Today at Word Wranglers...

I've learned a lot of things since I started writing, some about the craft of writing like grammar, and variety of other things, like WW2 history and women's fashion in the 1940s, and how to pick a lock. A writer is always learning. Today I'm blogging at Word Wranglers about a few things I learned in the last few months. http://wordwranglers.blogspot.ca/2017/01/always-learning.html

A Day at the Spa

I recently spent a lovely, relaxing day at a spa. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but it turned out to be wonderful, and it makes me think I should relax more often. Find my story at Word Wranglers http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-day-at-spa.html

From the Thermea Spa website www.thermea.ca

Reorganizing my Writing Life

I’m back home after a wonderful two week holiday in Maui. It was beautiful, warm, sunny and restful, everything a good holiday should be. But now it’s back to the real world.

After having a chance to plan and think while away, I came home with renewed energy and an idea of what I want to do writing-wise in the coming year. I’ve decided that my favorite word this year is going to be…

ORGANIZATION

Every so often I go on an organization kick. I madly clean and make an attempt to get my writing life in order, only to fall back into old habits. But this is different. To be an effective writer, I can no longer live in chaos. I can’t spend minutes or hours looking for some piece of information I know I put somewhere in the room I laughingly call my office. And the files on my computer? Please. I need to dump the junk I no longer need and organize and save the things I do need.

Brace yourself. Here’s a current picture of my desk.

It’s embarrassing. I’m naturally messy and something of a procrastinator, but in my defense, part of the problem is that I don’t have anywhere to put things. My filing cabinets are so full I can’t get things in and out of them (that’s why there’s a pile of paper on the floor).

So, in the spirit of organization, I made a trip to Ikea. And I think I found a couple of pieces of furniture that will help me organize my life and my work.

The filing cabinet will neatly store paperwork much more efficiently then my pile of paper on the floor. And the chest can hide away all the clutter from my desk and store my books. I’m hoping that a less cluttered workspace will translate into a less cluttered mind.

So the first step is to clear everything, and I mean everything, out of my office. Only those things I really need will get to come back. But before I put things back, I need to repaint. I’m done with the pineapple yellow. I need something calm, restful – wait, I don’t want to go to sleep in there! I need a colour conducive to creativity, but something that won't burn my retinas. Any suggestions?

Aside from colour, what’s the most important thing a creative space needs? I’d love to hear your thoughts as I reorganize my life.