I Used to Have a Clean House, But Now I Am a Writer

My house used to be very clean; I needed it that way for some reason. Now only my office is clean. Stacks of papers and folders are geometrically arranged on my desk. My pen lies just so. Webster's and Roget's are within reach but not in the way.

The rest of the house is falling apart.

I feel it takes a person of great talent and discipline to let the house get to the point I now find mine in. I could beat anyone at Jenga--one look at my laundry pile will prove that. The hamper sits against the wall. I know just how to add to it without making it tumble. I try to keep up my husband's laundry since he actually has to face people. But I don't iron. If that de-wrinkling spray doesn't do it, oh well.

At times, my house is very dusty. I once used my husband's black socks to dust; the results were quite revealing. I think a black sock test would be more effective than a white glove test. Note: Dust is mostly human skin cells and dessicated corpses of dust mites. That's gross!

Trash cans, see laundry above.

My house will never be as clean as my mother's house was, back when I was a kid and was forced to clean baseboards every Saturday. But I have two completed novels and more than a few short stories to show for my household neglect. That's a pretty good trade-off. And I'm willing to eat from paper plates if it will allow me to tweak one more chapter. There's always a household shortcut; there are no shortcuts to good writing.

10 comments:

Brenda said...

This week while I have been on vacation, I wanted to use it as a time to 'test' the waters to see if I was able to "keep butt in chair" long enough to write...I've done pretty well...but like you...the house has suffered...I have only cleaned what I couldn't tuck inside something else or hide under something...grin...

I use a crockpot to cook with...if it can't be made in a crock it don't get made at my house (I can't boil water without scolding it...grin)...

This has helped a lot...When I take a morning break, I fill up the crock and I'm done for the day...love it!

Chris Eldin said...

Housecleaning....what's that?

Grin, I used to clean every day. Now my husband is like "What do you do all day?"

Watch the dust grow, honey.

But I do have to do the laundry. Which reminds me....

Stella said...

You have a point, Danette. Certainly my house is much dirtier ever since I decided I wanted to spend most of what little free time I have writing rather than cleaning. I do have a day job.

The solution was to hire a cleaning service. I resisted doing this for ages. Why should I pay somebody to do something I can do myself? My DH hired a cleaning service for me for Mother's Day (although I think he was tired of the dust too). I gotta say, I love it!

Anonymous said...

But I have two completed novels and more than a few short stories to show for my household neglect. That's a pretty good trade-off. And I'm willing to eat from paper plates if it will allow me to tweak one more chapter. There's always a household shortcut; there are no shortcuts to good writing.

I'll raise a feather duster to that!

Linda D. (sbk) said...

I'm not exaggerating when I say I haven't dusted certain parts of my house in over a year. But thanks for that info about the dust ... made my day.

I've always said, a clean house is a sign that someone cares about their home and what people think. A messy one is the sign of someone living life to its fullest (even if that means sitting with our butts in a chair for ten hours straight).

Congratulations on your mess!!

Danette Haworth said...

Brenda,
Crockpot . . . why have I not thought of this before? Good tip!

Church Lady,
You crack me up! What do you do all day? I eat bon-bons, of course.

Stella,
And the Husband-of-the-Year award goes to your husband. WOW! Talk about support!

Cheers, Courtney. Zap! (That's the sound I think feather dusters would make since they can't clink. They'd have to have static electricity to supply the necessary audio approval.)

Ah, Linda, a woman after my own heart! Reading your confession allows me to reveal that I can say the same thing! All right!

Ara Burklund said...

So true about the paper plates! : )

Danette Haworth said...

Don't forget the cups, haha!

Anonymous said...

There's a house I'm supposed to keep clean surrounding this laptop?


:)

Great blog, Danette!

gail said...

"You crack me up! What do you do all day? I eat bon-bons, of course."

You eat bon-bons too?! :) That's the running joke at my house when I'm asked what I did today. Eat bon-bons, watch MTV, and drink beer!

Dusting? I just let people think my glass shelves are "frosted glass".

Honestly though, what would you rather have people talk about, what a clean house you have or what a great book you wrote?

Keep writing. The dust will still be there next week.

gail