For the last week or two, I’ve been struggling to get much done. Some of this is due to other things that are happening, but a lot is also due to having quite a list of things that need to be done, and no clear priorities.
Sometimes, I have the idea that I can do more than one thing at once. Like editing and writing at the same time. But what really happens, is when I have a spare moment, I end up dithering about which is more important, and which I should do first, and I end up doing nothing!
So I’m going to go back to the way that I know works. I’m listing my upcoming projects in order of importance/urgency, and going to work though them one at a time!
- Finish proofing my print copy of Reckless Rescue, upload the corrected version to Amazon, and order a new proof
- List some upcoming promotions for Reckless Rescue and Reckless Rebellion
- Review the edits for Reckless Rebellion when I receive them (any day now!)
- Send out ARC copies.
- Finish the rough draft of Twin Curse, edit, and send to editor by last week in September!
That should keep me busy for the next month or so.
How about you? Can you work on multiple things at once, or do you focus better on one task at a time? What’s your priority list looking like right now?
I completely understand this although, for me, the time conflict is built in with trying to fit anything around the daily blog. I’m always torn between writing the blog on my nursery days, so I don’t have to sit up til midnight writing it after the children are in bed, and getting on with my dozens of other projects. I’m desperate to get rid of Baby Blues but finding time to do that final proofread is proving tricky! And I’m so impatient!
The other thing is deciding whether I’m in writing or editing mode. I’m fully in editing mode right now, which is rare for me, and I want to attack all my manuscripts while I’m left brain thinking!
Ugh, blogging. That’s another thing I need to add to my priorities. Why do I keep totally forgetting Monday’s blog? I go between getting ahead, and getting other stuff done too!
Good luck with your editing!
Prioritizing is very important. It helps get the important stuff out of the way first.
Yep. That’s the idea. And it’s working. Kept me focused, even when I wanted to chop and change!
Really do empathise with you, Rinelle. Particularly the struggle between finishing/editing things and getting started on a new story.
Of late, I have entered a few competitions, which has forced me to finish some stories. It seems I work best when I have a solid deadline and stick to it. I have also found that it has been easier to get motivated by alternating between editing older stuff and writing new pieces – it keeps my fleeting mind happy and ensures I don’t get bored!
I am currently dithering over whether to try Nanowrimo again this year. Not sure it’s a good idea when I still have over 60,000 words of an unfinished novel from last year!
Kelly’s Eye – Writing, Music, Life
Yes, I work well with deadlines too!
I’m doing my best to get everything current out of the way before NaNoWriMo, and then I have a clear plan to work on the next book in my series. With this in mind, I’ve booked an editor for my unfinished novel for November, so it has to be done by then! Deadlines help.
Good luck with the competitions!
I definitely always think I can do multiple things at a time, and then end up sitting there debating what to do right then! Having a clear priority list is so important for me. This also helps so that if I really don’t want to do the first thing on the list, I can go ahead and look at the others so I’m at least doing something.
That’s true. A priority list doesn’t necessarily have to be done in order, but having the list stops my mind going in circles.