I’ve just sent in my latest book. And for the last week, anyone who walked past my office could tell how close I am to writing those magical words ‘The End’ because – well – let’s be honest here, because of the tip that my office has become.
It’s always like this. I’ve tried to work tidily. I’ve tried to plan things so that I get moments in between chapters to sort out this room and put things away. But it never works out that way. It’s pretty hard to understand, really. I mean, writing a book doesn’t actually take up much space. I need my computer, keyboard, a notepad and pen to scribble down those new ideas of important points I just must not miss. Perhaps a research book or two, one for the language used by the hero I’m writing ( Sicilian this time if you want to know) and one about the country in which he lives or where the book is set. And – er – well, that’s it.
So how does my office come to resemble a landfill site – overflowing with bits and pieces and with the surfaces overflowing so much that things even end up on the floor which is affectionately nicknamed the ‘filing cabinet’ by my family? They have lived with this so long that they can tell what stage a book is at simply the state of the floor.
So I was relieved to read somewhere that people who can’t work unless the place looks like a disaster are said to be geniuses.
Now that’s the perfect excuse I need – I work in a mess like this because I’m a genius. I can live with that. Or, as my friend Anne McAllister says, we’ share the same interior decorator – “Rooms by Untidy”. I think it’s because as I get deeper into a book, I become more and more involved in the fictional world and less involved in the real one. I’m an ‘all or nothing’ writer so when I start writing I concentrate on it hard until I’ve finished. After which I finally lift my head up and look around at reality again. And I’m usually pretty shocked by what I see.
There are books I’ve used for research, books I’ve read and need to put away. Books I’ve bought and mean to read. The TBR pile– 
Keepers – books to pass on to my son (his reading habit is worse than mine). There’s the bundle of letters I need to answer the bigger bundle of receipts for my accounts, there’s the critique I’m supposed to be doing, the cards and gifts I need to wrap and send to friends with birthdays. There are notes for my next project, research books for that. Maps of Scotland where I’m teaching next week. Notes for the course I’m teaching . . .
But now that I’m done I can clean my office, sort everything out, buy new office supplies – and maybe even read some of those books. The only problem there will be choosing which ones to read and in what order.
I’ve been looking forward to this day for what seems like ages. To a time when I can heave a sigh of relief, press send on this manuscript and then turn my attention to the tip. I’m looking forward to it . . . The sun is shining outside, reminding me that it’s Spring and time to freshen up the house anyway and I’m beginning to wonder just what colour the carpet is in here.
And next time I’m really going to try to be more organised. . . . honest!
But I’ve also been looking forward to today for another important reason – today I’m celebrating the publication day of my brand-new USA release – when The Konstantos Marriage Demand comes out in the Presents EXTRA line-up. It’s always a fabulous and exciting day for me, even if I can’t actually get to see the book on the shelves in the bookshops. And it’s the day that makes all the work, all the time and – yes – all the mess – so worthwhile. And this book is special to me because it’s earned me the honour of a Romantic Time Top Pick award and a rating of 4.5 stars. (If you’d like to read more about it, then I’m talking about The Konstantos Marriage Demand over on the I(heart) Presents web site today). And I’ll be chatting with everyone here – and there – when I’m not busy sorting and tidying my office.
What about you? Are you a messy genius like me? Or are you super-organised and efficient. Leave a comment – maybe give me your best tip to help me get things done and keep some order in future. And I have a signed copy of one of my back list books for whoever Sid picks as a winner (if I can find Sid in all the mess!)
And I hope you enjoy The Konstantos Marriage Demand if you read it.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah yes, our famous interior decorator, Ms Untidy! She’s been doing a terrific job snarling up the office here these days — and I’m just starting a book! Yikes. Can’t imagine what it will look like by the end.
I hope you find Sid. Offer him a Greenie. I’m sure you’ll see his ears poking up above the papers.
The Konstantos Marriage Demand was a wonderful love story. Like you I’m messy, just sitting here looking at all the many books I have to read this month.
Like Anne said, hope you find Sid, he needs to be available for your next contest.
Oh, dear, I wish I knew how to advise you but my ‘First Horizontal Surface Piling System’ is currently flowing out of my office and threatening to engulf the living room…
Hi Kate,
Now I realise what my problem is and what I need to do to get published; I have to borrow Anne McaAllister’s and your interior decorator. I am one of those that can’t work until I have a clean table and a shiny empty sink. I have got it down to an hour now and the way I do it is allocate time for picking things up, dusting, vacuuming etc. If I do it everyday,I find that I cope much better. Having allocated a time and rushing to make it feels like I have just had a workout.
