Archive Post – Time Management

I don’t think I did this last week… Sorry…

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Time Management. It’s one of the biggest struggles of a writer’s life. In order to make a living doing what a writer loves to do, there are schedules and lives to juggle, projects to work in and around, and still words to get on paper or screen.

Most professionals tell new writers the most important part of writing is “applying butt to chair”, and that’s true. A writer gets nowhere without actually sitting down and doing it. But… there’s always a “but”…

I really wish there was a magic formula for getting the butt in the in chair and to get the work done. I would make millions selling the ultimate “proven method”. However, there is no magic bullet. It’s hard work and perseverance, and many times, less than great ideas.

Take this article for instance. I’m writing from the U.S. our Holiday season starts tomorrow with Thanksgiving. Yesterday I had to take off sick, and yet, the commitments are still there. So today, my butt is applied to chair, I’m getting my jobs done before handling family obligations for the rest of the weekend. Is this the most brilliant pep talk in the world? Absolutely not, but the commitment is filled.

What does this have to do with writers, writing, or the publishing industry? Simply put this…it’s better to have less than brilliant or perfect work done on time and under the agreement. A writer who is brilliant but less reliable is one that will get less work. A writer who is dependable, even if less brilliant, will be the one the publishers and editors and companies come back for.

I have always loved J. Michael Stracynski’s career motto: “I am faster than anyone better and better than anyone faster.” I’ve embraced that motto wholeheartedly. Seriously. It’s better to be competent and make or beat deadlines than gloriously brilliant and constantly blow deadlines. If you’re not good at time management and getting things done, then it will come back to haunt you.

Not that reliability grants the right to be sloppy. I’m not saying that. Every effort should be a best effort. There has to be a balance. But if a writer can make the effort, do good work, and maintain their writing commitments, then there lies the basis of a solid career path.