FINDING TIME TO WRITE with Lisa Giesler

I'm welcoming a professional organiser to the blog today to discuss their books and role, and as a bonus, they share some tips on finding time to write. 

Here we go... 
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My name is Lisa Giesler. I am a native of New Orleans, wife, mom, nana, coffee lover, organizing consultant, award winning author, and motivational speaker. I understand that clutter happens not only in our spaces, but in our head (thoughts and beliefs) that causes us to feel stuck in life. I am here to help you to achieve your goals and find your joy and purpose in life.
 
Growing up I was called the white tornado in my household because I was always putting things away. Since middle school, I love creating checklist to balance homework and the other things that I had to do. My heart’s desire has always been to help people. I hold a Ministerial/ Theology certificate through Global University/Berean School of the Bible and completed a 2-year program through Emerging Leaders Institute. I spent many years working on staff at church with women, children, and their moms.
 
I started my business, A Time and Place for Everything in 2008. My first book is called, my life is a mess organizing 101 because during a conversation with one of my first clients, she said to me, “My life is a mess”. Five years later I began writing my second book unclutter discovering strength and purpose in the chaos of life, that became that aha moment of there was more going on in people’s lives than just a messy space. About two years ag, when my dad passed, I begin to write my third book (stay tuned) brand new perspectives. This was a result of the conversations at my dad’s memorial service that I came to understand, that we don’t know everything and sometimes we need others input. Contact me to help you become uncluttered and find your joy purpose in life.
 
I love being a speaker and using humor and serious moments to educate the audiences. When my talks are over, I enjoy the one on one conversations with the attendees.
 
I am a member of NAPO (National Association for Productivity and Organizing) with a Life Transitions Certificate. I completed the Speaker’s Academy through the NSA (National Speaker’s Association).
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I am thrilled to have been featured on ABC Live Well Network, KHOU Great Day Houston, FOX Houston Saturday Morning, Stafford TV, KPRC Houston Life, KTBU Cantonese TV, Houston Chronicle, Fort Bend Focus Magazine, and other local periodicals. You can also find me volunteering for various community and non-profit events.

Follow Lisa here! 

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​Who are you and what do you write?

I am a professional organizer, coach, consultant, and speaker. My first book My Life is a Mess is organizing tips. My second book Uncluttered is about how our external world is often a reflection of our internal world. Third book digs a little deeper in how sometimes we need brand new perspectives to become uncluttered in life.


Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

My first writing was fiction in 6th grade, my teacher made fun of me and said I am not a writer. My second writing, I had no guidance in how to print it and my family didn’t comprehend why someone would want to be a writer. My first publish book, I literally woke up at 4:00 in the morning filled with ideas and began writing.


How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

The journey has been at times very hard and at the same time exhilarating. Writing is only part of the process. Keep things in order, the edit, the proofing, and marketing.


What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

Hardest part is finding an editor with your voice and the most enjoyable is the finished product.


Would you go back and change anything?

I wouldn’t change a thing


Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? 

I would like to be able to say that a publishing company picked up this third book, to write more books and to speak and train on the subject.


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

Just start writing.


And most importantly...

Ketchup or Mayo? – Both depending on sandwich or potato fries
Night or Day? - Day
Inside or Outside? – Both depending on the weather
Dogs or Cats? – Both depending on the mood, I don’t have pets
Twitter or Facebook? – Both for different reasons
e-book or Paperback? -- Paper
Sun or Rain? – Sun by day and rain while I am asleep
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? – Pencil & Notebook
Comedy or Drama? – Comedy and historical drama
Chips or Chocolate? – Chocolate
Tea or Coffee? – I am all the way coffee

​​Brand New Perspectives – is sometimes just what you need
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Have you thought to yourself “What if I were to look at events or people who have been in my life with a different perspective?” There have been times throughout my life where I felt like I knew people and understood things. I came to a place and through the course of varied conversations with others; I realized that I didn’t always know a person and their circumstances. I was the oldest of four children, the bossy one, and thought that I knew everything. I didn’t realize until many years later that certain conversations would give me brand-new perspectives. These new perspectives changed how I viewed my life and the lives of others.
 
I have published two books. The first one was an award-winning book titled; my life is a mess: organizing 101. It is filled with basic organizing tips and relatable stories. My second book titled; uncluttered: discovering strength and purpose in the chaos of life is more about understanding how our external world may be a reflection of what’s going on inside of us. It was my story and relationship with my mom with stories based on client’s life experiences. As a professional organizer I know that the organizing process is not always over. We could get everything organized and everything situated, but sometimes we know there’s one closet or subject that we just want to leave alone. It’s kind of like a junk drawer, a place to put things away quickly.
 
I knew everything wasn’t perfect in my life, but it seemed fine for the moment. My therapist said I am resilient.  Just like in the organizing process you collect more stuff in that junk drawer of life and it gets full. At some point you don’t even know what’s in it and you think, “Probably should go ahead and deal with it”. I decided to listen and think about stories from friends and family members as they shared different perspectives of growing up. I began to realize that there were things that I didn’t know about others and their situations. Remember when you are a teenager and thought that you knew more than the out of touch adults in your life. As you get older you realize that you knew nothing. I had another moment where I thought, “Maybe I need little bit more organizing in my own life”. If I am honest, that overstuffed and closed junk drawer represented a place that I have now made peace with. Can you relate?
 
Join me on this journey and in the conversation as I travel down another road of memories in life and share brand new revealed perspectives that I have gained. For the logical person it can be a collection of facts and case studies. For the creative person, it can be like a giant canvas where you paint. For me it is decluttering, organizing, and pretty containers. Using analogies and real-life stories, my goal is for you is to realize that it is okay to embrace different ideas and perspectives in helping you to balance and organize all of the areas of your life.
 
Anticipated completion December 2020

​Grab Lisa's other books here and here!

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I often hear people say, “I want to write a book, but it is hard finding the time to write”. If that is your dilemma then keep reading for 7 great tips on you can start and finish writing a book.
 
1.      You must know if you are better creatively in the morning or the evening. Write during that time. I write better when I first wake up and sometime people write better at night.
 
2.      Write a list of things that you need to do in the course of a day and week, make sure you include business, household, and errands you have to take care of.  As a Professional Organizer, I have more tips to help you with if you’d like.
 
3.      Set up your calendar and schedule time to write. I usually need an hour or two-hour block of time. This allows me to get into my creative zone for ideas, then begin to mind dump, and the writing begins to flow. 
 
4.      Choose an area for writing that inspires you. It could be a space in your home or at a coffee shop.
 
5.      When you are finished writing for the day, give the piece a title and a note at the end. This helps you to remember where you were going and where you left off at.
 
6.      In the beginning do not waste time trying to edit and make it perfect just write. I know it’s tempting, but it’s not a good use of your time in the beginning stages.
 
7.      If you start feeling tired and have a mind block, take short breaks to clear your head. I like to go outside sometimes, drink a cup of coffee, eat snack, or even take a 15-minute power nap.
 
Cheers and congratulations on getting your book started and completed!
 
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