it just hasn’t been that important to me or that I need to learn how to change wallpaper.
TinaLouiseF on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:53 am #
I do not change the wallpaper as often as I used to.
Currently the picture is a Thomas Kinkade painting of autumn with piles of leaves and pumpkins.
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:53 am #
Margaret, I think your scheme sounds very restful. Until I started using hero wallpaper, I always had a nature scene, although I rarely changed mine.
LisaK, I know the desert wallpaper you mean! I had to laugh about the quality of the pics; my husband hates mp3’s because the sound quality isn’t the same as for a CD. Meanwhile, *I* can’t tell the difference.
It seems like lots of you prefer scenery. I have to say, I’ve been surprised by how well the hero pics work to keep me in the book and motivate me to write.
I HAVE family pics in my office (okay, just one of my son–my husband is a bit camera-shy), so I don’t feel that I need them on my desktop.
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:56 am #
For those of you with hot guys on your PC, do you find that people look at you odd for it? My sweet dh says he understands completely, but my brothers and my parents make jokes about it.
More and more, I think Claudia’s idea about having binders with pics in them for each book is a great idea. I could never get into the collage thing (I mean, I love doing collages, but I never got any insights into the book from them), but I DO need visual stuff for my stories. But my “binders” tend to be more digital–I keep collections of links.
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:03 am #
Mary, I’ve never seen Jeffrey Dean in anything, but I’ve seen pics of him, and he is HOT.
Fresh, I love the idea of putting up a marquee, but I think mine would have to say, “You’re brilliant!”
Because I really don’t care if I look good (says the woman who’s writing this while sitting in her pjs).
LisaH, great to have you back! And the best I can do for you as far as Johnny in Regency garb is Victorian: http://membres.lycos.fr/johnnydepp/films/hell0.jpg
If you haven’t seen From Hell, you should check it out. Johnny plays a drug-addicted inspector of Jack the Ripper. I thought it was pretty good, and he, of course, was spectacular as usual.
elsiehogarth on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:13 am #
My wall papers consists of pictures from my travels but I seem to enjoy 2 topics the best: the beach/sea and castles. I have a beach scenery, from the island of Kauai, that is very soothing and I love it above all the others. My favorite castles are: Chateau Les Crayers on the outskirts of Reims-French champagne country; Skibo Castle north of Iverness, Scotland-former owner Andrew Carnegie and Glenapp Castle: built by Lord Ayrshire, the view from across the Irish Sea is the island of Arran (love the sweaters). I also love the Palace of Versailles.
Lisa H on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:14 am #
OOOOO Sabrina…you are a goddess indeed! Thank you! Guess what my new wall paper is?
Yes, I need to watch “From Hell” He is an incredible actor no matter what he plays, and I enjoy all his performances.
Now, do you have a picture of him OUT of Regency garb?
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:15 am #
Louisa, if you want to change your wallpaper without having to learn to be techie, do this:
1. Go to Google Images and search on whatever you want in a wallpaper. Make sure that you add the word wallpaper in the search. (Wallpapers have to be a certain size if you want them to fill the screen correctly. If you don’t care, then you can put up any old pic, and the computer will fill in a color around it.)
2. Right-click on the image. You’ll get a message that says either something like “Choose as wallpaper” or, for Mac, “Use Image as Desktop Picture”
Then presto, you have wallpaper! You can change it anytime you want to go right-click on another image.
Freedom Writer on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:19 am #
Right now I have a picture of my granddaughter on my wallpaper. I have had hot guys before, and like you Sabrina, DH is okay with it. Very few others are ever invited in to my office where my computer is kept to see what my wallpaper is. Occasionally my sons and daughters come in. My daughters only comment because their taste in hot guys is different from mine, and they each have their own computers with hot guy wallpaper. My sons barely notice.
I keep a writers notebook for each story and they include pictures, character sketches, plot sketches, ideas, questions and research that needs to be done. This info is also kept in folders on my computer in the form of spreadsheets and word docs. The hard copy of my notebook is easy reference when I am writing since I hand write everything at first and then transcribe it into my computer. The pictures I have of my hero help me to envision him better. I rarely have photos of my heroines.
Freedom Writer on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:21 am #
Speaking of hot guys, I just took a look at my email and there was a news bulletin saying that Paul Newman has died. He was 83.
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:26 am #
LisaH, your wish is my command. You won’t believe this, but I found a clip on Youtube from a teen movie he made–Private Resort–in which he’s naked from behind. I kid you not. It’s at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDt30P76yvQ , about a minute and 30 secs into the clip.
