Spring Cleaning, Writer Style

I’m a big believer in spring cleaning.

That is, I believe in the concept. The major scrub-till-you-drop cleaning itself, not so much. Still, I enjoy that starting-fresh-feeling that comes along with even the littlest bit of tossing, organizing, and spiffing up. So I apply my version of spring cleaning to my writing business, and when I’m done, I feel pretty good. And I bet you will, too.

The Tossing

If I don’t do anything else at the end of a long winter (and yes, I live in the South so maybe it’s just two and a half months, but it feels at least three months), I toss all the winter clothes I didn’t wear. The too-short jeans, the shoes that pinch my toes, the chartreuse coat that was a bargain but makes me look sallow. If I didn’t wear it for an entire season (so let’s say five months because yeah, fall can be brisk in the South, y’all), then it’s got to go. I also toss the much-loved clothes that have seen better days because let’s face it. One more spin in the washing machine, and I’ve got nothing but rags.

Gosh, it’s exhilarating to have all that space in closets and drawers! And you can have that kind of space in your inbox, your bookshelves, and your files. If you have an email that you haven’t even opened in four months, delete it. If your bookshelves are sagging with outdated reference books (Welcome to Windows XL anyone?), donate them. And those files crammed with clippings on arts and crafts ideas for your kidders (the last of whom just graduated college)? Shred ‘em.

The Organizing

Come spring, I like to tackle those spots that tend to get jam-packed and messy, like the linen closet or the garage or the junk drawer. In all these years, I don’t quite understand why these spots get so messy. I just know that when I see pollen, my brain says, “HOW did all this stuff get in such disarray in my garage (or linen closet or junk drawer)?”

Okay, I don’t say disarray. You can imagine what I really say. The point is, it’s stuff I need so I get to work organizing. And we writers run into this sort of disarray all the time. Which ultimately ends up costing us lots more of our precious writing time. So take an afternoon, put on some music you love, and organize those notes for your novel/memoir/non-fiction picture book. Attack your desk and don’t give up till you can actually see your desk. And those emails that you have read and are truly important but still languishing in your inbox? Organize files in your inbox—and be specific!—so that those emails can be filed and retrieved easily when you need them.

And let me just say this about the junk drawer: I don’t organize it; I don’t open it unless I want to put junk in it. I suggest you do the same.

The Spiffing Up

Now it’s time for a little spiffing up, like maybe a new coat of paint on a door or washing the dust off the baseboards or planting annuals in the flower bed. I’m sure lots of people actually do that sort of thing. But after the tossing and the organizing, I’m flat wore out. About all I can muster is the spiffing up of my writer stuff.

So I’ll get new ink cartridges for the printer so I can have color pages again. And I’ll replace all my fancy gel fine point pens because I like writing in my journal in purples, greens, and light blue. How you spiff up your writing business is up to you, as long as it makes you smile. Because the spiffing up part of spring cleaning comes last and that’s definitely something to smile about!

~ Cathy C. Hall

Read More »

9 comments Cathy C. Hall, email, organization skills, spring cleaning, writers' spring cleaning

The Writer’s End-of-the-Year To Do List

Yes, it’s a To Do list. But it’s a simple To Do list. I mean, I’m the queen of “Just Get ‘Er Done.” Heck, there’s one on the list that you can literally do with your eyes closed. But for now, open your eyes and let’s get started.

Dump ‘Em

This might be my favorite end-of-the-year task, the ruthless emptying of emails in Ye Old Inbox. But here’s why I can afford to be ruthless: I answer all personal and/or business emails in a timely manner. It’s the “extra” emails that I promise myself I’ll get back to…the newsletters, the blog posts, the miscellaneous writing offers... that sit in Ye Old Inbox, gathering virtual dust.

So chances are good, I can live without that information. So can you! Don’t think about it. Don’t waffle back and forth. Don’t wonder if you might have a moment to peruse old emails on New Year’s Eve when you’re sitting in front of the fire with a nice adult beverage. You won’t.

Dump ‘em.


Update ‘Em


Yeah, I know. You always mean to update your links, that personal information, your entire blog. But you haven’t and now it’s the start of a new year. Take an hour or so and tidy up things in your online world.

