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My latest attempt at keeping my writing organized.

I have three strikes against me when it comes to keeping my writing organized. Or maybe I have three things going for me.

I’m the oldest of four.

For an in-depth look at how your birth order affects your character, go here for part 1, here for part 2, and here to buy the book I wrote on the subject.

2.I’m a Leo. Per astrology.com, the “Leo-born are natural leaders.” We’re also ambitious and like to get things done.

3 .In Numerology, I’m a “4”, which are the builders. I follow step 1, 2, 3, 4 until I’ve completed the job. (Read my blog post on numerology here).

I have Pinterest boards on organization and time management.

I’m also lucky enough not to work every day, which—loosely translated—means I can write today. Or tomorrow. Or next week. Despite having an accountability partner (the wonderful Tricia Gunberg), I sometimes scramble at the last minute to get my goals completed and to her to review.

Needless to say ( but I’m saying it anyway), I needed a system. I was tired of not remembering tasks, punting, and letting things go because time had run out.

Continue reading Keeping My Writing Organized

Organizing your paperwork is a timeless conundrum. No matter how much we throw away, tomorrow always brings new paperwork. I hang my head and confess the truth about my organizing system.

Organizing your paperwork-Are you a filer or a piler?

How do you organize your paperwork?
Are you Johnny-on-the-spot, right-into-the-filing-drawer with all your paperwork? I didn’t think so. Only .00002% * of the population opens the mail, reads or acts on it and files it in the appropriate folder within 10 minutes of receiving it.
If you find that your pile of paperwork is never filed, you may belong to a secret society that affects 42% * of the population. You, my friend, may be a piler.
I, Cheryl Sterling, am a piler. After years of trying to conform, of buying myriad filing systems (I used to work in an office furniture business, so you can imagine the deals I scored on returned and damaged file cabinets. Also, imagine the shame of admitting you’re a piler), I had to admit I don’t swing that way.

I am a piler

I have piles for:

Writing works in progress.
Various unfinished crafts.
Recipes I’ll make some day.
I also have a massive desk, courtesy of IKEA and Craigslist. It has shelves, magazine racks and pencil cups, a whiteboard and a magnetic strip. It has two file drawers that hold “important papers” and can be rolled out when I need to sweep up the cat litter.

The top of the desk is an oh-so-inviting flat surface full of—you guessed it—piles. Plus my printer.
The desk fits perfect in my “studio” alcove. It sits ten feet from my writing chair. There’s no way to disguise what a slob I am.

Once a month or so, ambitious me purges magazines, files important mail, and takes a stab at being a neatnik. It stays clean long enough that I hold on to the illusion that I’m the Queen of Organization.

Gotta love the cups holding pens, post-its, tape, sharpies, etc. and the magnetic strip above for my scissors.

And my, look at those folders! (the top row is full of recipes, sorted by category).

(Yes, it is a July calendar).

Can I get a Hell, Yeah for everything but the worksurface?

Are you a filer or a piler? What method do you use for organizing your paperwork?

If you need inspiration to stay organized, check out my Pinterest organization board here.

* totally made up statistics

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