When I first started this novelist journey, I wasn’t consistent with my writing. I would go in spurts and stop literally for months at a time. I learned that for me to finish a novel and get it ready for submission, I would have to get organized.
I learned the value of making writing “to-do” lists. My lists helped me finish my first novel and now I’ve come back to my lists to help me get through the process of my second novel.
These are some of the things I’ve learned that work for me when I create my writing to-do list:
Determine your time frame. Do you like to cross out tasks once a day? Or do you like to review your list once a week and monitor your progress? The answer will help you figure out the best approach to manage your list.
Make your tasks specific. A general to-do task of “work on novel” may not get the same results as a task of “write two pages” or “write 250 words”. When you have specific goal, it’s easier to measure your progress with a clear deliverable.
Try to be realistic. Do you really think you can write 100 pages a day when you have other responsibilities? Make sure the tasks on your list are attainable so that you won’t be discouraged. You want to challenge yourself but you also want to be sure that the tasks on your list can be achieved reasonably.
Celebrate your progress. When you complete your tasks, be sure to celebrate your progress. Writing a novel is hard and every word you create inches you closer to the finish line. Instead of thinking about how much you left have to do, appreciate how far you’ve come and the work you’ve already completed.
Right now, I’m doing daily lists. At night before I go to bed, I think about what tasks I want to accomplish the next day. Sometimes I get a little ambitious and I may put down more than I can accomplish but I don’t stress out about it, I just move it to the next day’s list. I find that concentrating on daily specific tasks keep me from getting overwhelmed.
For my daily celebrations, I usually treat myself to a square of mint chocolate. And I already have my eye on beautiful bracelet as a gift to myself when I finish my novel.
I don’t do daily lists. But it’s all in my head. I am very motivated but also realize that life gets in the way – and that’s okay!
This is a great post Karen. I really need to create a list that I can note for daily accomplishments. I like the idea of a special gift for myself too. ;0)
I’ve been the queen of unrealistic goals lately. Or rather, they’d be realistic if I was in charge of the weather, my day job, and everything my husband thinks and/or decides to do. So yeah. Unrealistic goals. ;-)
I normally make a weekly goal list on my blog. I have “to do” lists that are daily reminders, but I have a bad habit of not looking at them (they’re automatically recurring in my pda). Only those appts with alarms are paid attention. I think perhaps it’s time to get realistic with myself, and start actively using *daily* lists again, so I can be more realistic about what I have time for in the context of what’s going on around me.
If only I could control my universe… LOL
I do lists for work, and it helps me out. I haven’t really done it with my novel, though I should. So many things get in the way and I have no one to blame but myself. Sigh. I go through spurts of productivity. But I really should get organized.
Laura: Right now my brain is so scattered, I think my mental list would get lost in the shuffle. Ha. But it’s good to not be so hard on yourself when “life” happens.
Kristi: You should definitely get your eye on something special to celebrate when you finish your novel. Every time you see/wear it, you’ll be reminded of how you accomplished your goal of finished novel.
Jamie: I think you’re pretty organized! But I can relate on unrealistic goals. In January my goal was to be *finished* with my novel 6/30. And although it’s “done” it’s not “done well” and I have another good revision round to do this year. Yes, if *only* the Universe revolved around us. Ha.
Tiana: I must do lists for work because I’ll get in hot water if something falls through the cracks. However, when it comes to my writing, I have no one to “answer” to so it’s a little harder. This is why I’m doing the daily lists — at least I can feel less like a loser if I can just cross off *one* thing on my writing to do list.
Such a great post, Karen. Just what I needed to read today. :)
I do need to assign a specific time frame to my tasks, otherwise I would go on forever on the same thing (I get absorbed and forget about the rest, and that includes forgetting to eat).
As a writer, to-do list are as important as drinking water, to me.
Nathalie: One thing that I’ve learned is that when I’m away from my novel project for a span of time, it’s very hard to get back into its world. So my daily lists help me at least have some type of exposure to my novel in a consistent manner.
Little steps add up!
I don’t do lists. My hubby & daughter are great list writers and list followers. I get depressed :) So I just wing it!
Jemi: As writers, we learn what works for us. Hey, if winging it works for you, wing it! Ha.
Burn the lists! LOL.
Unfortunately for me, if I wing it, this novel will never get done — I’m the queen of procrastination.
I often try (and fail) to use to-do lists. I think they’re great for keeping yourself accountable and on track. I’m definitely trying again, and keeping my goals more accountable this time. :)