If you haven’t written a blog post in seven months, then blogging might not be the best online presence for you. Think about a website instead where you can occasionally list news and events. And if you have a website, check your links to make sure they’re still working. Add current information, maybe even a few photos.

Scan your social media sites to see which, if any, work for you. Better to have one presence you enjoy and keep up with regularly than a half dozen where you do nothing. You want people to find you fresh and engaging, not stale and shabby. And where are they going to look? Online.

Update ‘em.


List ‘Em


Here’s where you get to close your eyes—not right this minute, people; you need to read all about goal-setting. But take some quiet time, a walk, or even a long, hot bath, and think about what you’d like to accomplish in the coming year.

And here is the most important thing to consider: Think about what YOU want to achieve. Don’t think about what your writer friend has done, or what that critique group member insists you should do. Where would you like to see your writing career going in 2017?

Got it? Great. Now think about what you need to do to accomplish that goal. Be specific and realistic. If you want an agent, then list at least three actionable goals that will help you achieve that main goal.

You’ll need to list specific goals for each main goal, but the time you put into this task will pay off. So close your eyes and contemplate. Then get to down to business with those goals.

List ‘em.


Send ‘Em


You don’t have to go full formal on thank yous. But the end of the year is a good time to send a quick email, expressing gratitude.

Did you work with an editor? A thank you with an “I’d love to work with you again in 2017” might be just the nudge needed to remind that editor of the great work you’ve done. At the very least, you can ensure that you’ll get an editorial calendar.

Know a writer who was especially helpful to you and your career? Bet he or she would appreciate hearing about your success. You just can’t go wrong with thank yous.

Send ‘em.

And so I'm sending you a big thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for all the lovely comments you've shared with me, thank you for all the support! Let's do it again in 2017, okay?

~Cathy C. Hall

Read More »

14 comments Cathy C. Hall, goal-setting, online presence, organization skills, saying thank you, social media, writer's advice

Observations From A First Time Presenter (Or What I’ll Do Better Next Time)

This year, I vowed to challenge myself as a writer; I’d embark on the Great Challenge Writing Adventure and Growth Experience of 2016.

And so, jumping into the spirit of things, I sent in a proposal to present a session at an SCBWI conference. I patted my back; I’d “put myself out there.” When I received an email accepting my proposal, I nearly fell out of my chair.

Excuse me? Challenges are supposed to come in baby steps! I expected to send in a proposal three times at least before being accepted. This was a big, ol’ giant step, and I must tell you, I was not psychologically prepared to be a presenter this soon on the Great Challenge etc. etc. But I said yes because a. what’s a challenge if you don’t accept it? And b. the fee was pretty sweet.

I survived the session but not without a few blips. I need to do a better job. And I hope you’ll do a great job presenting at a conference, learning from my mistakes:

1. When I practiced my presentation, I went over the time allotment by 15 minutes. Huh, I thought, that’s just me, learning the material. I’ll come in on time when I’m completely familiar with everything.

Huh. I did not come in on time. I had to zip through the last ten minutes in about three minutes. You know what might have been extremely helpful? Another practice or two beforehand, setting priorities, getting my time organized. And speaking of organization…

2. I like to do giveaways. I frequently host writing workshops and I always have a giveaway or two. But I also always have a sign-in sheet that I use for the giveaway. Midway through my session, I realized I had no sign-in sheet and therefore, no way to handle the giveaway. Aaaaccck!

I did have my SCBWI business cards that I planned to give to each participant and so during an activity, I passed out the cards and participants wrote their names on the back of the cards. It worked out, but it took up more time than I’d have liked; time I didn’t have to spare. I’ll be better prepared for my next giveaway at a session.

3. And because I like plenty of good takeaway information, I packed my presentation with as much takeaway as I could. Unfortunately, all that information didn’t give much time for questions.

Questions are good; questions help us learn. And even when people have the opportunity to find a presenter and ask questions throughout the conference, they rarely do. And so I would have served the attendees better with a little less takeaway and a little more time for explanation.

And so my first presentation ended in a whirlwind but there was a lovely moment, too. As I hurriedly gathered all my stuff, a woman caught up with me, thanking me. “You gave me permission to write what I love,” she said.

Now I have the challenge for my next presentation: for every writer in the room to feel the same way.


~Cathy C. Hall

Read More »

11 comments Cathy C. Hall, organization skills, presentation tips, SCBWI, time management