Enjoy!
Now I feel like a Cougar for looking at it, even though in real life he’s only slightly younger than I am now!
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:36 am #
Another good “From Hell” pic is at http://www.dvdfuture.com/images/upload/johnny_depp_from_hell_005.jpg
And there’s one of him drinking absinthe in the bath at:
http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTg0MjU5NDcwNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMjIxNDg2._V1._SX485_SY320_.jpg
In case you’re wondering, yes, I’m a Depp fan.
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:39 am #
Freedom, sorry to hear about Paul Newman. I always loved him. I had no idea he was 83!!
SuzyQ on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:40 am #
My wallpaper is currently a picture of Stonehenge at night with the stars shining and a comet flying over it. I don’t change my wallpaper often but when I do it’s usually something space related – I had quite a few nebulas in the past. I think I like the darker backgrounds so I can see my icons better.
dbrown3400 on 27 Sep 2008 at 9:53 am #
Now that there’s a way to minimize the evil background left by a computer virus, I have my beautiful blue and green spray back. It’s one that came with the computer and is my favorite.
Judy F on 27 Sep 2008 at 10:04 am #
at home my wallpaper is a model from brazil named Henri. I just love looking at him. lol
At work its a picture of my great niece who is 19 months old. She just makes me smile whenever I see her and I need that at work a lot.
I was sorry to hear about Paul Newman too. He is my parents age and that just brings it all closer to home.
elsiehogarth on 27 Sep 2008 at 10:19 am #
It’s so sad to hear about Paul Newman. I think, tonight, in his honor I will have a Paul Newman/Joanna Woodward mini marathon. I just love all their comedies together from the 60’s. They were totally “sex and the single girl”.
Claudia Dain on 27 Sep 2008 at 10:46 am #
Funny you should mention this, but I just changed my wallpaper last week. I do it about every 3 to 4 months and it’s always a nature scene, always some photo I’ve taken. All summer it was a field of sheep in the mist, a lone tree standing sentinel, courtesy of the Cotswolds in November. Now it’s a picture of a stream in Connecticut, the trees just starting to turn marigold yellow and blood red.
Margaret on 27 Sep 2008 at 11:27 am #
Sabrina, here is what I have currently. Until I get tired of it. Desktop wallpaper is one of the few things in my life that can be changed easily and at will.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/139860581_9976870b09_o.jpg
evlqn on 27 Sep 2008 at 11:32 am #
I loved paul Newman’s movies too, especially the ones with Robert Redford in them. Now those were a couple of hot guys!
Sweet Jane on 27 Sep 2008 at 11:32 am #
I’ve had a few wallpapers, but I can’t really get arsed to find anything too artsy, clever, beautiful or meaningful. When I first got my computer, the default wallpaper was brown. Like, just plain brown (that’s my OS’s theme colour). So I changed it to the first okay wallpaper I found in somebody else’s folder. It was blue and had a blue little twisted tree in a corner with the word ‘life’ coming from somewhere. When I decided I had enough, I changed it to a picture I found on DeviantArt, which was a cool painting of wide-eyed, funny-looking fish someone had done as a school assignment. Last year, while looking for pictures that were meant to depict the place where I grew up, I found this amazing picture of the Canigou (Pyrenees) and decided to put it up to make everyone jealous. ‘Yes, that’s the view we used to have from the living-room.’ Now I’ve just had a new version of my OS installed, so wallpaper’s brown again, but prettier, with a heron, so I’m keeping it so far.
Sweet Jane on 27 Sep 2008 at 11:42 am #
After writing so extensively about myself and using up all the allowed words, I’d like to add that I find the idea of choosing pictures that remind you of your book’s hero quite great! I’m not sure I could do it, though, unless I was living alone, ’cause I’m not one to take disdainful comments or looks from anyone (yet).
Cail on 27 Sep 2008 at 12:37 pm #
well, i have two computers and both have sickeningly cute pictures of me and the dh. often they would have yankee themed pictures too. so yeah, people (usually me and the dh or my favorite stadium) that’s about it.
colinfirthfan on 27 Sep 2008 at 12:59 pm #
I had a picture of my kids but not I have a picture of 11 of my cousins all our kids last reunion of sorts.
Lisa H on 27 Sep 2008 at 1:04 pm #
Sabrina!!!!! THat was so funny! He must have been around 16 in that movie. I giggled in spite of myself.
Thanks for posting it. I couldn’t access the other pictures you recommended, I will have to try from another computer.
