Skip to main content

Reclaiming My Writing Space

I have a lovely office in my home. Until a few weeks ago, I had to step over piles of papers, a suitcase, and other random items to get to my desk. The door was even closed because I didn't want to face the gigantic mess I'd made. So, I was happily using my laptop in my bedroom and living room...until I read Stacey's post on Two Writing Teachers. I decided to use that as inspiration...and the cleaning and organizing commenced! (Currently, I am writing this post in my newly cleaned office, so this story has a happy ending.) 

 Here are some before pictures... (I confess, I don't have pictures of the worst of it. I'd started cleaning before that happened.) My office is the spare bedroom in my home. 
Old binders, a chair and my favorite the open drawer with
clothes hanging out. (I did NOT do that for effect!)

There are no words...

When I couldn't find a place for something, I threw it on the bed...

Piles, piles, piles...everywhere!

So I organized and shredded and purged and donated! I created a clean, organized, colorful, happy, and inspiring space to write and read and work...
A neat desk with space to work...along with my golden lamp that makes me smile. 

I love my pens and stickers and sticky notes. They are all within reach.

I still have a piece of furniture to assemble, but the important files are organized in the crate. 

My most treasure possession, the quilt made for me by my mom. Having it in this space
makes sure that my mom is always close by...

This makes me smile!

Here's the view as you walk in. I LOVE my sparkly lights.
Cynthia Lord inspired those, as she has some in her writing space too!

A new jar to hold my most favorite pens. Do you see me and my Grammy peeking out?!?!
that's a picture from my first communion in the 2nd grade.

Here's my writing notebook...

TBR pile...it's already grown since I took this picture.
Having an organized, clean space that's filled with love and inspiration makes a difference. What does your writing space look like? 

Labels:

Comments

  1. CatherineJune 8, 2014 at 5:12 PM

    Hooray for you, Michelle! If it makes you feel any better, my office currently looks worse than yours did at the beginning :-( Like you, I found Stacey's post inspirational, but haven't made the time to make any changes. Vacation starts in two weeks, so you know what I'll be doing those first few days. Thanks for sharing and motivating me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jennifer SniadeckiJune 8, 2014 at 8:23 PM

    Oh, wow! Great job! I will organize my office room when school is out -- I promise! I'll do before and after photos, too! Maybe that will be my "Slice of Life Tuesday" that week! Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  3. StaceyJune 8, 2014 at 9:40 PM

    It looks so wonderful and organized now. I love the small, white lights and the quilt from your mom. Such homey touches in a space that needs to be about more than work (especially when you need inspiration).

    Thanks so much for sharing this with me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. BernadetteJune 10, 2014 at 6:36 AM

    Your office looks like it has enough clean space and beauty to allow creativity to grow. Maybe you can share if you feel more creative in this space.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lee Ann SpillaneJune 10, 2014 at 7:19 AM

    I have organizational envy now. Great job pulling your room together. I love the lamps and the quilt and the sparkly lights. I have piles and bags of things. It's not looking good in my creative space right now. Thank you for inspiring me to get moving and get organized.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dana MurphyJune 10, 2014 at 9:32 AM

    This looks like a perfect space to write, Michelle. I'm so happy for you that you have this beautiful space now! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 10, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    Congratulations! You have a lovely and organized space in which to write.

    ReplyDelete
  8. TaraJune 10, 2014 at 10:29 AM

    That is one cheerful, inviting space. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJune 10, 2014 at 10:44 AM

    I write about organizing today too, and I think you are brave to post those pictures! But the end result is amazing! Good for you! No doubt you'll be more productive - and happier, too. So inspiring...

    ReplyDelete
  10. JaanaJune 11, 2014 at 7:37 PM

    You are inspiring me to create a writing space this summer (besides my chair)! I love those little jars filled with paper clips!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts. I love comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Whatever Happened To...

Sharing this post on Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Do you ever wonder whatever happened to your students after the year you spend together? I imagine how my students are finding life...are they happy? Successful? Do they still read? Write? What is going on with them?   I taught fifth grade for eight years. Fifth grade was such a fun year to teach because the students were still young enough that school was something they loved and old enough that they could show some real signs of independence. Fifth grade is the oldest grade in our elementary schools, so the students enjoyed their final year before moving onto middle school and the challenges that came with that new adventure.  2007 was a tough year for me personally. My dad collapsed in September of that year and then died in March of that same school year. He lived thousands of miles away, so my mind was definitely unfocused that year...but that year, Catie was in my class.  Catie was a quiet stude...
29 comments
Read more

Chasing My Dream

I'm doing it. I'm chasing my dream. I've always wanted to run writing retreats and workshops for people, but I've always been too scared to do anything about it...until now. I don't know what's changed...maybe I've changed. I'm not allowing the fear to stop me anymore. I've started Selah Writing Retreats.  The past couple of weeks I've been getting the business end in order. I thought I would hate that...I don't. It's scary, but I am surprising myself with how efficient I am. Yesterday I went to a bank to set up a bank account. The woman I met with was kind and helpful and so enthusiastic about my dream. My website is set up. I've done lots of work on it. I hope you stop by and let me know what you think. It's  selahwritingretreats.com . Balancing creative with business has been challenging but fun. Creating the website, getting a federal tax id, making business cards, planning dates... My favorite voxer group is called Butt Ki...
21 comments
Read more

I Love Me...All of Me

I'm fat. It's true. I'm not looking for comments like, "Oh you're not fat." I am. I want to take that word back. When we say that now, it has a negative connotation. I'm tired of that. I'm done. I'm fat. I'm working on loving my body just the way it is...by reading a book. I confess I'm reading the book on my Kindle app because I was embarrassed about the title. It's called, "Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls" and it's written by Jes Baker . Her mission is self-love...for all. I've highlighted so many lines, I can't possibly share them all, but here are some of my favorites: "Our bodies are our physical bookmarks that hold space for us in the world. Our bodies are magnificent houses for everything else that we are. Our bodies are a part of us, just as our kindness, talents, and passion are a part of us." (p.10)  "Your size is irrelevant to your ability to find fulfillment, purpose, love, a se...
21 comments
Read more