Writing Tales, Triumphs, and Tribulations: Cleaning House

January 11, 2005

Cleaning House

Happy New Year to you all! I have been offline for awhile -- not because things have been going badly, but because things have been going well. The writing is flowing and there's just been TONS to do . . .

I think partially this is because I actually cleaned up my house. It makes all the difference I tell you. A friend of mine who is a writing professor, and therefore instills me with the sense that he knows everything in the world about writing -- even though I know that he struggles with all the same B.S. I do -- recently saw my office. My office was crammed to overflowing with all the boxes, clothes-to-give-away, artwork, cookbooks, presents, and other detritus from the other rooms in the house that there was just enough room to walk to the computer desk, if you're willing to step on a lot of paper to do so. John took one look and said: "Do you write in here?"

Honestly, I don't even know if he meant it the way I heard it -- which was of course "How can you possibly write in this pigsty?" For all I know, he really meant "Lucky you, you get a whole extra room to write in, when I only live in a studio." But I don't think so.

I said: "Um, yeah, usually it's neater." Which is, of course, a total lie. But clearly the time had come to feng shui that place up.

It's much nicer now. . . and lo! I can write!

Posted by karenceliafox at January 11, 2005 11:37 AM

Comments

Though the eternal college freshman in me rebels against the very idea of tidy workspace, I recently discovered (after cleaning mine) how much of a difference it really makes. A clean room just makes me FEEL better. It's difficult to explain, though you seem to grok what I mean.

It's great to have you back online. Coincidentally, I was just penning an email to you saying, "Karen, you MUST BLOG!" I'm glad to see such a prod is no longer necessary.

Posted by: James at January 11, 2005 02:15 PM

Thanks for the intended prod! I have known that I got behind and needed to get back on track. Actually the feeling has been that so MUCH has been going on, that I didn't quite know how to jump back in. . . I have a few more entries to go up asap.

Happy New Year to you! May your office remain clean in 2005!

Posted by: Karen at January 11, 2005 04:14 PM

Got your message and thanks for the best wises. It's about cleaning your room. I just completed about 8 hours of repairs on my computer and my apartment was a wreck but I knew where everything was at. When I clean my apartment, I lose alot of stuff.

In the process of being creative, everything else becomes secondary and all you want to do is hang on to that spark for as long as you can.

I'm starting to become more mindful of my writing and slowing down to make corrections. It's hard because you have to mentally pick up where you left off. Before I proceed to blog anymore, I'm going to rewrite all the entries and give them the attention they need.

Speaking of my blog, glad you've enjoying it. It's a beginning and I realize I have some major renovations to do. With the project you have, I understand if you don't have the time to leave any comments. It still is a diamond in the rough.

Take care Karen and nice to hear from you again.

Merrill

Posted by: Merrill Butterman at January 13, 2005 10:29 PM



My newest book will be out in July. Preorder it now -- just click on it, go to Amazon, and help me earn royalties! And you can still buy my last book, The Big Bang Theory. Powered by Movable Type 2.661			« Laziness Gets You Everywhere \| Main \| Kyoto! » January 11, 2005 Cleaning House Happy New Year to you all! I have been offline for awhile -- not because things have been going badly, but because things have been going well. The writing is flowing and there's just been TONS to do . . . I think partially this is because I actually cleaned up my house. It makes all the difference I tell you. A friend of mine who is a writing professor, and therefore instills me with the sense that he knows everything in the world about writing -- even though I know that he struggles with all the same B.S. I do -- recently saw my office. My office was crammed to overflowing with all the boxes, clothes-to-give-away, artwork, cookbooks, presents, and other detritus from the other rooms in the house that there was just enough room to walk to the computer desk, if you're willing to step on a lot of paper to do so. John took one look and said: "Do you write in here?" Honestly, I don't even know if he meant it the way I heard it -- which was of course "How can you possibly write in this pigsty?" For all I know, he really meant "Lucky you, you get a whole extra room to write in, when I only live in a studio." But I don't think so. I said: "Um, yeah, usually it's neater." Which is, of course, a total lie. But clearly the time had come to feng shui that place up. It's much nicer now. . . and lo! I can write! Posted by karenceliafox at January 11, 2005 11:37 AM Comments Though the eternal college freshman in me rebels against the very idea of tidy workspace, I recently discovered (after cleaning mine) how much of a difference it really makes. A clean room just makes me FEEL better. It's difficult to explain, though you seem to grok what I mean. It's great to have you back online. Coincidentally, I was just penning an email to you saying, "Karen, you MUST BLOG!" I'm glad to see such a prod is no longer necessary. Posted by: James at January 11, 2005 02:15 PM Thanks for the intended prod! I have known that I got behind and needed to get back on track. Actually the feeling has been that so MUCH has been going on, that I didn't quite know how to jump back in. . . I have a few more entries to go up asap. Happy New Year to you! May your office remain clean in 2005! Posted by: Karen at January 11, 2005 04:14 PM Got your message and thanks for the best wises. It's about cleaning your room. I just completed about 8 hours of repairs on my computer and my apartment was a wreck but I knew where everything was at. When I clean my apartment, I lose alot of stuff. In the process of being creative, everything else becomes secondary and all you want to do is hang on to that spark for as long as you can. I'm starting to become more mindful of my writing and slowing down to make corrections. It's hard because you have to mentally pick up where you left off. Before I proceed to blog anymore, I'm going to rewrite all the entries and give them the attention they need. Speaking of my blog, glad you've enjoying it. It's a beginning and I realize I have some major renovations to do. With the project you have, I understand if you don't have the time to leave any comments. It still is a diamond in the rough. Take care Karen and nice to hear from you again. Merrill Posted by: Merrill Butterman at January 13, 2005 10:29 PM The story of a girl trying to write some fiction. Recent Entries Einstein's Birthday Talk Good Editors Crazed Life Back in the Saddle E-mail Access! Japan. . . Writing What You Know Rewrites Writing Conflict Kyoto! Categories Book Writing Business of Writing Craft of Writing Day-to-Day Freelancing Magazine Writing When I'm Being Lame Writing Group Archives March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 October 2003 September 2003 Search Search this site: