Writing.Com General Discussion

I'm seriously struggling with getting myself organized and on track. I find I have good ideas for projects (both fiction and nonfiction), and even write down a lot, but when it comes time to actually sit down and start putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), I can't even get started. My physical environment is in chaos right now as we're doing some moving around after the death of my mother and brother recently, and that just leads to my mind being in chaos as well.

I could really use some advice on ways you get organized and start producing work, both where you do your writing and getting your work organized in your computer. What programs do you use? How do you have your desk/room organized physically and aesthetically to help you create? What helps you get in the right "mood" to write?

I feel like I'm such a mess right now after losing my mom and brother, but I want to stop procrastinating and going after my dreams. I've wanted to be a writer since I was in 4th grade and started contributing art and writing to our classroom newsletter, more decades ago than I care to admit. I have so many ideas I've written down, and even started collecting research and writing pieces for a military thriller I've had in mind since 2007. I just can't manage to get off my keister and start producing.

I would love any suggestions from you. Everyone here is so amazing and I'm glad I finally got here, I just want to become as productive as you are. Any advice you can give this newbie would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I need to stop wasting this life I have and live it to the fullest to make up for the time my family didn't get to fully enjoy, as they died too soon.

Thank you all!