I am not an organized person. Anybody who knows me knows this. My family is forever lamenting my lack of organization.
“How can you find anything?” they repeatedly ask me. “I have a system”, I reply.
However, now, that I am pursuing writing as more than just a hobby – okay, I’m chasing it down aggressively with manuscript in hand – I have found it necessary to become organized. To be able to find the important bits of research I’ve gathered quickly, instead of spending hours looking for a scrap of paper with a single note on it and have all my materials in one place.
Luckily, my space NEVER looked like this!
To treat my space as a professional treats their office. After all, how can I expect anyone to take my writing seriously if I don’t? Other than getting published, this is the first thing that actually makes me feel like I can do this as a professional.
Scary thought, that.
Since I have been staying with my parents to help them out at home, my bedroom has doubled as an office. While not a dedicated writing space, I use it primarily for my writing and have made it more of an office-with-a-bed, rather than a bedroom-with-a-desk.
My little lean-to desk.
I started with a desk (you know, a real desk, the kind that stands on the floor and has shelves). A pretty little thing that leans against the wall and is just big enough for my laptop, monitor and keyboard. Next came a bookshelf to actually hold all my research books (it is both a blessing and a curse being a historical writer). Most recently I added a sideboard – a large bookcase set on its side that I have filled with all the accouterments of an office: in and out mail trays, drop files with file folders, boxes to keep odds and ends in. This is soon to be followed by a large dry erase board where all my plotting and storyboarding will take place. That lovely item is in the mail as we speak and should be here early next week!
My new sideboard…complete with office cat.
I purposely chose items that function well, but also look good. The desk, sideboard and bookshelf are all a rich espresso color (I do love coffee, after all), the desk accouterments are white and my folders are all a burgundy and mauve. While none of it actually matches, they are all related by style, color and pattern. The clean lines and rich espresso of the furniture and the white accessories are all tied together with a recurring brocade pattern. The metal accessories are white with brocade cutouts, the blanket on the bed is a plush brown and with brocade.
The most important thing about my space is that it makes me feel good. And when I feel good, it comes across in my writing. I write faster, I write better and my story lost its dark undertone. Who knew such a little thing as being organized could be such an influence!
How about you? Does your home office affect your mood at all? And how do you stay organized?