Desk Tour: Chelsea Devantez
See where this Emmy-nominated writer, comedian, and filmmaker works!
Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. In case you missed it: Lindsey Stanberry’s Desk Tour from last time. You can also browse the entire catalog of Desk Tours.
A funny thing about writing is that you start out looking at other writers and thinking, “How do they know everyone? I don’t know anyone,” and then slowly, surely, and often randomly, you build your own network. I have yet to meet the lovely Chelsea Devantez in person, but we connected online because we both had books coming out the very same day last June. Chelsea’s memoir I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This was a national bestseller. She is an Emmy-nominated writer and comedian and was Jon Stewart’s head writer. She has written for many shows, including Girls5Eva and Not Dead Yet. She also hosts the podcast Glamorous Trash where she recaps and bookclubs celebrity memoirs and viral articles. Like most writers I know, Chelsea truly is doing it all.
Plus, she’s warm, hilarious (obviously), and so, so smart. I’m so glad our paths have crossed and though we haven’t been able to meet in person yet, I feel lucky to take a peek into her world via this tour.
OM: Describe your workspace.
CD: A cozy yet unhinged maximalist shrine to all the culture and books that inspire me, stuffed inside a rickety ADU build-out behind our garage.
OM: What are your three favorite items on your desk right now?
CD: Face spray to wake me up and re-ground me when I’m in a daze. I love this company’s spray: Appalachian Botanical, which repurposed coal mining lands to grow lavender, and provide jobs in the community. 2. A friend taught me that if you just put on red lipstick you will look zoom-ready, regardless if you haven’t even showered, so I always keep a lippie at my desk 3. these little cans of Post Meridiem espresso martinis and cosmos to celebrate a good writing day or forget a bad one.
OM: Do you keep anything specific at your desk that you use as inspiration to stay creative or positive?
CD: There is one thing that single-handedly elevated my writing life ten-fold: a foot massager that sits underneath my desk. It makes me excited to sit down to work, keeps me awake during boring zooms, and keeps me writing just a little bit longer when my sentence is done, but the timed foot massage is not. I’ve had mine for 5 years and it’s still kickin’.
I came up as a touring comedian at The Second City in Chicago where my first jobs were working on a cruise ship and then touring around in a sweaty van around America; so I’ve been trained to be able to work from anywhere. I can work in a crumpled up fetal position in the airport, I can type in the passenger seat of a car, and I’ve done rewrites at a karaoke bar when I worked for a demanding boss.
OM: Is there anything you absolutely HAVE to have at your desk/workspace or you can't be productive?
CD: I came up as a touring comedian at The Second City in Chicago where my first jobs were working on a cruise ship and then touring around in a sweaty van around America; so I’ve been trained to be able to work from anywhere. I can work in a crumpled up fetal position in the airport, I can type in the passenger seat of a car, and I’ve done rewrites at a karaoke bar when I worked for a demanding boss. If I’m not at my desk, then a laptop cushion that sits on your lap and elevates your wrists is my favorite. Having a cute, dedicated writing space feels like a luxury. I’ve only had this space for two years; it took 15 years to have the courage/funds to wallpaper a corner and invest in a chair that couldn’t easily fit in the trunk of a car!
OM: Is there anything you'd change about your workspace? If so, what?
CD: I would love to paint the walls, and wallpaper the ceiling, and cover it all in more bookshelves and gold trim. But I cannot fathom taking that project on, since recently my big wins in 2025 have been things like: “put on real clothes today.”
OM: Describe your ideal work day at your desk.
CD: Walk to my desk in my pajamas with a cup of Irish Breakfast tea that I had the patience to steep long enough, turn on the foot massager, and immediately write for a couple of hours. Do one of the stretching routines I’ve been trying to make a habit of, and then take a break to record a podcast about (hopefully) a really good memoir with a fun guest who inspires me to create. Return to my desk and cycle through walking and cuddling my dogs, writing, and reading in my little nook. A really really good day would include sneaking back out to my office later with wine in hand, still in my pajamas, and lighting candles throughout the office to put the finishing touches on something I’m excited about.
OM: Where can people find you on the internet?
CD: On Instagram @Chelsea Devantez I recap books, magazines, other fun things in my IG stories. My podcast Glamorous Trash book-clubs celebrity memoirs and viral articles through a thoughtful and comedic lens. And my monthly newsletter is free and I send out 10 recs of stuff I’m loving (like a foot massager, or a TV show I recommend)!
Note from Olivia: I am buying a foot massager immediately. That is all.
Be sure to check out all the past editions of Desk Tour!
PS: One last thing before I go… you can order my first novel NOW! If you’ve already read and enjoyed, I would be honored if you would leave a kind review or rating on Goodreads or Amazon. It makes a world of difference. I appreciate your consideration, time, and support immensely.
A portion of March’s subscriber proceeds will go toward the Emily’s List, an organization that trains Democratic women (who are pro-choice) in the basics of running for office, from school board to senator.
I loved this profile! I'm trying desperately to curtail my shopping but I'm all in for that lavender spray.
Just wanted to say I started listening to Glamorous Trash after this post and am really loving it! Thanks for introducing me to a new creative to enjoy!