In my last post I said that “my home office is strewn with papers, magazines, newspapers, and other research materials. Most of them laying open to certain pages, articles, dates, and so forth. Books are everywhere, opened or closed. I straighten it all up occasionally. While I’m working on a project the material has to be out within reach. And I’m usually working on several projects.” It is certainly the truth. In that particular instance, I was portraying it in a good light. But it does have another side.
I refer to it as organized clutter. However, there is a point at which it stops being organized and begins to detract from the work at hand. When I am looking for a paper and look through four stacks - still not finding it - I know it is time to file and re-organize. When it takes ten to fifteen minutes to find the paper, book, or such and less than a minute to check the fact I was looking to validate.
The point at which it ceases to be organized clutter coincides with the times when I have what is generally summed up as writer’s block. Yet it is never as simple as that. Oftentimes, for me, it comes down to life with three teenage boys overcoming the mind-set it takes to write. So I spend a day going through all of the piles - including the bills - and cleaning up the clutter.
I straighten the floor first. Which entails scanning the newspapers before moving them to the recycle stack. Rotating the magazines from floor to research table to coffee table. Ending up with those for filing or recycling. Filing stacks of research papers that have overflowed from the desk and research table.
Moving to the desk and research table, I make notes I need before filing materials in current use - eliminating them from the piles. Then I file the stacks that have been waiting patiently for me to place them in their respective folders. I transfer books in stacks on the desk and research table to stacks on overflowing bookcase shelves. I make another mental note to put the three bookcases together that are still in the box.
Hopefully, by this time my muse has awoken and an idea is germinating in my mind. In that case I just start writing - typing as fast as I can - keeping on the heels of the train of thought. If the train stalls, I wash the dishes and think about it. There are times when I dry off my hands and run to my desk to type frantically - still wearing the gloves (I have sensitive skin and my hands dry and crack easily).
On the other hand, if the muse stayed dormant and did not appear, at least I am organized again. Maybe I can get to those bookcases.
Peace be with you.
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