My Writing Ramblings: To-Do Lists Are My Friends

This week has been a mixture of being productive and retreating into a book with an occasional need to hide over the covers. The weather is less than inspiring. I am one of those annoying people who love snow as long as I don’t have to drive in it. I think snow is what we should be getting if it’s going to be this cold.

It’s certainly one day at a time for me right now but I am still constantly thinking about my novel and have been setting myself the challenge this week of doing thirty minutes a day of novel planning. It’s amazing how much you can get done in that time provided you don’t get distracted.

My seven hundred and fifty words streak is still going strong. I am currently on my four hundredth and twenty-seventh day. It is such a good tool as I can use it to bash out ideas, write fiction or just empty my head. My latest habit has been to include a hundred words inspired by a prompt so it’s at least making sure I am writing a piece of fiction every day as well as giving me some great ideas for future work.

This week, I’ve also been making the most of to-do lists. I have always been a list maker. I love them and have always been a fan. When  I was a teenager, I couldn’t start my homework without making a list of what I had to do (I will forget the fact that I still left some of it until the last-minute.)

I am sure though that without my lists, I wouldn’t get anything done at all. It would all just remain a bottomless pit of mess in my head.

I divide my lists into sections. The first one is general which is house related, bills, housework and errands etc., Then there’s Novel Kicks and finally writing.

I’ll then highlight each item different colours to correspond with the specific selection it goes with (I am not always good at putting things in order so this helps me.)

I will then use a post it note to cover all but one item at a time so it doesn’t get too overwhelming.

It’s a simple way of doing it but it does seem to be working for me.

It means that I know what I need to get out-of-the-way before I can settle down and embark on the time I’ve set aside for writing.

It also means that I can tick off items as I go along. There is something lovely and satisfying about being able to cross something out as achieved and to see that I am actually being productive.

Also, once I’ve completed each item, it gives me a reason to have a tea break. That’s always good in my opinion.

What’s your system for getting organised?

Until next week writing people.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.