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Poet Barbara Torode converted a small bedroom in her Philadelphia home into a writing den, where she works surrounded by favorite books and pieces of advice tacked to the walls and shelves. "There is a dark shade on the window to kill screen reflections and task lighting so the room can be dimmed," Torode says of the deliberate design of her space. "I'm in easy commuting distance to my kitchen—no wasted time going and coming for meals," Torode adds, noting that she can also escape to her garden "for necessary eye-resting breaks, exercise, and meditation."