Jul 27, 2010

Clear Vs Clutter for Writing

Can you write in clutter or do you need space?

Clutter causes me panic. I can't focus on the task at hand because I'm reminded of all the other things I need to get done - like clean up my writing space. This week it had gotten to this stage:
Ugh! I started taking my notebook out to the lounge to write instead. I'm not sure whether I was being productive or procrastinating, but, I got stuck into my writing corner and now it looks like this:
Now I'm looking forward to switching on Scrivener and getting stuck into The Warracknabeal Kids!

Funny thing is, if I'm writing non-fiction or blogging, then I seem to be able to write in any clutter, but for creativity, I need clean, clear space (my imagination takes up a lot of room). I've looked before at the different parts of our brain we use for organisation vs creativity. You can read more in: 

How about you? Do you have to tidy your workspace before you can get started or could you write in the aftermath of a natural disaster? And... does it differ for you when you write fiction vs lists, blogs or essays?
Bookmark and Share

Only a few more followers until the Book Giveaway competition!

17 comments:

  1. A little bit of neatness and order needs to be imposed or its bound to get out of hand.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have a huge capacity for ignoring. As long as there's room for the laptop and the mouse, I'm away!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have a little lap desk thingy and I put my laptop on that and write on my couch or lanai. No room for clutter. My laptop fits on top and that is it. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's funny. While I can ignore the mess that happens in my house as I get lost in the writing, I cannot handle my desk being messy. As long as my desk is neat and tidy, the house could fall down around me and I wouldn't notice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Why workspace must be neat. I can't concentrate in clutter. Recently, I just threw or gave away bags of unneeded items and I felt reborn!

    CD

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm afraid I can't concentrate when my world is a mess. Without some order, I get stuck on pause - whether it's the blog, the wip, or the grocery list.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've got a pretty high tolerance for clutter :)

    I also work from my laptop, so if the space bugs me I can move!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sometimes I find it’s good that my writing space is in the guestroom, because that means I am forced to declutter occasionally. While I prefer a neat workspace, I’m good at ignoring accumulating clutter.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I ignore clutter pretty darn well. We have a computer table my laptop is usually on, along with the family PC and it is stacked with a HUGE pile of mine that needs typing, snack remnants from my kids (most often an empty bowl or pop can)--there are OTHER stacks--reference things, things already typed... I'm a mess.

    I am almost done cleaning my work office though--I have too many projects at a time going there to work well when it's a disaster (which it has been for going on 3 years)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have a kind of organised clutter if that makes sense. I can write with books and paper around me but it has to be relevant to what I'm working on. Saying that, it's very tidy clutter, haphazard clutter is very bad for creativity!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I cannot write in clutter! So Monday I clean house, and Tuesday I can start writing. Only as you can see I'm procrastinating by visiting all the blogs I've been missing lately and writing lengthy comments. I allowed myself 30 minutes and it's gone over an hour now. But at least my house is clean!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Obviously I'm fine with clutter. I can't see my desk. Only one tiny spot in which to set my trackball down. :-O I'll clean it off soon, but it never lasts.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I can write in clutter or clean. Usually it's clutter because I'm too busy writing to clean up. I only ever clean if I've got writer's block :P

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's funny to see our different reactions to clutter. Some people are just naturally tidy - I envy you, cleaning is a forced task for me, my household are happy to ignore it and let it build.
    Others can work and put off the tidying until the important jobs (like writing) are done - I envy you.
    I find what works best for me is clean in the morning and then 9.30 I'm on the computer until 3 then it's cleaning again - unfortunately my day job doesn't quite fit this schedule.
    Today - writing, I will, I really will (fingers crossed) :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can write in clutter if it is quiet. I find it hard with TV blaring, daughter on phone and hubby
    watching youtube on his laptop. My brain feels fried. Quiet in clutter, all is fine~ Noise causes me to freeze up~

    Your desk looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I tidy to start, then litter the place with useful research stuff as I'm working. If I leave off in the middle of the scene, I need to leave it all or my thoughts will have to begin again from the beginning.
    Good luck with the writing.

    ReplyDelete