About Writing

Recently, someone asked me if I was doing any writing these days.  And the answer is no.  Nothing really in the works.  I have not even been writing for this blog with any regularity or commitment.

As someone who has long considered myself a writer by inclination,  that might seem a little strange, odd, disconcerting... at least....to me.   I might say, by way of explanation, that I am waiting for inspiration. And that would be true, up to a point.

In the past few years, I have written and published two books.   Lifelong goal met!  I do consider that a major accomplishment.  I do think they are books worthy of being read.  I do not mind the isolation and concentration and total dedication required to write a book. In fact, that is my most natural state.
But I am not so keen on the process of marketing and promoting the books.  I loathe self-promotion.

I worked with two different companies in the publishing of my two books.   I knew exactly what to expect in terms of the services they offered.  My only goal really, was getting the books available to read, and in particular, to order on-line.  That was accomplished.   I did not have any financial goals, nor was I interested in keeping track of the number of books sold.  I did not have a marketing plan, nor did I want one. I learned that I am really not a good candidate for being a profession writer.   I do not care for being in the spotlight in that way.  I even felt very awkward and uncomfortable at a book signing event which someone else organized.

So I am completely accepting of the fact that I now prefer short term writing projects---sermons, lyrics to songs, ladies literary presentations, liturgies for worship services, poetry, blog.

 My discovery over the course of a lifetime is that having the inclination of being a writer, and being a professional writer are two entirely different things.  In the end, writing is something I do for pleasure, for myself. And it is not necessarily even something I would want to share with others.

Much of what I might want to reflect on in my writing is not even something I would necessarily want to post on my blog!

Tidy Drawers

There is a current bestseller titled The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.   I have not read it, but something made me curious enough that I wanted to find out about it.  So I Googled the title.  There were several YouTube videos by the author, who is a Japanese professional organizer.  She explained that she usually goes into people's homes and gives them instruction.

I was absolutely flabbergasted to learn from the video that I had no idea at all how to arrange underwear and socks in my dresser drawers.  I have always folded my underwear, and laid it in the drawer horizontally, one on top of another.   The result of that is, of course, that you can only see the top pair of panties or socks.   When I look for something not on the top,  then everything automatically gets rumpled into a disorganized mess.

You need a shoe box.   Then you fold a pair of underwear into a nice flat little package and then stack them upright into the shoe box.  That way, all you see is the fold.  Once this is done,  you can see exactly the color that you want!

I was explaining this to my friends at lunch today, who were laughing so hard, tears streamed down their cheeks.  One said.  "All my underwear are white!"    Hmmmm....well, I guess  this style of organizing would be less exciting in that case!   Mine are an assortment of colors!

Over the weekend, I used the Japanese lady's strategy for organizing my socks and underwear, and I must say,  it certainly did bring me an enormous surge of happiness!!  (which I think is the point of her book).  

I have read in articles that her underlying theory is:  get rid of anything that does not bring you joy.

I do love the military precision of perfectly folded vertical underwear!!

Anyway,  here is the result of my labor.  (I am sure it is more information than most people want to know!!)

As you can see, the title of this blog has a double meaning!