Sunday, September 9, 2007

Take the following steps toward decluttering your writing space and improving your writing:

* Touch every piece of paper that you can see from where you sit to write. Either throw it away, or file it where it belongs.

* Put yourself in the center of your writing space, so that you have easy access to the computer, the phone, the filing cabinet, your supplies, and anything else that you need.

* Use a bulletin board for information and inspiration. Put it directly in front of you as you're sitting at your keyboard. When you look up be sure your eyes fall on something beautiful or inspiring!

* Clear the floor! Make sure you can see every square inch of the floor of your writing space, and that is clean and dust free.

* Keep the supplies you need close at hand. Never run out of paper, envelopes, stamps, cartridges for your printer, etc.

* Have your notebook always at hand. I call mine my "bucket," a monicker I learned from David Allen's books of getting organized and becoming more effective (I highly recommend them!).

* Have an excellent light, and put it exactly where it will do you the most good.

* Spend money. Put your treasure where your heart is. If writing is important to you, spend money to get the best you can afford of everything.