There’s something magical about starting with a clean slate before diving into a new chapter of writing. For me, the ritual of tidying is just as important as the act of sitting down at my desk with my laptop.
After my husband and I returned from a weekend trip, the house was in that classic post-trip chaos state—bags dumped by the front door, the playroom scattered with forgotten toys, and my office looking like a Halloween storage unit had exploded. Not exactly the most inspiring environment to return to.
Before I could even think about writing Chapter 34 of my WIP Project Ember, I knew I needed to reset. So I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. The dishes went into the dishwasher, countertops got a quick wipe-down, toys were tucked back into their bins, and my office was restored to a place where creativity could breathe again.
Here’s the thing—it wasn’t about achieving perfection. My home didn’t suddenly look like a magazine spread, but the act of clearing clutter gave me mental space to breathe. With a fresh environment, my brain could shift from “ugh, I need to clean” to “yes, I’m ready to create.”
For me, cleaning is a form of creative preparation. Just as some writers light a candle, brew a cup of tea, or put on a specific playlist, my ritual is restoring order so my imagination has room to roam.
I’ve learned that clearing physical clutter often clears mental clutter too. When my environment feels chaotic, my writing usually does too. But when I reset my space, I approach the page with more focus, more calm, and more openness to inspiration.
What about you? Do you find that tidying up helps your creativity flow, or are you the kind of writer who thrives in organized chaos?
Elizabeth Yuen 