Writers love their caves, don't they? Big or small, cluttered or clean, privacy is the main ingredient writer's crave.
I'd love to have an office of my very own. Maybe someday. Yes? But in the meantime, my office is the family study. When our youngest left for college, I thought I'd have the study all to myself. Snaps! Then my mother moved in.
Yesterday, I spent all day cleaning out the study. An enlightening experience. I've developed a new respect for clean office space and how much stuff can be stuffed into small spaces.
Secrets from my cave:
1. I've saved paperwork and paraphernalia from every online class, conference, and workshop I've ever been to or signed up to take. I've got receipts from conferences, workshop schedules, plane tickets and more. I even found the letter welcoming me to RWA in 2004, complete with rules and RWA info.
2. I have various versions of my manuscripts printed off in different stages. All of which are now headed to the wood stove to help heat my wonderful abode.
3. I've printed off and saved various critiques from contests on several different manuscripts. I reread them. Bad idea. Burn them too, I say!
4. I've got books I'll never read, books I've read, and books I've rediscovered that I can't wait to read, again. This is a good thing, unless your bookcases overflow and you need the space for your prized possessions, research books. (Hallelujah!)
5. Which leads to: I don't have enough room in my office!
6. Cleaning my cave has led me to realize one important thing. Hubby needs to have a new one built for me. I know what I want. It isn't that extravagent and I'm not asking for too much. I just want an office that extends from the current back porch. Can I throw in a wrap around porch too? A girl can dream...
7. Ugh! The realization that I'll never get that dream office just hit me in the side of the face like a hungry Malamute. (Safety tip: Don't bend down to pick up a french fry when a malamute is sitting nearby. I've got a small scar near my right eye as a momento.)
8. Yes! (Stands on top of hill, shaking fist like Scarlet O'Hara. Tomorrow is another day!) Thoughts of how I could earn that new office from hubby multiply.
9. For kicks and grins, I'm throwing in wall to ceiling bookcases, picturesque views of the woods and a pool, Captain Jack Sparrow, a dram of rum, a good tome, and much deserved solitude. Who could ask for more? ;)
10. Hey, a kid can dream, right? Oh well... back to cleaning the cave.
What secrets emerge from your cave?
I have worked over the holidays to clean out my "cave" to start the new year fresh and like you, Katherine, I have discovered that I have kept way to much stuff! I did a lot of tossing away!
ReplyDeleteGood luck getting that new office!
It's actually distressing and amazing to find so much stuff tucked away in my book shelves, Stephanie. ;) Distressing because it makes me feel like a pack rat, though I have been waiting to get a filing cabinet, which I have no room for. Amazing because I've realized how far I've come in the past few years.
DeleteMaybe I'll get that office someday. (Beats chest and sings lik Celine Dion). My heart will go on. ;)
We have a study complete with wall-to-wall bookcases and a built-in desk. But I had to share with hubby (I don't like to share...). So, with four bedrooms and only two of us, I planted a flag in the smallest, claiming it. I recently had it tiled (the tile looks like hardwood - really pretty), got a new desk and an over-stuffed sleeper chair that folds out to make a twin bed. I am still looking for the perfect bookshelf. Maybe you could plant a flag in one of your vacant bedrooms, get a sleep sofa or chair, and have your own space too! Pirate!
ReplyDeleteGood idea, Cheryl! Though we keep #1's room as a guest room and my mother took over #2's room. #3 and #4 still come home so they need their rooms. Basically, none of them are available. Sigh.
DeleteI've thought of creating an office upstairs on 3rd floor but Mom put a bunch of her stuff up there and that's our exercise room. ;)
Pick a spot Kathy and claim it. I surprised my son to no end by redoing his room as a guest room with swanky colors and new eveyrthing. He's away at school, rarely comes home but when he did and found it redone he was upset. Ask me if he had a place any more. I told him yes, it's just new and improved (no more Power Ranger stuff). You could claim a spot, just find it. I am slowly reclaiming the entire house. LOL
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Power Rangers!
DeleteLooks like we all are in clean the cave mode. I also reorganized my cave and restructured my office to be more professional centric than personal centric (but I still have my photos of Hugh Jackman located where I can see them from multiple viewpoints. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting, Christine! You had some great stuff listed on your blog about cleaning the cave. It's a tough job but after a few years, someone has to do it. LOL!
DeleteI don't see why all viewpoints of Hugh have to go. ;)
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