Get more writing done! This handout was from one of the Creative Purrsuits new writers workshops. It will help you create a do-able writing schedule.
Time scheduling will not make you totally efficient, you have to have some flexibility. Very few people can rigorously keep a detailed schedule day after day over a long period of time. If you structure your time too closely, you risk getting rigid and discouraged, and that is when the time plan goes out the window.
Try breaking your time plan into sections to establish long term, intermediate, and short term writing goals. The important thing is to SET GOALS for yourself and at the end of each week take stock of your accomplishments then set up for the following week.
Long Term Schedule – do this monthly Intermediate Schedule – do this weekly Now make a short list of PROJECTS and HOW MUCH WRITING is to be accomplished this week. You may also want to include creative activities. For example: Monday – Set up new word program to format my manuscripts and practice using it. Write in my writing journal. Tuesday – Start an outline for my short story and fill out my short story character chart. Record my daily writing observations and accomplishments in my writing journal. Wednesday – Write my short story without editing it. Record thoughts and emotions etc. in journal (you might prefer to set a word count such as write 500 words today.) Thursday - Do a first edit, read aloud. Edit as needed..leave it, record thoughts in writing journal. Friday - Re-read my short story aloud and fix anything that needs it. Get it ready for submission. These projects will change from week to week and be sure to make a NEW LIST FOR EACH WEEK. Keeping a close watch on what you are doing will help you to refine your schedule as time progresses. Writing faithfully in your writing journal will reinforce the habit of scheduling and may uncover new ideas about yourself and your writing. Short Term Schedule – One per day On a small notecard, each evening before going to bed, (or early each morning,) make out a specific writing schedule for the day. Consult your weekly and monthly calendar schedule so you don’t leave out anything important. Write down WHAT is to be accomplished on the next day. Such a schedule might include: Saturday 1:00 – 1:30 start freewriting on next writing project CARRY THIS CARD WITH YOU and cross out each item as you accomplish it. It is simple, but it works. By doing this you are making writing a priority, and to be a successful writer you must give your writing a chance to develop. My examples are just to give you the idea of how to structure your writing sessions, you’ll have to arrange your timeframes according to your available hours. Regular monitoring when first setting up your writing schedule will allow you to decide just how much time you WANT or HAVE to devote to this exciting new activity.
Construct a schedule for your fixed commitments only. These include research, networking, learning, any deadline work for submission, web surfing for writing related tasks.
8:00 – 9:00 AM – Read newspaper, magazines or book for story ideas and take notes.
9:00 – 9:30 Make an list of ideas and short notes on each.
1:30 do writing related email or online networking.