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.
I am not one who is comfortable talking about myself but here goes. I enjoy writing, family history, and reading. I decided to do this blog because I wanted to try something new. I decided to make it a weekly blog because I wasn't sure that I could keep up with a daily one, and monthly seemed like I was writing a magazine. I think I did ok with my choices. You'll notice that there are not a lot of graphics on my site. That's because there are graphics plastered everywhere on the Internet and those sites sometimes take forever to load. This blog is a place where you can kick back, relax and be ready to be amused. At least I hope I willbamuse you. This blog is on a variety of subjects from my ficitional cat agency, the FFL, which is monthly, to instructional blogs to editorials, which are my opinions only. I admit that I don't know everything and could be wrong -- I frequently am. Now, stop reading about me and read what I have to say!
Check out my novel, The Accidental Colony — It's the story of a group of scientists fighting for survival.
FCIS: The Tricolor Killer is now available on Smashwords
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