I'm a Builder...But my Name's Not Bob

Unorganized. Disorganized. Paper Challenged. Pulp Product ADD.

Any way you name it - me and bills and school papers and junk mail do not a good combination make. Add to it that I haven't had a desk space all my own in three years, and yeah, well, my financial and calendar life was pretty much a disaster.

In our house there's a hole in the wall that's the perfect place to put a drop zone for all that kind of clutter. But it's narrow and visible right in the main runway of the house, and I've just never found anything to fit there.

Enter Ana White, a mom from Alaska who is a downright genius with power tools. She inspired me that maybe, since I wasn't finding anything I wanted, maybe *gasp* I should build a desk myself.

So, I did. And as I drilled and sawed and sanded the last few weeks away, I thought how much the process of building was like my writing. In fact, I began to wonder if most creative processes don't go through similar steps to get to The End.

Anyway, I couldn't figure out exactly how to write this, so, here's my story in double vision (Oh, and you get some lovely bonus shots of the inside of my garage which is just about as organized as, well, my paperwork):

Once upon a time in my house, I had this little empty nook.
Once upon a time in my heart, I had this little empty space.

And one day I had this idea to build something useful to fill that nook.
And one day I had this idea to write something to fill that space.

I took to staring at that empty nook and imagining what could go there. I scribbled things down on paper.
I took to staring into space and wondering about character and plot and setting. I scribbled things down on paper.

I'd never built anything before, but finally I got up the courage to act.
I'd never written anything like this before, but finally I got up the courage to act.

Lowes cut my lumber (bless you Lowes, or my project would be forever irredeemably crooked), and I invested in the best building tool EVER - the Kreg Jig.
I cut my proverbial writing teeth on a great site (*Hatrack* ahem), and got the best writing tool EVER (for someone like me) - Scrivener.

And look at that! The pieces fit together so nicely. I'd be done in a day. This was going to be sooo - easy!
And look at that! The story was coming together so nicely. I'd be done before you could say NaNoWriMo sooo - easy!

Um, it's looking a little wobbly. It sort of lists to one side. How am I going to fix that? Think, think, think - ah, maybe some corner braces will do the trick.
Um, the story is looking a little wobbly. It sort of has a few little - okay, who am I kidding - giant gaping plot holes. Think, think, think, - ah, that might do the trick...

Wow, but now I had to add hardware - and a drawer - and a door. I'd never done anything like that. This was getting hard.
Wow, but now I had to really look at the nuts and bolts of my writing. I'd never done anything like that. This was getting hard.

But persistence pays off, right? It was time to add the finishing trim. And no, persistence hasn't paid off. It looks like a podium, a big, ugly podium. This is a disaster! I'm the worst builder EVER. And now I've wasted all this time and money. *whine*
But persistence pays off, right? It was time to add the finishing touches. But no, persistence hasn't paid off. It reads like a discombobulated pile of glop. This is a disaster! I'm the worst writer EVER. And now I've wasted all this time and energy. *whine*

Wait! It doesn't have to stay a podium. I can pull the ugly trim off (hooray for not using wood glue!) and get something prettier. Sure, it'll take a little more time and money, but won't it be better to have something I love?
Wait! It doesn't have to stay a discombobulated pile of glop. I can pull out the bad parts and rearrange and get something better. Sure, it'll take a little more time and energy, but won't it be better to have something I love?

And wow, look what a couple coats of paint do to it. Add a few bins and suddenly I've got something functional and beautiful and - holy cow, did I just build that?
And wow, look what a few more edits do to it. Add a few finishing details and suddenly I've got something coherent and beautiful and - holy cow, did I just write that?

So, this is the finished product - a vertical desk about 41 inches high and only 26 inches wide and 20 inches deep. It has four filing spaces in the drawer, two 13x13x16 Ikea bins, and two 'inbox' bins (actually made from Top Ramen boxes, which turned out to be the perfect size - shh, don't tell anyone).

I'm almost done with the matching wall cupboard which will have holding bins for each of the kids' stuff, a cork board and nine cubbies for letters, pens, etc. Wanna see it when it's done? And the awesome, huge calendar I made from an old picture frame?
Who knew I'd like designing furniture this much?
Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can.

Hope you find happiness in whatever you pursue!
And I hope you pursue what makes you happy!

~Susan