Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Clearing up.

I didn't write today but I consider my writing karma good as I spent two hours sorting out the mess my writing space had become... like an archaeologist I dug through three layers of projects/notes, brushed and labelled them, so to speak.

I think a certain level of mess is inevitable with writing but things had really got out of hand. Am going to work on containing the mess rather than letting it breed, from now on.

12 comments:

Helen Rickerby said...

Sometimes sorting out your stuff is what you've got to do - I often find that it kind of helps me sort out my head at the same time.

Lyse Beck said...

I LOVE sorting! Sorting makes me feel like I can actually accomplish something. It is instant gratification (or close to it) energizing, and prepares me for the next adventure.

Sometimes I think a continual mess is just a sneaky device for avoidance. Good on you for sorting! :)

the daily screenwriter said...

Yeah, I think that's really true. And it makes me think of Raymond Chandler, who was brilliant at explaining who a character was by simply describing their living environment in a few choice phrases.

Unknown said...

Your mentioning sorting has made me look guiltily around my desk. Since I surf the Net/chat to friends/write assignments/write scripts from this same laptop that's plugged in on the desk, you can say that I live at my desk, and it really reflects it, the amount of rubbish that's on there: notebooks, cast-off jewellery, hard drives, blanks CDs/DVDs, paper, paper, more paper, FOOD. Dang, there's even a toaster and an kettle!

*sigh* It's going to be a big job.

the daily screenwriter said...

A little at a time... that's what I'd recommend. Setting a kitchen timer for half an hour works for me - set, get on with it, then you're off the hook when the timer goes off.

Unknown said...

Yes, I definitely should invest in a kitchen timer or something along those lines that isn't my phone (because I will end up checking my TXTs, and someone ALWAYS wants something). Especially after having read this post about writing: http://www.makingof.com/insiders/artist/blog/don/roos/15

Lyse Beck said...

Interesting article, Kirsten. Me, I would hate that timer. I am under so many deadlines at work all the time, that when I'm writing, I love having the chance to be creative deadline free. That I stop when I want to stop, not when someone (or something) tells me my time's up. I guess it's the same for a task, even a grand one like tidying my desk. One I start, then there's no stopping till it's done. I need that satisfaction of a job completed. Obsessive compulsive? Yes. Disorder? Perhaps. But there's no place for a timer on my desk. :)

Leonie, we missed you at the meeting the other night.

the daily screenwriter said...

thanks... I'll be there next time.

Unknown said...

I get what you mean, Lyse! As for me I think I just need to whip myself into shape and get more disciplined, because I have a grasshopper brain that likes to try to do a million things at once.

Lyse Beck said...

I recommend wine. It's a good counter to grasshopper brain. :)

Unknown said...

Wine (or any sort of alcohol) makes me sleepy and then I just get fuzzy!

the daily screenwriter said...

Yeah, me too. My best writing state requires a distressingly dull environment - early morning, nothing stronger than a good hit of caffeine, can't even listen to music (or I start thinking about the music rather than the script) - and can't even look at the view (if I have one) cos that's distracting too!