A Writer’s Spring Cleaning

Guest Post by Diana Raab

For me, springtime is the perfect time for cleaning, not only our physical space, but our literary domains. This could mean organizing everything from our desk, to our thoughts, to our musings, to our unfinished poems or manuscripts.

In order to initiate this process, the writer needs to visit their favorite writing place. Visiting that special place in the springtime offers a unique opportunity to clean up the clutter sprawled about our literary world.

Virginia Woolf, author of Mrs. Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando, and A Room of One’s Own coined the term, “A Room of One’s Own.” Woolf referred not only to the physical room—but also to the figurative room, the places writers go to tap into their subconscious or to find the muse that sparks their creative energy. This is a place where writers are safe and happy, whether it is in the confines of their own home, in a coffee shop or at a retreat. Others, might find peace on a park bench. Most writers are well-aware of their “place.”

While in your place, consider how you might simplify  your life. One reason for doing this is so that you have more time to do what you really want to do—which is write. Start by composing a literary to-do list. Make three columns—“Works-in-Progress,” “Future Projects,” and “Back Burner Projects.” To complete this list go through your notebook, computer files and/or desk to get a sense of what you have been doing. (You will quickly realize how busy you have been or not been!) Preparing this list  will also make it easier for you to prioritize and help you realize that some projects are more timely than others and also that some may no longer be viable. Give yourself permission to make decisions about what’s important.

The nice thing about doing this list is you can immediately see what to focus your energy non. Your “Back Burner Project” list, will give you an idea of what should not clutter your work space and what you might return to at a later date. Remember that your goal for spring cleaning is to de-clutter. After you have prepared your list, organize the “Works-in-Progress” and “Future Projects,” columns in order of their priority. Now glance at your list once again. Perhaps you have some insights about your work. This might be the time to crack open a new notebook and jot them down.

I think of springtime as a time of new beginnings. Many of you know that I’m a journaling advocate for the young, old, happy, sad, professional and emerging writers. I believe there is a place for notebooks in all of our lives, whether it’s a small pocket notebook or a larger format.

You might choose one notebook to lump all your musings, or you might favor separate ones for different projects. You might keep a gratitude journal to write about what you’re thankful for and what brings  joy into your life, whether it’s people, places or things. Sometimes half the battle of achieving happiness rests in the ability to verbalize or write down what brings you joy. What makes your heart dance? Writing empowers you to discover your deepest desires. For ideas and stories about how other writers use their notebooks, you might want to pick up a copy of Writers and Their Notebooks (University of South Carolina Press, 2010).

Springtime is also a good time to shed bad energy. Focus on surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself and those who nurture and inspire the writer in you. Wean yourself from what has been termed ‘toxic vampires,’ who cast negative energy your way. This might be more challenging if those people are family members, as my father used to say, “You can choose your friends, but you cannot choose your relatives.”

Speaking of family, springtime often floods me with memories of loved ones who have passed away and this is a good time to write about them to to them. Consider writing a letter to a deceased one about what has been going on in your life since they passed away. In fact, my notebook is filled with these types of letters.

I like to think of every day as a new beginning, but springtime has its own unique kind of charm. Enjoy your own writing and springtime!

Diana Raab is a memoirist, essayist, poet and author of seven books and editor of two essays collections, including the latest, Writers and Their Notebooks (2010) with an introduction by Phillip Lopate. She is a journaling advocate and teaches in UCLA Extension Writers' Program and in various conferences around the country. Her forthcoming book, Healing With Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey is forthcoming from Loving Healing Press in June 2010. Visit Diana Raab.