Get Rid of the Blahs and Get Your Writing Life Organized

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My living room and foyer look bare without all of the holiday decorations. It doesn't help that it's gray outside, and we're expecting a bunch of snow tonight. Winter is my fourth favorite season. It seems that January is the time that I start to count down to spring. It's just blah, and I want to hibernate.

You may be stuck inside, but there are lots of things you can do to get your writing life organized and kick start your creativity. Here are some ideas...

  1. Clean off your desk. Get rid of the clutter, so you have a place to work.
  2. After you clean up your desk, work on your electronic files. I bought an external hard drive, and it's where I store all of my archived photos. At the beginning of each year, I migrate last year's photos to free up space on my computer. And don't forget all the old photos on your phone.
  3. Look at your blog, website, and social media sites. Do they need an update? It's a new year, and it's time for a new look. Nobody revisits a site with outdated content.
  4. Look at your biography - especially on your social media sites. Is it current and consistent across your platform?
  5. Organize your book marketing supplies. I designated shelves in my office closet. It's where my posters, flyers, bookmarks, prizes, and extra books live now. I'm all ready to go for my next event.
  6. Make sure that you back up your electronic files regularly. It is devastating when you lose your work. There are lots of backup and storage options these days. Make an investment and ensure that your work is secure.
  7. Look at your author photo. Is it current? It may be time for a new one. It surprises readers when you show up at an event, and you look fifteen years older than your photo.
  8. Organize your calendar. I have way too many electronic calendars, and it was difficult to keep them all in synch. I bought a pocket calendar, and all my writing commitments go there.
  9. Dig out an old project. We all have those files of unfinished work. Maybe it's time to give it a new life.

I hope you enjoy your weekend. Here in Central Virginia, we're expecting about eight inches of snow. It sounds like a writing weekend to me.