Read on for tips on how to de-clutter and trim down your book collection.
Last week, we suggested you make a short list—five to seven items—of changes you would like to make in your physical space in order to improve your writing productivity. If you’re anything like most authors, your space runneth over with books. Hardbacks, paperbacks, dog-eared college textbooks. Read on for tips on how to de-clutter and trim down your collection.
If gathering all your books in one physical space is impossible, you may tackle this task on a room by room basis, with your work space and research books taking priority.
First, separate your books into distinct piles. Suggestions: craft, research, to review and pleasure.
Second, tackle your craft books.
- Which ones are “classics?” Obviously, you’ll want to keep those.
- Which books have you read and will never refer to again? Place those in a stack and label them “giveaways.”
- Which books haven’t you read, but know you won’t get to for years, if ever? Place those with the books you’ve read and won’t refer to again.
- Which books haven’t you read, but want to add to your serious TBR (To Be Read) pile? Place a reasonable number of those—one to three—near your desk, bedside or wherever you read for professional development.
You’re probably worn out now, but it’s time to move on to your research books.
- Which books are specific to a particular book or series? Can you envision ever needing that book again? If not, they go in the giveaway stack.
- Which are staples for your genre? Place them back on your shelf.
- Do you have six books on symbols, slang or some other topic? Choose the top two and keep those.
- Which books have outdated information? Part with them.
Next come the books you plan to review.
- Are you really going to read them? If yes, place a manageable number with those one to three craft books you chose and create a schedule for reading and reviewing.
- If not, set them aside to send on to someone who will either review or enjoy them.
And last, but certainly not least, are those books you want to read for pure pleasure.
- Try to reduce the number of books to a manageable level so your pleasure TBR pile isn’t a source of stress instead of relaxation.
- The rest go into the giveaway stack.
Now, you have piles of books that you’d like to move out of your possession and into someone else’s. What are your options?
- Donate to your local library
- Donate to an organization that sells used books to a less- privileged population (like Goodwill)
- Sell on a site like half.com (run by Ebay)
- Trade with other writers
- Give them away on your blog
- Gift a friend with a book of the month club
- Donate to a school/college
Happy de-cluttering!