My biggest creative challenge is organization. Let’s face it, I’m a mess. It’s not that I’m a lazy or sloppy person, I just don’t have a certain type of organizational skill – you know, the kind that files things in a systematic way.

That’s not to say I don’t have files, yes I have lots of files. All across my desktop. Literally, both my physical desktop and my computer screen. I’m a visual person so I remember where things are by where I last saw them.

That in itself can be manageable, being visual has it’s advantages. But I’m also a spontaneous person, especially when it comes to creativity. I have difficulty with schedules. If I’m on a roll I may stay up until 3 AM; not purposely but that’s just the way it flows.

A few weeks back I was feverishly working on finishing a client project when I suddenly realized I had 15 minutes to get to my creative writers group across town.

Because I had been so busy with my client’s work all week I never made time to do any creative writing for the group. I thought, I’ll just go anyway and listen to the others. I grabbed my purse, keys and coat and ran to the car.

As I got in the car a poem began to flow through my head; I have no idea where these things come from. Fortunately I keep a pen and random pieces of scrap paper in the car, so I promptly began to write. And then I drove, and continued to write at every stop light.

I arrived at the writers group with pen and junk mail in hand (that was the scrap I wrote the poem on). Everyone loved the poem and was entertained by the delivery. That’s just the way I am.

I have so many ideas, inspirations and modes of expression that it’s hard to keep it all organized – and then there’s the other part of life: work, paying bills, cleaning, cooking, shopping, family and socializing. Sometimes I even manage to fit Yoga into the mix, spontaneously of course.

I’m not sure what it would be like to be an organized person, but to deal with my crazy mess I make lists, carry a notepad everywhere and use about 3 calendars. I use sticky notes too, and my phone. I have physical file folders full of plans, notes, lists, and what not, which I go through every month to keep them relevant. It’s not a perfect solution but it sort of works, for me at least. I may not be that easy to live with though.

I sometimes wonder if I would have more time if I were better organized, but then it takes so much time to organize everything. I can organize information, like anything in writing or presentation form. It’s just life that’s hard to organize, physical things, and too many projects. Too many things to do.

Creativity ignites like a blazing bonfire in my chest and I become immersed in the light and warmth of inspiration. I become focused, zoned in, disconnected from the world but at my best. It just takes over and I feel at peace. Until I’m done, then I still have to deal with the mess.

This post was written in response to a writing prompt from The Writers List/Death to Stock Photo. Photo courtesy of Death to Stock Photo.