Giveaway+ Guest Post THE ART OF BEING (sort of) ORGANZIZED by JULIE KENNER @JulieKenner

The Bliss of Being (Sort of) Organized

Sunday was an exciting day in the Kenner household because -- yes! -- we're headed to The Container Store to meet with one of their specialists to figure out how to organize our very, very, very, very, very disorganized bedroom closet.

They’re installing it next weekend.

I am giddy.

For years, I wasn't particularly organized.  For that matter, I see a lot of my younger self in my oldest daughter, whose tornado of a room now drives me nuts.  And when the family empties the dishwasher and puts things in the wrong place ... well, it's almost enough to make me throw up my hands and shout that I'll  just do the unloading, thank you very much.  (Note that I said "almost" -- some irritations I'm learning to live with.)

In idle moments I can't help but wonder why I've become more organized.  Is it a product of getting older?  Of having kids (who are, apparently, a mirror)? The result of basic necessity-because if I don't know where I keep the extra toilet paper I will be forever buying more toilet paper?

Or maybe that tendency was always there, latent under the surface? 

Hmmm.

Yes, folks, I think I’m on to something.  I had no trouble being organized back when I practiced law (judges and clients tend to get touchy if you’re not).  And even when I was just starting out writing, I tended to keep the stories pretty organized by laying out the basic map in synopsis form.  (Actually, maybe that’s another sign that I have an innate organizational core.  I mean, I actually like writing synopses.   In my experience, that makes me odd...)

I like knowing where a book is going ... though I’m more than happy to change the path once I’m on the way.  I’ll happily veer off the synopsis in the middle of the writing process—and when I do, I usually find wonderful gems about story or characters.  But without that basic structure—that underpinning of organized thought—I go a little crazy with the process.

Hmmm.  Maybe I’m a little of both?  Organized and disorganized? Both working together in harmony?  And maybe that means I should just let my daughter’s messy room slide by without comment; that it’s her way of finding her own Life System.  And maybe I shouldn’t bug the family when things get out of place.  Because sometimes disorganization works, and sometimes you find cool things inside the mess...

(picture my daughter sitting on the edge of her chair ... waiting ... waiting ... waiting for my answer ...)

But, no.  Books, yes.  Scarily messy bedrooms, no.

I’m shooting for organized in life and semi-random-from-an organized foundation in my writing.

Hey.  It works for me.

How about you?  Are you organized or not? Does a messy room drive you crazy or feel warm and welcoming?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of Claim Me! (print for US winners, digital for international winners!)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Kenner has written over 40 books under multiple names including Julie Kenner and J.K. Beck.  Her newest release, CLAIM ME (April 23, 2013), debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.  Claim Me is the second book in the bestselling Stark Trilogy, which began with RELEASE ME, continues with CLAIM ME, and which will conclude in July with COMPLETE ME.
You can learn more about her at her website (http://www.juliekenner.com) or connect with her on Twitter (@juliekenner) or on Facebook (http://juliekenner.com/facebook/)

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes an erotic, emotionally charged romance between a powerful man who’s never heard “no” and a fiery woman who says “yes” on her own terms.

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WANT TO WIN A COPY OF CLAIM ME?  

COMMENT BELOW with  your answer to Julie's question:

How about you?  Are you organized or not? Does a messy room drive you crazy or feel warm and welcoming?

That is it...

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Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Void where prohibited.Print - US only - no PO BoxeseBook - International
Contest ends on 5.24.13 Winner will be chosen by Random.org Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.Only one winner per mailing address.  Multiple entries will be deleted. This giveaway is sponsored by the author and ONE book is available.