Writing from Home: My Home Office Setup

By Matthew Bovee, Investigative Journalist Lincoln Nebraska

Matthew Bovee’s home office setup in Lincoln Nebraska

After more than two decades as an investigative journalist, I’ve learned that your workspace directly impacts your productivity. Whether I’m filing deadline-driven breaking news or working on a years-long investigation, my home office setup in Lincoln, Nebraska is where the magic happens. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my writing space—what works, what I’ve changed over the years, and how you can optimize your own setup for investigative writing and research.

Why I Work from Home

Before diving into the specifics of my setup, let me explain why I primarily work from home rather than from a traditional newsroom.

As an investigative journalist in Lincoln, Nebraska, much of my work involves document review, writing, and research—all activities that don’t require physical presence in an office. Working from home gives me:

  • Flexibility — I can work when inspiration strikes, whether that’s 5 AM or midnight
  • Focus — No office distractions, no colleague interruptions during deep work
  • Access to sources — People often feel more comfortable meeting in neutral spaces
  • Work-life balance — I can step away for family time and return to work easily

That said, I still visit the Lincoln Journal Star newsroom regularly and value the collaborative energy of a newsroom. But my home office is my primary workspace for the focused, sustained work that investigative journalism requires.

The Core of My Setup: Dual Monitors

The single most important investment I’ve made for my writing productivity is a dual monitor setup. When you’re reviewing complex documents, cross-referencing databases, and writing simultaneously, having two screens is essential.

My current setup includes:

  • Primary monitor — 32-inch 4K display for writing
  • Secondary monitor — 27-inch display for document review, research, and reference materials

This setup allows me to keep my writing on one screen while referencing documents on the other. For investigative journalism, where you’re often juggling dozens of sources, this separation is crucial. I can have:

  • The document I’m reading on one screen
  • My writing on another
  • A browser window with additional research on a third screen (yes, I have three monitors!)

The Chair: Your Most Important Investment

You spend hours sitting in your chair while writing and researching. A quality ergonomic chair is non-negotiable.

I use a Herman Miller Aeron—widely considered the gold standard for office chairs. The investment (around $1,400) seems steep initially, but when you’re spending 8-12 hours a day writing, your back will thank you.

Key ergonomic features I’ve prioritized:

  • Lumbar support — Proper lower back support prevents fatigue
  • Adjustable armrests — Reduces shoulder tension
  • Breathable mesh — Keeps you cool during long writing sessions
  • Full recline — Sometimes you need to lean back and think

If you’re just starting out and can’t afford a premium chair, look for used options or invest in a quality mid-range chair with good ergonomic features.

Keyboard and Mouse: The Writer’s Tools

As a writer, your keyboard is your primary tool. I’ve gone through many keyboards over the years, and I’ve landed on a mechanical keyboard with brown switches—tactile enough to provide feedback without the loud click of blue switches that can disturb others in my household.

My keyboard setup includes:

  • Mechanical keyboard — Keychron K2 with brown switches
  • Wrist rest — Gel-filled for comfort during long sessions
  • Ergonomic mouse — Logitech MX Master for precision scrolling

For laptop writers, I recommend a separate keyboard and mouse to maintain proper ergonomics. Working directly on a laptop keyboard forces your wrists into an unnatural angle that leads to repetitive strain injuries over time.

Desk Setup: Standing or Sitting?

I’ve experimented with both standing desks and traditional seated setups. Currently, I use a VARIDESK Pro Plus 36 that allows me to switch between sitting and standing throughout the day.

The benefits of a standing desk option:

  • Reduces sedentary time — Standing burns more calories and improves circulation
  • Boosts energy — Some writers report feeling more alert when standing
  • Reduces back pain — Alternating positions prevents stiffness

I typically stand for 2-3 hours in the morning during my most productive writing time, then sit for the afternoon when I’m doing more document review and research.

Lighting: The Often-Overlooked Factor

Good lighting is crucial for long writing sessions. Poor lighting causes eye strain and fatigue.

My office features:

  • Natural light — Positioned near a window for daylight (Lincoln has great sunny days!)
  • Overhead fluorescent — For general illumination
  • Desk lamp — Adjustable color temperature (warm for evening, cool for daytime)
  • Monitor light bar — BenQ ScreenBar to reduce eye strain from screen glare

The BenQ ScreenBar has been a game-changer. It illuminates your desk without casting glare on your screen, reducing eye strain during those long writing sessions.

Technology and Software

Beyond the physical setup, my productivity relies on specific software tools:

Writing and Research

  • Microsoft Word — For drafting and editing
  • Scrivener — For long-form projects and book writing
  • Notion — For organizing research and notes
  • Zotero — For citation management and source tracking
  • Trello — For project management across investigations

Document Review

  • PDF Expert — For annotating and organizing PDFs
  • Evernote — For capturing web articles and research
  • Google Drive — For cloud backup and collaboration

Communication

  • Slack — For editorial communications
  • Signal — For secure source communications
  • ProtonMail — For encrypted email

Organization: The Physical and Digital Divide

A cluttered workspace leads to a cluttered mind. I’ve developed systems to keep both my physical and digital spaces organized.

Physical Organization

  • Filing cabinets — For original documents I’ve received through FOIA
  • Reference library — Books and binders organized by topic
  • Whiteboard — For mapping complex investigations

Digital Organization

  • Consistent folder structure — Every investigation gets a master folder
  • Date-based naming — Documents named with dates for easy sorting
  • Backup system — Local backup plus cloud backup (investigative journalism documents are irreplaceable)

Sound and Focus

Writing requires deep focus, and environment matters. I use:

  • Noise-canceling headphones — Sony WH-1000XM4 for blocking distractions
  • Focus music — Lo-fi beats or classical music (no lyrics to distract)
  • Silence — Sometimes the best sound is no sound

When I’m on a deadline, I’ll put on my noise-canceling headphones and disappear into my work for hours.

Personalized Touches

Every productive workspace needs personality. My office reflects who I am:

  • Nebraska Cornhuskers memorabilia — Showing local pride
  • Books by journalists I admire — Seymour Hersh, Bob Woodward, Katherine Boo
  • Photos from Camp Launta — Reminders of where I started
  • Texas Hill Country art — My roots in Kerrville, Texas

These personal touches make the space feel like mine and inspire me to do meaningful work.

Lessons from My Setup

After years of refining my home office, here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. Invest in comfort — Your health and productivity are worth it
  2. Embrace dual monitors — Once you go dual, you never go back
  3. Organize systematically — Find a system that works for you
  4. Customize for your work — Investigative writing has unique needs
  5. Make it personal — Your space should inspire you

Creating Your Own Writer Setup

Whether you’re a fellow journalist in Lincoln, Nebraska or anywhere else, the principles remain the same:

  • Prioritize ergonomics — Your body will thank you
  • Invest in tools that matter — Quality over quantity
  • Organize for your workflow — OneNote folders should mirror how you think
  • Eliminate distractions — Create a space focused on deep work

If you’re interested in my daily routine as an investigative journalist, check out my post on A Day in the Life of an Investigative Reporter.

Matthew Bovee is an award-winning investigative journalist based in Lincoln, Nebraska. His work has earned the George Polk Award, Sigma Delta Chi Award, Gerald Loeb Award, and numerous other honors. He specializes in government accountability, public records investigations, and exposing corruption in Nebraska and beyond.