Friday, March 9, 2012

More Time Management Secrets


You DO know that speakers choose topics they most need to hear, right? This is why I'm speaking on Time Management for Part-time Writers at the Inland NW Christian Writers Conference March 16-17.

I need all the help I can get to focus, keep writing when I'm tempted to watch re-runs of Monk, and keep my booty in the chair. You too?

Here are a few tips from my syllabus: 
Make your goals realistic and measurable. Put dates on them, so you can check them off or erase them when you reach them. 

Know your distracters, so you can avoid or manage them. Mute your phone and email notification; put a Do Not Disturb sign on your door; go to the library, café or park—whatever it takes to get the muse flowing.

As a seed, give some time helping another writer accomplish his or her goals. Expect the Lord to give you a harvest of time to write.

Be accountable to someone you trust. Say, “I will start the article for Messy Moms Magazine by March 31st.” Ask them to call you and make sure you followed through.

Ask the Lord to reveal to you what deeper need in your life is overriding the need to become organized and to manage your time wisely.

Any you'd like to add?

 

13 comments:

  1. Where is your conference?

    Great advice.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  2. I love the know your distracters and the accountability one.

    Good insight.
    ~ Wendy

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  3. These are great, Jen. I know you will do a wonderful job! I appreciate this; I needed to be reminded about those things that distract me. I am sometimes up to my ears with them and then realize what's happening. Good stuff! You are a blessing! :)

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  4. Jeanette:
    "Know your distractors" hmmm.
    Sometimes I am my own distraction. Sometimes Hubby is a distraction.
    When Son calls us, I can't not talk to him. I'll have to rethink the others.

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  5. Great advice...okay, okay, I'm going to stop piddling around on the Internet and write my book!

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  6. Good afternoon~

    I like the "know your distractors" and have someone to be "accountable" with. I so need that, since many a time I am a procrastinator, although I find I do my best work when I am in a time crunch. Not always a good thing!

    You will be AMAZING at the conference...relax and enjoy it!

    Blessings~
    Laura

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  7. Hi Jen -

    Great suggestions! I particularly like the one about giving some time to another writer. Thank you for planting some "seeds" in my life.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  8. Great tips! I especially love goals and lists. I definitely get more accomplished when I write down what I want to do and aim to cross it off.

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  9. Have fun at the conference! This will be great on your bio. :)

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  10. Good advice! Some I know-but making myself do it is hard. :P Thanks.

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  11. sounds great!! these are good tips for anyone!!
    good luck!

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Oh, it's YOU! I'm so happy to see you here today, and look forward to reading your comments.