Peek Inside My Office and Chat at The Armchair Genealogist

It’s nearly the midway point in the Family History Writing Challenge, and if you’re like me, it can be hard to maintain focus on a writing project about halfway through. I get excited about starting and ending a project, but many times, the middle can be a bit of slog and I have to pull all kinds of tricks to keep working. 

Last month, during the blog book tour for How to Archive Family Keepsakes, Lynn and I talked about the book’s focus on organization as a first-step toward becoming a more effective researcher and family history writer in A Coffee, A Comfy Chair, and a Q&A with the Author. On Thursday, 14 February, we continue the conversation at The Armchair Genealogist to talk about the writing, publishing, and marketing aspect of authorship. In these days of e-books, blogs, and self-publishing, it’s not enough to simply write a book; authors have to be ready to take on many roles to get the word out about their work.

Lynn’s questions made me feel so “professional” that I was motivated to clean up my desk and snap a few pictures. My office doesn’t always look this tidy, but I sure do feel more in control when it’s like this.

Sometimes, a mid-project “tidy up” is all it takes to help me get over the slump and back to work. Other times I have to employ other tricks, like playing games with word counts or promising myself a special coffee treat. Whatever it takes, it’s worth it if it can keep me moving and avoid the dreaded “writer’s block.”

You might notice in the photos that my desk faces a wall in my office. I’ve thought about hanging a gallery of photos around the bulletin board, but I know it would probably tempt me to drift off into who-knows-where so I keep putting off that little decorating project. There is a wall of windows at my back, which isn’t great for glare, but the trees outside the window and sheer curtains and blinds keep it pleasant. I don’t work with music or tv, in fact I work best when it’s pretty quiet and find that neighborhood noise is an unwelcome distraction. My office is quite small, about 9 x 12, but just right as a cozy niche for a day with words.

I hope you’ll join us this week at The Armchair Genealogist as we talk about writing, publishing, and marketing a family history book. I’ve got an extra chair in my office too!