NaNo count: 27,551 words
Super day yesterday in terms of actual seat leather. I picked up two article gigs and was able to get busy on them right away. I have a few of the interview sources lined up already, so it’s a matter of scheduling and getting it done.
I spent some time working on my website redesign. I’m not a designer at all, so it’s taking a bit more time than a professional could manage it in. There’s a certain look I’m going for, and I’m making sure it’s consistent.
Last week and this week have provided some unexpected free time as I wait for word on a few more projects. Let me rephrase – as I market while waiting. We never wait for work without doing anything else.
I was reading Amelia’s blog during a brief break in the action (a.k.a. my concentration). She has a nice post up about productivity and being caught up in what her mom calls “paralysis of analysis.” It’s the story of many things you can do, no direction in which to go first. Amelia, you’re not alone.
Currently, I’m working on NaNo, but I have my website to redesign, too. Plus I have another project that I need to revise, and more marketing to do for the upcoming conference in April (I’m a notorious pre-planner).
So how to do it all? Here’s what works for me:
Prioritizing. I could drop NaNo and get to that website, but NaNo, for me, is a priority. Naturally it’s secondary to client work, but only just. I’ve committed to finishing something rough by the 30th, and I will. My point is this – take your list of musts and wants and figure out which comes first, second, etc.
Scheduling. Now that you know the order, figure out how much time you’ll devote to each one. If you’re working on your novel first, is an hour in the morning enough time, or do you need two hours in the afternoon? Open Outlook and make your appointment. Just be sure to leave a little time open to handle client work and emails should they come in.
Treating it like “real” work. You’d no sooner slack off on a client project than you would gouge your own brain with a fork. Treat your side projects the same. They’re important, as well.
Repeating. Organization works if you’re consistent with it. You can teach yourself to be organized, but it takes practice for some. For others who are born with some gene deformity that won’t let them be late for anything including that first cup of tea in the morning, well, we don’t see what all the fuss is about anyway.
When you have the gift of some free time and lots of projects, do you organize it or do you find yourself sometimes twisting in the wind? How do you handle a long to-do list?
Oooff, this hit me right in the breadbasket.
Long, specific to-do list is WAY preferable to "free time" that should be allocated.
LOL When you put it that way, Jake, I feel like such a buzz killer. 🙂 That free time sounds so…. well, free. 🙂
I will just say this: I've done more this year than I ever thought I was capable of doing. I was so busy, but I kept it all together through prioritizing and being organized. And as a result, I feel extremely accomplished and proud of myself. I think I'm paying for it now, though, because I feel bored if I'm not insanely busy, or I feel like I *should* be doing something. So I'm eager to start slowing down to a normal pace again and enjoying a little free time every once in a while. Soon! I'm certain I will fill the time with things that interest me, including work-related things, but I'm hoping I can do it at a less-than-frantic pace this time 🙂
We love our lists, don't we, Lori?
This week I had two assignments for Favorite Editor (not technically due until the first week of December, but they pay upon acceptance so I want to wrap them up this week, one is already in), and another favorite editor assigned to quick projects that are due Friday (both are well in hand). I have another longer article in the wings, due around December 10, That will involved a lot of TV watching (poor me, I'll double up and get some Christmas knitting/crocheting done at the same time), and a fourth editor just assigned me another article due about the same time.
My priority this week is meeting the Friday deadline while working in as much of the other projects as possible – putting the fast paying client first.
Here's a counterintuitive thing I sometimes do to increase productivity: invite guests over. That forces me to get all the cleaning and cooking done, too. You see, I'm one of those people who use free time to procrastinate, but who can accomplish a lot in a short time when under the gun.
I meant "two," not "to." But you knew that. And "involve" not "involved"….same for all the other typos I undoubtedly have in my previous comment.
hit me too… I'm in the middle of a lot of re-prioritization and finding all sorts of strange things I do that earn no or little money… several articles will come out of this I'm sure.
Ashley, after all those papers and requirements, freelance work ought to be a breeze!
Paula, good strategy. They're all coming on Tuesday. 🙂 I have a full house now, so this should get really interesting really quickly.
Anne, I'd love to see that list! In fact, I should be making one of my own….
Thanks for the link love!
I've been making a list every morning, trying to work in everything I want to get done. So far things are… improving. Not ideal, but better. I've been working on a blog about money issues with my husband and yesterday I got some posts up I'd been procrastinating on. Got a lot done for a private client and finally finished some non-profit work. Whew!
Amazing what a list and a slew of deadlines can do, huh? 🙂