I Wrote a Decluttering Book That’s Actually a Story (And It Works Better Than Any Guide I’ve Read)

Most decluttering books fail.

Not because the advice is bad. But because knowing what to do and actually doing it are completely different animals.

You know you should clear out that closet. You know expired medications are dangerous. You know those 47 coffee mugs for a household of one is excessive.

Knowing isn’t the problem. Doing is the problem.

So I wrote a different kind of book.

A Story First, A Guide Second

The Journey to Decluttering: A Novella follows Art Fitzgerald, a 72-year-old widower, as he tackles four years of accumulated clutter with help from DeKo (an AI assistant) and his neighbor Maggie.

It’s fiction, but it’s based on the very real struggles we all face:

  • The medicine cabinet filled with expired prescriptions from people who are gone
  • The garage you haven’t been able to park in for years
  • The paper mountain of documents you’re terrified to throw away
  • The closet you can’t open because it’s full of someone else’s life

Here’s why the story format works:

1. You see yourself in Art
When he spends $16,000 on insurance policies he forgot to cancel, you recognize your own financial blind spots. When he can’t face his late wife’s closet, you understand why your own “someday” projects never happen.

2. You learn by watching, not by reading instructions
Art makes mistakes. He backtracks. He has emotional breakdowns. You see how he handles setbacks—which prepares you for your own.

3. You get permission to struggle
Self-help books make change look easy. Stories make it look real. Art’s imperfect progress gives you permission to be imperfect too.

4. You remember what you read
Facts fade. Stories stick. You’ll remember Art’s coffee mug revelation long after you’ve forgotten another listicle about decluttering.

But You Still Get the Practical Tools

Part Two: The DeKo Method gives you:

The Bootstrap Method (3 principles that work for any space)
Category-based decluttering (why it works better than room-by-room)
The Curated Memory Test (how to keep meaningful items without keeping everything)
Emergency preparedness protocols (because organization is also about safety)
The Community Catalyst Model (how to declutter with support instead of alone)

Every protocol Art uses in the story, you can use in your home.

What You’ll Get From This Book

The Story (Part One) gives you:

  • Motivation that lasts (because you’re invested in Art’s journey)
  • Understanding of why you avoid (it’s usually emotional, not logistical)
  • Hope that change is possible (even when you’re stuck)
  • A companion on the journey (you’re not doing this alone)

The Method (Part Two) gives you:

  • Step-by-step instructions for every room
  • Decision-making frameworks that eliminate paralysis
  • Troubleshooting for common obstacles
  • Checklists and templates you can use immediately

Together, they create transformation:
The story makes you want to change. The method shows you how.

Who This Book Helps Most

Seniors dealing with accumulated belongings (Art is 72—this is written for your life stage)
People grieving and paralyzed by their loved one’s possessions
Adult children trying to help aging parents (give them this book, not judgment)
Anyone who’s been “about to organize” for months or years
People who’ve tried other decluttering books and failed (this is different)

The Investment

eBook: $2.99 (the price of a coffee—for something that could change your life)
Paperback: $12.99 (less than hiring an organizer for one hour)

What you get:

  • A complete story you’ll finish in one sitting
  • Practical methods you’ll use for years
  • Inspiration that lasts beyond the last page

Start Your Journey Today

If you’re tired of:

  • Feeling overwhelmed by your own home
  • Promising yourself you’ll “deal with it later”
  • Looking at clutter and feeling shame instead of hope
  • Watching your life pass by while you’re buried in stuff

Then start here. Start with Art’s story. Start with proven methods. Start with the understanding that transformation is possible—even when everything feels impossible.

** https://amzn.to/3IShPke**

Your future self will thank you.

And maybe, like Art, you’ll discover that getting your home in order was really about getting your life in order all along.

buymeacoffee.com/philklay

Please buy a green tea for me. Thanks

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