Making Time to Write Monday: Organize Your Writing Life #4 Clean Up Your Act

Last week I posted on hoarding your drafts, so I felt it would be a good thing to show you that I know how to clean up my act too.

My parents are coming to visit–from Thailand. So when they come to visit, they stay for awhile. They keep insisting that they do not need to stay in my office space, but I need a good excuse to purge and clean at least once a year.

Before

I should be embarrassed to show you this photo. But it’s honest and it’s real life.

I am a very organized person. However, sometimes life gets out of control. Do I really need two novels’ archives under my desk, spilling over? Do I need six bags, recycling, and books to read also cluttering up my foot space? Not to mention the multiple “to do” piles on the horizontal desk space.

It needed a major clean up.

The good news is that I was at a good stopping point. I had “cleared the decks” in my writing. I e-mailed my latest draft of my WIP to my critique group. I am getting ready to start a new book, so this purge had good timing.

After

I know this is more of a close-up. But there is nothing lurking under the desk anymore (except for a few cords). I don’t have to-do piles anymore. I have a smaller temporary space set up in my dining room. Converting my office into a temporary guest room forces me to select only what I really need to have at an arm’s reach.

I didn’t need those archives of drafts at my fingertips for the next two months. So I sorted through them and filed them away. I am not ready to get rid of them (see Hoarder post), but out of sight is perfectly fine. I can’t even reach these without a step ladder.

Clear the Decks

Does your writing space need an overhaul? Not necessarily a remodel with money spent, but an elbow grease,  open trash bag kind of cleaning? It will make you feel better. It might even help you make room to start something new.