by Ruth Belena

Created on: February 06, 2009

A writer's office requires spring cleaning, even if it is only a corner of a room with a bookcase, some shelving, a cabinet or a desk.

You can work as a writer almost anywhere, using a laptop or pen and paper, but every writer needs a well organized home office, or space to store important documents, paperwork and stationery.

Writers may be methodical in their work, but not all writers are tidy and well organized when it comes to filing and paperwork. A writer's desk, or table top, can quickly become covered with papers, notepads, reference books, memory sticks, pens and pencils. All these could be competing for space with a desktop computer, a printer, and that essential writing aid, the coffee mug or tea cup.

Spring cleaning and organizing your office should start with sorting out what is essential for immediate use and what can be stored until required. Anything that is no longer needed should be disposed of, but it is important for all office receipts, contracts, work in progress and items of stationary to be sorted, kept safe, and be readily accessible.

A writer who is self employed must keep financial records and accounts. Invoices, receipts and bank statements can be stored in expanding concertina files, or in box files. Using different colored files and boxes to store each set of items can help to identify what is inside each file or box.

Shelving is useful to store files upright, or to pile them on top of each other. Make sure each file is clearly marked to show what it contains.

A file cabinet may be preferred for keeping files and folders in order. A small cabinet, suitable for home use, with two or three drawers is ideal for a writer.

Cabinet and desk drawers can be fitted with loose hanging files, to store papers and documents. Each section should be clearly tabbed.

For storing important documents, and cash for immediate expenses, a home safe is one option. Otherwise you should use a lockable cabinet drawer, or a securely locking desk drawer.

A sturdy bookcase, or firmly attached wall shelving, will keep a writer's reference books in one place, where they should be easy to find.

A free standing unit with adjustable shelving is useful for storing office stationery, spare ink cartridges, and small items of office equipment.

All surfaces should be wiped clean with a damp cloth, using natural cleaning products whenever possible. Electrical and computer equipment should never be cleaned with water or other liquids.

Use antistatic sprays to clear smears from screens, a good anti-bacterial product to decontaminate keyboards, and a strong cleaning agent to remove sticky substances.

When you have a clean, tidy, well organized office, less time is wasted searching for items and information. This allows more time for the creative process of writing.

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