Sometimes we writers find we have many projects in the works. I have three novels in the revision stage. I’m developing a fourth one. I also write this blog on a weekly basis and I maintain a daily journal. On top of all that, I work forty hours a week at my day job. It sounds like I’m way busy doesn’t it? I don’t feel it. That’s because I have a schedule. I took stock of my projects and created a list. I set priorities and created the work schedule. I needed to structure my writing time so I could relax and not overwhelm myself with all the things I want to do.
A writing schedule makes it easy to see what I need to do and when I can do it. That’s its job. I also color code the projects so I can keep them separate better. I use Microsoft’s Excel to maintain logs. A log is vital for keeping track of what you are doing. I have an excel file for the three projects I am revising. In it I have a sheet for each project. I list the tasks for each project by chapter. I put a one in the cell for the task as I complete it for each chapter. The rows are set up with an automatic total, which updates another sheet. That’s where I see where I am for each project at a glance. A revision log is vital. Otherwise, you can get lost. You’ll never finish because you won’t know where you are in each project. I have a simple to-do list which includes an item for each project. I look at the day in my writing schedule and decide how much time I have to spend on each project that day. Then I follow the schedule and mark off each item as I complete it.
Juggling your projects is easier when you have a plan. You should customize your plan to you and how you work. Make a plan and get that right first. Then set up your schedule and logs. Keep to the schedule. Use the to-do list to see what you need to do. Then do it. Mark it off the list when you finish it. There are plenty of apps that can help you do what you need to do. All you have to do is keep to your schedule. If you find you can’t, redo the schedule until you can. It’s not that hard to do, but you have to do the groundwork first. Do the setup right and the follow-through will be easy. Good luck and good writing.
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