Spring Cleaning

and writing what I needed to read when I first started this journey.

Spring has sprung and it is the time for new beginnings and fresh starts. I liken this time of year and my thoughts to the New Year, but better. You are closer to being ready to implement your resolutions because three months have gone by and you are now kicking yourself for not starting sooner so are perhaps a tad more motivated. Just me?… Okay, moving on…

The pressure of the season with the thought of the impending summer and all the activities it brings can also be a time when you are trying to get so many things done that you put undue pressure on yourself. If you are like me, you may find the only way of dealing with it all is to not do anything, which is how my office got to the state it is in now. No wonder my Muse has been hesitant to talk to me! She probably is stuck under the reams of paperwork I have in my action pile, or stuffed in the closet of no return. This is the time of year I like to correct that and something I’ve been working on since winter. It sort of relates to another post I just published about Procrasticleaning, which has its pros and cons for sure as it relates to your writing, but like with most things, it is all about balance.

If you have a project or task you have been avoiding, consider taking the time to break it open and really examine it. Is it really something that needs “your” attention, or can you delegate it? Does it really need to be done at all? Similarly is “someday” really going to come for the project you have in your desk drawer (aka have HAD languishing in your desk drawer… FOR YEARS)? Or are you hanging on to old ideas for the sake of feeling productive? Is it a distraction from your current WIP, or an idea with actual substance? What is stopping you from bringing it to the top of your idea pile? I am talking to myself here if you haven’t already picked up on that.

Decluttering is a process; one that I personally struggle with daily. I recently found out it has a lot to do with how I am wired (thank you Becca Syme). My challenge for you all (and myself) this spring is to take back your project and workspace. Make room for your writing both mentally and physically. This might require an outing to calm your mind, or the task of organizing your desk, or perhaps both. I feel it’s time to clear the clutter from the past few years and get back to the business of creating. I’m ready to pull weeds and plant some seeds of inspiration… how about you?

Here are some small changes that have helped me in the past:

Clear the clutter

• Tidy your desk, clear the top. Or organize the drawer that bothers you the most.
• Mental clutter is important also, so find a few minutes in the day to meditate or do yoga.
• Pull books off your shelf you no longer want and take them to some Little Free Libraries.
• Donate writer craft books to your local library or offer to ship them to a writer friend.
• Go outside on a nice day and clear your flowerbeds/rake.
• My favorite: Stick your hand in the dirt and breathe. Grounding works for me every time.

Tackle the project

• Work on the low-hanging fruit first. Do you have a short story that is done and just needs a quick edit? Finish! and submit it to a journal or two.
• Work on what will bring you the most Joy. You know which project that is… the one that lights you up… the one that excites you the most… the one your friends are sick of hearing about and not reading. Yes… that one!
• Make a list of your wants, then prioritize by need (is there something you can delegate?)
• Which is the book/project of your heart? Start working on that first! (See second bullet point).
• No time to write? Get up earlier… stay up later. Schedule a date with yourself. I guarantee there is time in the day you can find. If not, it is time to get harsh. No more binge-watching, social scrolling, or leisurely lunches. Time to get serious if you want it bad enough!

Define the goal

• What is it you really want to accomplish? Find an agent? A publisher? Then work toward that goal. Send out that Query… while you are at it 5!
• Ready to self-publish? Learn what you need to, there are a TON of resources out there. You will find a few under the Writer Resource Tab on my site here.
• Financial freedom? Work to that end and make the sacrifices necessary to see it through. Get the help of a professional to formulate a plan to reduce debt/spending. Downsize where you can so you can live on less.
• Decide if you really want your creativity and art to support you, or if you would prefer to have another job supplement your passion. Having a dream of a bestselling status is awesome, and if it happens that is even better, but you do have to have a Plan B just in case… Maybe even a plan C.

Purge the junk

• Shred the printouts of articles you will never get to, the manuscripts you have already edited, and the junk mail you let pile up in the kitchen. Make it a habit of doing it as you go moving forward.
• Purge digital files you no longer need. Photos you will never use (I’m looking at you random screenshot). And while we are on this topic, it may be time to purge your old passwords and create some new ones.
• And for the love of all that is holy, only use Wi-fi you trust, otherwise make use of your hotspot.
• Purge social groups you no longer participate in, social platforms that no longer serve you, and unsubscribe from email newsletters that no longer are of interest (which helps the sender out also). These are all things that can help to clear some of the mental clutter that may be weighing you down.

Set boundaries

• This is by far the most important thing… when you free up space, let no one (including yourself) fill it up with the things that no longer serve you.
• Learn to say “No” (it is a complete sentence)
• Fiercely protect your writing time. If you can’t write at home or don’t have the support you need, get out of the house and write at the library, a cafe, a park, in your car up the street, or even dictate into your phone on your walk. Do whatever it takes to get words down, even if that means you don’t see certain friends for a while.
• And remember, if you write, you are a writer. If you have published, you are an author. No other validation is necessary. Your family doesn’t need to read your stuff, they aren’t necessarily your target market anyway.
• This was the hardest for me: The book is yours only as you write it. Once it is published, it belongs to the readers. It is best not to read their thoughts about it (aka don’t read reviews).

The resources I have used or researched are shown in the writer resource tab, but there are a few YouTube channels I would highly recommend you check out if you are just starting out. These folks had the most comprehensive and helpful information I found along the way, and are channels I still actively listen to.

https://www.youtube.com/@thecreativepenn

https://www.youtube.com/@DavidGaughran

https://www.youtube.com/@HeartBreathings

https://www.youtube.com/@BeccaSyme

https://www.youtube.com/@Kindlepreneur

Thank you as always for reading, and let me know in the comments if this resonated with you, or what you are working on this spring. Excited to see what we all “grow” in 2024! XO