Lea Wait, here.
To me, September has always meant “begin again.” From pre-kindergarten through college, it was the time school started. (I still can’t get used to schools starting in August, which they do for my grandchildren in Virginia and Kansas.) 
September is the time to buy notebooks. Pencils. Pens. Composition books. Assignment notebooks. Everything new, pristine, and full of promise. This year grades would be higher. Friends would be closer. Teachers would be more inspiring. In short: a time of hope.
I still get an unreasonable thrill going to office supply stores and searching the aisles for the perfect notebooks, pads, writing implements, calendars, mailing envelopes … all the tools of the writers’ trade. I know buying elastic bands and staples and padded envelopes and pads of paper shouldn’t make my heart beat faster. But does.
I’m choosing the tools that, this time, will ensure that my next manuscript will be stronger. My perpetual “to do” list will be completed. My files will be neater.
Ultimately, that I will, this time, be a better, more whole person. More efficient. More organized. More productive. And, ultimately, somehow, life will be better.
Yes. When it comes to office supplies (aka school supplies) I am completely delusional.
But now it’s happening again. It’s early September. Last week the latest in my Mainely Needlepoint series, Threads of Evidence, was published. Yesterday I put the manuscript of my next Shadows Antique Print mystery series, Shadows on a Morning in Maine, in the mail to my editor.
Today I’m going to go through the rite of organization: clean out my desk drawers and in-box. Sharpen my pencils. File my notes for Morning in Maine. And get out notes for my next project.
I know what it’s going to be. I have a folder of ideas and a pile of reference books to be checked. It’s in a genre I’ve never tried before, and that’s exciting. And I have only a couple of weeks to test out the possibility … after that I’ll have to work on my next manuscript, due December 1.
But I’m giving myself two weeks to begin again. Try something new.
I hope it works.
And if it doesn’t … I’ll put it away for another day, and start on a new mystery.
Because September is a time for beginnings.
Lea Wait is the author of the 7-book Shadows Antique Print Mystery Series, the latest of which is Shadows on a Maine Christmas, and the Mainely Needlepoint series, Twisted Threads and Threads of Evidence. She’s also written a series of essays about Maine and writing, Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine, and five historical novels for ages 8 and up. She invites readers to friend her on Facebook and Goodreads.
Kait Carson
Charlene D’Avanzo 
Lea–you could have been describing me! I, too, believe in the magical powers of stationery.
Hey, Lea, I just shared this with a friend’s book page, I Recommend This Book. I hope some new readers will discover you. I plan to read Shadows Over Christmas in Maine at Christmas time. It was so nice visiting with you and buying that book in person.
Love it, Barb! Knew we had a lot in common .. just didn’t realize it was paper!!! 🙂
Love the office supply thing too – it must be a shared characteristic of all writers.
Your focus and productivity is so impressive, Lea. Good luck on the experiment!
Thank you, Brenda!
…and booksellers, too.
Paula Keeney
Mainely Murders Bookstore
Paula — Agreed! Of course, booksellers! They’re on the list …. (teachers, too, for books for children.)
Lea, as always I enjoy your blogs.I was so happy that there is a new Shadows because I feel there is still lots left to be told. I just finished Threads of Evidence and once I started it had to finish it even tho it I didn’t finish until wee hours. I really enjoy this series and looking forward to the next book. I do love Maine writers.
And we love California readers, Ruth! 🙂
Lea, I too think that purchasing just the right objects from an office supply store will organize and neaten my life. So reassuring that you feel the same way, and I bet we have lots of company. Happy organizing! Linda
Lea, I loved your post about new beginnings in September. I was a visual arts teacher for over 30 years. September was an important month for preparing my desk for the new school year. Matching file folders and storage boxes with “a theme” were key. Pens, markers, push pins, paper clips and on and on had to match in color. I got a thrill just thinking about planning the look of my desk. Thirteen years into retirement and I still make my SEPTEMBER trip to the office supply store. Somethings just become a comforting ritual!
Wow. I used to think I was the only person in the world who got excited about office products. But we are a lot more of us than I thought. Nothing more fun than a pristine, beautiful notebook and a really cool pen.