I am so sad to hear about Paul Newman. He was a beautiful man, and a wonderful actor. I always loved the way he spoke about his wife.
Kay on 27 Sep 2008 at 1:09 pm #
I have a picture of my sweet sheltie, Angus, who died last November.
*snif*
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 1:25 pm #
Aww, Kay, that’s sweet. Pet pics don’t seem to be big for the wallpaper. You’re the first to mention one.
LisaH, sorry you couldn’t get to the pics. Seriously, just put in “Johnny Depp” and “From hell” on Google Images and you’ll have all the pics you want!
Yep, eviqn, Paul and Robert were truly hot! And yes, Lisa, he did seem to truly love his wife, which I thought was wonderful.
Elsie, I don’t think I’ve seen too many of his comedies–I’ll have to check them out!
Ann in IL on 27 Sep 2008 at 1:40 pm #
My wallpaper has been the same since I bought this computer a year ago.
It’s a concert pic of Andre Rieu. Gorgeous!!!!!!
On the old computer it was a pic of the Scottish Highlands. My nephew is the one that found the Andre pic and I don’t want to change it. Plus I don’t know how!!!!!!!!!
Kathy/Cookie on 27 Sep 2008 at 2:02 pm #
I just read the news about Paul Newman! so sad! but a great long life!
Kathy/Cookie on 27 Sep 2008 at 2:08 pm #
ok, this is the 3rd day the site has bounced me out. whaaaaaa
Kathy/Cookie on 27 Sep 2008 at 2:09 pm #
autumn leaves is my wallpaper
no more to be said.
I don’t change the pic very often. it’s usually mine or family taken photos i use.
Paula on 27 Sep 2008 at 2:21 pm #
My wallpaper is a picture I took when we visited Giverney last May. It is of ‘The Lily Pond’ in Monet’s garden.
My screensaver is all the photos I have in My Pictures.
Zeus must be having a bad time because I keep getting thrown out too!!
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 3:16 pm #
Cail, sickeningly cute is good. Nothing wrong with sickeningly cute in MY opinion.
And sweet Jane, I LOVE DeviantArt! Mostly because my friend Ursula Vernon has stuff there.
For those of you bouncing, I have an e-mail in to Zeus. We’ll see what he says, and hopefully the problem will be fixed (assuming it’s Mount Oly and NOT Mercury in retrograde or the universe in flux or, shudder, viruses on all our computers).
Kathy/Cookie on 27 Sep 2008 at 3:18 pm #
sometimes I put fractal art up..it is so cool
evlqn on 27 Sep 2008 at 3:24 pm #
My son has his stuff on DeviantArt too. Most of it I love, some not so much.
Please Zeus be kind to all of us goddesses.
Yasmin on 27 Sep 2008 at 5:56 pm #
I dont switch my walllpaper often. Right now I have a FROs model. The one the lying on a bed making eay contact with the camera and reaching out with one hand and of course shirtless
evlqn on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:20 pm #
Yasmin, I remember him, great choice!
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:38 pm #
Kathy, I like fractal art, too. That’s what’s on my screensaver.
Louisa Cornell on 27 Sep 2008 at 8:55 pm #
Thanks, Sabrina! I am writing your instructions down. Now to search out some lovely photos of GORGEOUS men. Have any of you seen the guy in the new Polo ad? He is the model for Marcus in my first book Lost in Love. There was a big picture of the ad in Men’s Health magazine. I bought it because Gerrard Butler was on the cover. (Shallow, I know!) The article about him was great! And the full page photo of the model for my hero was a bonus. I have binders set up for each of my books and I have photos of my heroes and heroines and even rooms and homes and places in my book. Thanks, Claudia! Now I am off to change my wallpaper. Oh, and the photos of Johnny from the movie From Hell are divine, aren’t they!
Louisa Cornell on 27 Sep 2008 at 11:15 pm #
Hey, I did it! I now have a beautiful English stately home as my wallpaper!! Thanks, Sabrina!
Sabrina Jeffries on 28 Sep 2008 at 8:35 am #
Yay, Louisa!! Glad I could help!
Sonja Foust on 29 Sep 2008 at 9:50 am #
My favorite wallpaper site is digitalblasphemy.com . For my work computer, I just choose one that makes me happy, sometimes seasonal, sometimes not. For my home computer, I try to choose a scene that goes with the book I’m working on. Right now I have a New York City set book, so I have a night-time garden in the middle of some skyscrapers with a lone be-suited figure walking through it. Very evocative of the sort of thing I want in my book.