Applying KonMari to Writing
From my August 2020 newsletter. To get articles like this every month, sign up here.
——-
I've been on a decluttering spree for the last few months, using Marie Kondo's process, otherwise known as "KonMari." I've drawn on three of Kondo's books, Spark Joy, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and Joy at Work, and found lessons that can be applied to writing.
Visualize Your Destination. Before you begin tidying up your home, Kondo advises visualizing the end result. Similarly, having a vision (different from an outline) for your finished book can be helpful as you write. Consider things such as what effect your book will have on readers; what published books you see fitting alongside yours on the shelves; how it will look in published form; and what words will best describe the finished book ("thought-provoking," "sensitive," and so forth).
Clean Your Work Space Daily. In Joy at Work, Marie recommends cleaning your computer and desk before you start work every day. This seemed excessive to me at first glance, but then I remembered those days when I would suddenly look down at my keyboard and realiz with horror that it was . . . not in great shape. Wiping down your computer and desk is an easy, calming way to set the stage for the day.
Say Thank You. Marie recommends you say thank you to the items that you’re going to discard and to those you're returning to their designated places in the home. I have started saying “thank you” to my work documents, my client projects, and my own writing. You can also say why you're thanking it: "Thank you, newsletter, for keeping me in touch with my wonderful clients" or "Thank you, book, for making me feel passionate and committed to something outside of myself." I have found this practice to be an immense stress reliever.
The Book It is Becoming. Often, it is hard for clients to cut their manuscripts. In Magic, Kondo writes, "The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past." Similarly, a book in draft form is precious, but it's always a draft—on its way to becoming something, and should be treated accordingly. (Maybe thank the passages you cut as you move forward.)
The Click Point. Kondo's description in Magic of what it feels like when you've reached the end of tidying a category, reminded me so much of the moment when you know a piece of writing is done. "The satisfaction that envelops your whole being at that point is palpable. I call this the 'just-right click point.'" We should all aim for the click point and use it as a signal to know when we're truly done with our work.