If you see my place after three, then I am a genius because it only takes the kids a few minutes to mess it up again. Hope your Sid is tidier than mine. (She leaves her books all over the floor).
My best tip would be allocate time to chores( cleaning deadline).
Lovely new photo.
Helo Anne – we both know how well Ms Untidy works on our offices! I’m going to try and get mine tidy (ok – tidier) before I start the next book so that I have a achance of still being able to find the floor when I do.
But Sid was easy to find – rattle the bag of Greenies and he appears streaight away!
Hello Marilyn – I’m so glad you loved The Konstantos Marruage Demand. When I know some one like you who is a great fan of Presents books is reading it, I don’t wnat to disappoint. But oh dear me – yes, all the books I want to read! They do take up so much space!
But Sid will always appear when there are treats on offer. That’s why I get him to help pick my winners of contests
You and me both, Christina, I work on that First Horizontal Surface Piling System’ too – but that’s why I was so pleased to know that people who work in messes are supposed to be geniuses. I think it’s just that we get so absorbed in the stories . . . but perhaps that is a form of genius after all!
Hello Fatima. Lovely to see you here. And Sid sends purrs to his namesake. I think that it’s great that she likes bokos so I’d accept them being left all over the place. You are right though – time allocated to chores – regular time – is the way to do things but I’m afraid I was never a ‘regular time for chores’ sort of person. Would you like to come over and help me sort my office? You’d be so welcome!
Wow. We must have the same interior decorator! Hope you find Sid.
Kate, I’ve just finished rewriting a whole book and my office is – disgusting. Except for the one half of our long desk that is used by my husband. Tidy, tidy, tidy. He is so tidy that he throws stuff away that he needs later! So which way is best? Mine and yours, I reckon. At least we know we’ve got whatever we’re looking for, even if we cant find it straight away.
Kate, I am your cyber stalker!. I follow you to wherever you are blogging and have gained a few more authors to my favourite list through you like Anne McAllister, Liz Feilding, Jessica Hart,… Feel like I know them through you.
As for my daughter and her books- You are right. I am so glad she is finally into reading in a big way. She’ll pick up any book and read the words she can. At the moment she has taken over my copy of Sarah Morgan’s ‘Powerful Greek, Unwordly Wife’. Have a look at the gorgeous cover. It’s “hot” and Sid is only 7 but I am so reluctant to take it off her!. Just as well she is not asking questions and has no concept of what the story is about.
As for cleaning your office, I’d love to. Although If I ever made it to your place, I think I would be too busy talking. Now if only you could send a magic carpet my way that would take me to your place and back before the my children come home…
Hi Chey! That Ms Untidy gets about doesn’t she? I have a lot of friends she decorates for as well!
I found Sid – the promise of picking a winner brought him out of hiding. I shall put him to work in a minute
Hi Margaret – are we sisters under the skin? My DHi is exactly the same. He constantly tidies things away – but the he can never find where he put them. They are out of sight but never organised!
And ike you I can find tings – I know which pile they are ‘filed’ in!
Hello again Fatima
I love the idea that I have introduced you to some of my writer friends – the list you gave shows that we both have great taste! And yes I think that if we did ever meet, talking rather than cleaning would be more on the agenda.
Good for Sid (yours) and her reading – and yes, Sarah’s book would draw anyone in I think. It has an amazing opening. But not quite what you’d want a 7 year old to read – though if it’s just thw words here and there then it’s fine for her to practise with.
My cleaning has been delayed because I had some nasty stomach bug but today I’m really going to get down to it.
Ooops – sorry! I wan’t very well and I forgot to post that Sid has picked CHEY as the winner
Chey please email me kate AT kate-walker.com with your postal address so that I can sort out your prize for you and let you know which books I have copies of for you to choose from
I am both messy and a packrat, married to a neatnik. I know I drive him crazy at times with my clutter. I try to keep things in better order, but I never seem to be able to get the job done. When I see pictures taken of spic and span homes, I find myself wondering, “Where do they do anything?”
i also have been reading few books in office
Hi Gladys – I drive my husband crazy too. But I’m with you, I look at immaculate homes and wonder if they dare do anything in them. I have a motto that an immacualte house is the sign of a misspent life!