I think it’s a good idea to do the organizing first.

It might seem counter intuitive. You might think, no, but I need to get the creativity out! But actually the mundane act of organizing and cleaning up  your environment is an excellent way to prepare you for the writing process.

It’s as simple as this: When your hands are busy, your mind is free to plot.

The most productive time of my life, in terms of writing, was before I got published and I was babysitting up to eight kids a day.

Between changing diapers, feeding them, cleaning them, putting them down for naps or sending them off to school, I had time to think of what I was going to write in the precious couple of hours that the bigger ones were at school and the little ones were napping.

And when you’ve got a clean work space, when you’ve got a tidy home, it relieves stress off your mind, there’s a feeling of ‘ahhhh’ and  you can get down to work.

I recently reorganized my study. Took my book cases from the other spare room and put them into my study with my desk and the gardenia plant that a dear friend of mine gave me.

When I go into my study and see my bookshelves, so neat and tidy (and dusted!) and my desk with my tattered copy of Yusuf Ali Quran on it, I feel happy.

There’s a little sofa where I can read to the grandkids when they come over, and it’s all neat and tidy. The feeling you get when you walk in is so positive! I even invited a friend up and we chatted, her sitting on the sofa and me at my desk chair.

I love it!

Did it take a long time to get it that way? You betcha! But boy was it worth it!

And after much nagging and complaining from other members of my family, I did finally get my downstairs desk, (where I do most of my business correspondence and skype visits) all tidied up too.

Yes I groaned and complained every step of the way, and at the risk of an ‘I told you so’ I have to admit, the end result was worth it. And what’s more I’ve managed, so far, to keep it tidy!

So get out there and tackle that mess!

And while you’re doing so, plan what you’re going to write. (Most of writing is done in the head anyway.)

You’ll be glad you did.