The Writing Schedule

Writing schedules are a good idea when you have more than one work in progress. Having many pieces in progress is the norm for me. I have some that I’m planning, some that I’m writing and a lot that I need to edit. That includes blogs, novels and short stories. That’s how I write. I use a spreadsheet for them. I have a list of blog topics that I write from as well. I assign everything a deadline and write to that deadline.

You don’t need a spreadsheet to do it. All you need is a notebook or a simple word processor document. A simple list will do the trick. What you need to do is figure out which one is the one you need to work on first. That’s it. You make a list of the projects you have in progress. Determine what stage of the writing process you are at with each piece. Then assign them a priority. Once you have done that, you can set up a series of deadlines. Write the piece by this date, edit it by that one. I have those. I have what I call soft deadlines, which only means I can miss them without getting down on myself. Life happens and so does writer’s block.

You can use a writing schedule to overcome writer’s block, you know. If you are finding it hard to write a particular piece, you can check your schedule and pick the next one to write. Or edit another piece. It doesn’t matter. Writer’s block is usually telling you that there’s something wrong with what you are writing. Having something else to do in the meantime, helps you stay productive. Then you can go back to the problem writing piece and usually solve the problem.

Having a schedule can help you figure out what you should be doing and when. It’s a simple concept which is why it works. If you want, you can use a calendar to make your schedule. All you need to do is say what you want to do and when. Spend the morning writing new text. Spend the afternoon editing. I don’t say edit what you wrote that morning. Edit something else. It gives you time to work on everything you have to work on.

Having a schedule for your writing can also help you find time to write. You have a spare half hour? Look to your schedule and see what you have the time to work on. It can help you save your spare time for writing in your busy life. Of course, as with all my writing advice, I base this on what works for me. Give it a try and you may find it works for you as well.

About pebblepup

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!