The author converted an old laptop into a dedicated writing device, a 'writerdeck', by installing a console-only Debian operating system and various packages to enhance the writing experience. The setup includes a custom font, network manager, and neovim as the editor, allowing for a distraction-free writing environment. The author also set up automatic login and configured tmux for multiplexing and a status bar. The goal of the project is to create a device that does one thing well and helps the author stay focused on writing.