Member-only story
Writing a Book Is an Organized Mess
As a writer, I am fortunate to have a finished basement where I can spread out all the materials I need to work. For example, I have a huge writing desk where I keep my computer and my printer, I have three big bookcases, I have a couple two-drawer file cabinets and four-drawer file cabinets, I have a small circular table and a bigger rectangular table, and I even have an old couch and love seat down there too if I ever need to really relax or take a nap. The only drawback is that the one small window doesn’t provide much natural light; otherwise, my literary sanctuary is almost perfect. My wife, however, thinks otherwise.
Every once in a while, Barbara likes to come downstairs to visit or to see what I’m up to. Her problem is that she can never find a comfortable place to sit. The couch and love seat should provide what she needs, but I usually have them piled high with stuff: books, notebooks, folders, boxes of photographs, and all kinds or memorabilia or writing paraphernalia. She sees a mess, of course, and we both get a little frustrated when I have to move a pile or two, so she can sit down. I try to explain to her that it’s not as messy as it looks and that I can usually find what I need, when I need it. Yes, it looks a bit chaotic, but let’s face the truth: writing a book is an organized mess.
