(This is Part 2 of a series on organization for writers. Here’s Part 1: Does Being Organized Stifle Creativity?)
Before I dive into the inner workings of digital organization for writers, a prerequisite is to try to remove as much unneeded clutter from our lives as possible, and I believe the best way to do this is to set up an Internet-Free Zone, since the Internet is the biggest source of clutter in almost everyone’s life.
Later, I’ll get into productivity apps that include blocking Internet, but I believe that one of the most psychologically powerful ways to get ourselves off the Internet is to designate a portion of your workspace as Internet-free. I learned this back when I lived in Manhattan and discovered that there’s a corner of the Rose Reading Room at NYPL that doesn’t have WiFi, and I would work in that corner most of the afternoon, then leave my spot if I need Internet. This allowed me to be really deliberate about when going online would be useful to me, rather than me just unconsciously checking my email or social media.
From that point on, I designated parts of my workspace as Internet-free, usually a chair in the corner of my room and one corner of my dining table where I promised myself I would have to move if I wanted to use Internet. Now that I live in a house in the Catskills, I’m fortunate enough to have a study with a little reading nook that I keep Internet-free. This makes it a lot easier to set aside focused time and attention to write. If you’re in a really tight space, one idea would be to designate a hat as an Internet-free hat that you can wear whenever you want to remind yourself not to go online.
News and a Gift Recommendation
It’s the end of the year and this means year-end lists! So happy that my memoir Fairest is part of amazing best books of the year lists from Library Journal, Electric Literature, and Shondaland, Autostraddle, NBC, and The Millions. If there’s someone in your life who you think might enjoy my book, please buy a copy from Bookshop or your local indie bookstore!
In terms of my go-to book gift this year, there’s no question it’s Black Futures, curated by my wonderful friends Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham. At a time when our country is continuing to reckon with how Black people’s lives are consistently devalued in America, this compendium of over 150 Black creators that represent the abundance of Black creativity is one that we all need, so go get one for yourself and your family.
Happy gift shopping!
Meredith