If you’re used to working amidst teetering stacks of paper and mouldering coffee mugs, you’re certainly not alone. It’s normal to let things get a little messy when you’re knee deep in a writing project. Maybe keeping the house tidy is far from your top priority, but have you thought about the benefits of giving your writing and creative routine a spring clean instead?
Taking time out to dive into a deep clean can be beneficial for both you and your project, so we’ve put together a few tips to help you get started.
Tidy in the traditional sense
A neat desk can strengthen your sense of resolve
Some writers find mess conducive to their process – an accumulation of junk offers plenty of fodder for day dreams – but there’s a lot to be said for giving your workspace a good tidy. A neat desk can strengthen your sense of resolve and help slough off feelings of being burdened. Also, a short burst of cleaning can be very beneficial for helping work through plot problems or minor blocks – a physical task often gives your subconscious the chance to puzzle through things without you.
Scrub out a few bad habits
Writers who have no bad habits are few and far between. Whether it’s an overreliance on adverbs, a sentence structure that crops up almost constantly or a fondness for describing characters with the same few features, it’s very easy to let less-than-perfect practices creep into your work. Set a day to read through a few of your works in progress and write a list of your habits – that way you can refer back to it the next time you’re editing.
Give your file names some TLC
How many times have you hand the urge to revise or add to a story or poem, only to find yourself clicking fruitlessly through document after document? Unless you are a very savvy saver, there’s a good chance you’ll have files with mysterious names such as Draft1, Angry Story.doc, Giant Headache.rtf. Save yourself endless small frustrations by updating your file names to ones you’ll recognise right away.
Sort your stages
Streamline your folders the way that suits your working style
While you’re working on those file names, why not have a look at your filing system too? It’s really easy to keep it simple: save all of your creative work into one or two giant folders at first, but once you start redrafting things can get confusing – especially if you also like to create documents for character notes or research. Streamline your folders in a way that suits your working style, whether that’s keeping all of your first drafts in one place or setting up individual folders to see a story through from start to finish.
Take stock of your goals
When you’re in the thick of a project, there’s nothing wrong with putting your head down and ploughing ahead. However, it’s worth scheduling in some time to step back and take an objective look at what you’ve been up to just in case you’ve veered off course. You may want to find ways to bring your work back in line with your goals or maybe you’ll decide to change your goals to match a new direction – either way, you’ll be able to go forward with a clearer plan!
Feel as though you need more than a spring clean to revitalise your writing routine? Add Heather Richardson's blog about recharging your creativity to your reading list.
Image credit, rawpixel on Pixabay.
