Organizing a Disorganized Writer

I travel all over the Ozarks speaking to various writing groups spanning all genres. I hear one complaint throughout every group: “I can’t get very much accomplished; I don’t have enough time; what am I doing wrong?” The answer lies on the writer’s desk. If you spend most of your allotted writing time looking for things, you won’t get much accomplished. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your time:

Everyone wants to be their own boss, but this freedom has its setbacks. Housework, yard work, and procrastination can hinder your work if you let them. Schedule time to write and let others know you are at work. Create a “writer at work” sign and post it on your door if needed to help prevent interruptions.

Keep a calendar or a planner nearby and write a daily “to-do” list on it. Prioritize this list the night before. This will give you a clearly defined goal for the day. Without a goal it’s easy to waste time. Remember, time is precious; you only have so much of it.

Keep a ‘time log’ to manage your work schedule. This will allow you to see how much time you actually spend working, and it will help at tax time as well. A submission tracker is another great organizational tool. This will help you focus on other things rather than resubmitting your work to the same publishing house.

Organizing your desk can be a daunting task for some. Organization means different things to different personalities. Here are a few tips to get your desk as organized as possible:

Create a filing system for all your research documents and office supplies. Sort all your papers into labeled file folders. Keeping your projects in separate folders will allow easy access. Research should be filed by topic and should be limited.

Using an online dictionary and thesaurus will save space on your bookshelf. Research can be saved in file folders on your computer to save room in your filing cabinet—and to save trees. Pens and pencils can be stored in a desk organizer or even a cup, but they should not be scattered everywhere.

Organization is key to relieving tax time stress. Keep track of your business mileage on a calendar/planner throughout the year. Then make a spreadsheet to show your totals. Keep your receipts and log them on your spreadsheet as they come in. Track your sales and profits on your spreadsheet. Update your records monthly; don’t wait until December. Remember, more organization equals less stress.

It’s OK to say “no”: Say “‘no” to unnecessary, time-consuming tasks. These unneeded tasks waste valuable time you could be spending with your family and friends. (That is the whole reason behind being your own boss, right?)

LOG OFF of Facebook regularly: Social networking is a very important marketing resource, but don’t spend too much time on them. This also applies to web surfing/research.

Go green: You don’t have to print every word of research. Save it into a file on the computer and save a few more trees. (Plus that will help your desk stay clean.)

It’s OK to throw things away: I know some writers have a difficult time throwing things in the trash, but sometimes it is necessary. Don’t keep every scrap of paper you’ve ever printed. If it is not pertinent to your current project, file it or tos

Organizational supplies can be tailored to fit your budget, style, and office space. A filing cabinet is helpful, but it can be replaced by hanging file folders, or even three-ring binders. Labels, post-it notes, and bookmarks are needed and can be kept in a drawer or a plastic storage box. Desk organizers can hold writing utensils, scissors, and staplers. If you don’t have an organizer, use a coffee mug or drinking glass.

Even if you lack the craving for organizational containers, boxes and folders, you can still organize your desk. Find new and tailored ways to organize your workspace. You will be surprised at how much more you can accomplish in a day.