Comments on: The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Organizing Papers

By: The Well-Organized Freelance Writer's Home Office - Productive Writers

The Well-Organized Freelance Writer's Home Office - Productive Writers — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 23:53:44 +0000

[…] your computer, you should have only the key materials you need for your current writing project and just a few items you use multiple times throughout the day, such as pens and pencils. (And make […]

By: Kathi

Kathi — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 17:38:13 +0000

John, just discovered you! Really a productive move on my part:-)
Im not into file folders, Lori, but I can understand! I prefer 3 ring binders on varying subjects. This way is easier for me to breeze through and wherever the words come from (via the web, magazine, or me!)they can all go into ‘booklet’ form and easy access.
Follow up has always been a challenge to me. Carol Tice (of Freelance Writers Den) prefers not. She feels if they’re going to contact her, they’ll do so, whats the point of keeping track?…any other opinions out there?

By: John Soares

John Soares — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 16:28:06 +0000

In reply to Lori. Lori, one of these days I'll do a post of pics of everyone's desks! I've actually gotten a bit sloppy with a couple of shelves in the bookcase by my desk. They are covered with mail and unread newspapers. They are on my to-do list for clean up this week.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:51:43 +0000

Oh John, you must be able to see my desk. 😉

Well, if 1 is awful and 10 is perfect, I’m about a 4.

Actually, I did clean up over the weekend. But your post is always timely. My friend was an admin, and her advice was your first point — touch it once.

I’m fortunate to be sitting in a study with bookcases, so I do have room (in theory) for business books that come in. However, there are a LOT of books in this house, so I have to be choosy. I’ve taken to buying business books in electronic form only because I know they won’t clutter up the space and I won’t be tempted to toss them without reading them.

Periodicals are another matter. The business ones that come in get read and tossed. If it’s useful, I’ll put it on the bookshelf. If not, it’s history.

My worst offense is file folders. I’m a file folder addict. I’ll put papers in files and never look at them again. I think I need the folder. I think I need those reams of paper I’ve printed and put in there. In fact, I don’t. My agreements and contracts do need a place, but I think I could probably get away with one folder for them all instead of the dozen or more folders that hold, well, junk.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 11:29:22 +0000

+1 on the getting rid of the magazine subscriptions. I used to have several myself. But over time I realized that for most of them the writing quality had plummeted and they offered next to nothing that I couldn’t find elsewhere- usually online. And even more so many of them have websites now where much of what’s in the print version is posted as well further degrading the need for the physical item.

By: Adam Kielich

Adam Kielich — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 05:08:22 +0000

In reply to John Soares. I'm not so sure. Less clutter just gives them an opportunity to sprawl out more but somehow a head or leg ends up across the keyboard anyway.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:13:28 +0000

Ah some great tips indeed for how to deal with piles of paper. I have to admit I am prone to stacking papers as high as I can on my desk, in the hope they will organise themselves, I think I will put your tips to good use.

By: John Soares

John Soares — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 22:31:52 +0000

In reply to betsy kostas. Hello Betsy, I just sent you an e-mail with the link. I had an error in the link to the page in the sidebar, which is fixed now.

By: betsy kostas

betsy kostas — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 21:41:53 +0000

Hi John – I want to purchase “Writing College Textbook Supplements”, but can’t seem to find a link from your site. I’m thinking it’s better for you if I purchase through you rather than something like Amazon. What am I overlooking on your site….please let me know best way. Thanks so much! A New & Great Fan…..Betsy Kostas

By: Melanie Rose

Melanie Rose — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:30:02 +0000

Hi John, thanks for a really good article. I find for myself that I cannot work surrounded by clutter, and need a minimalist desk and office space. It’s interesting that almost to the tee I had created for myself a paper handling system almost identical to yours 🙂 Hundredth monkey syndrome I suppose. Anyway, thanks for the tips!

Mel