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Book Giveaway!
Helloooooo fellow writers! I’ve got two books to giveaway this month- well, two of the same book. This month’s book is the Bylines Writers Calendar, and yours truly is featured the week of December 10, 2010. Fun fun!
I like this book, because it is about organization and gives ideas specifically for writers. Want one? Simply leave me a comment with an organization tip (writerly or otherwise). On Wednesday the 27th, my silent partner will choose TWO random numbers and I will mail a nice, fresh copy to each winner. We’ll deal with your address, etc, over email- it’s all private!
We just bought storage containers that have wheels on the bottom for storing things under our bed. One of them has computer program software Like Microsoft Office, Quicken, Restore Discs) in it, and the other stores surplus school & office supplies. Makes things much easier when I run out of pens or pencils, etc.
I have one … empty your workspace of everything except the project you are working on to avoid becoming distracted.
My son recently showed me how to make folders in my favorite files. I’m going through and and making folders for each of my novels. I do a lot of research on line and this is helping me to keep track of the info. I click on the title all the websites are there. It’s so easy and I can’t accidently delete anything. I’m also keeping track of diffrent magazines and contests I want to enter this year.
Hi Allena! Beth here from Premium Green. My writerly organization tip is to hand write my specific goals for the each month and keep that list by my computer. That way, I know exactly what I need to work on and I can refer to it whether or not my computer is on. I can also look back and see proof that I’ve accomplished project goals every month.
My tip for organizing is just to quote that age old expression, “The early bird catches the worm.” Not that I follow this myself, I just happen to know that I should practice it. It’s so darned hard to get up any earlier than you absolutely have to.
This is probably old news for a lot of writers, but I over-organize my stuff. I have separate documents for every scene, in chapter folders, which are inside story folders. Research is kept separate, with folders for characters, backstories and even story ideas. Then I toss first draft copies into a SEPARATE folder for safe keeping 🙂
It has been working for me!
~Mike
Hi Allena!
My organizational tip is to read and then file, print out, and/or delete e-mail immediately so important items don’t get lost in the shuffle. Now all I have to do is listen to my own advice!
Allena,
I’ve heard great things about this calendar. One of my organizational tricks is a white board in plain view of my computer. All deadlines – articles, fiction, contests – go on this, so I always have a quick overview of all my projects. The erasable part means I can update at will.
Lisa 🙂
I’ve recently gotten in the habit of using a Project Management System called Project Pier. It’s an open-source platform that installs into a web host using a MySQL database. I’m not just establishing myself as a freelancer, but I’m bringing a couple friends along for the ride, who each have different skills, so we can offer a wide array of services and the ability to tackle larger projects as a group. This allows me to assign members to certain projects, set due dates, milestones, tasks, etc., and even create profiles for the clients so they can see progress, drafts, whatever. To be honest, I haven’t had a great need for it yet because we’re still in planning stages, but just the physical act of putting something in there keeps it more active in the back of my mind, and it allows me to keep tabs that much more effectively. And, it can send out email reminders or updates.
I personally love 3-ring binders with protective sleeves. Perfect for organizing clips, etc. 🙂
And congrats on getting published in the Bylines Writers Calender!
When trying to organize writing opportunities, I put all immediate concerns in a five-pocket portfolio (including a draft of the project and guidelines/rules of entry). Each project gets its own pocket.
Then I have a large binder for projects I would want to pursue in the future.
I find if I want my office to be organized then I have to know what I’ll realistically do. I know me better than to think I’ll neatly file away every article I rip out of a writing magazine, so instead I have a box where I slip them all in. That way they’re all in the same place instead of cluttering up my desk until they fall on the floor and end up in the trash.
Something that helps me organize? Yay!
Thanks for the chance to win!
All the best,
Elizabeth
My tip is colored folders–different folders for differnet types of jobs. Then, when someone calls and my desk is littered with folders I can snatch theirs up and say, “It’s right here.”
I love BYLINES, and would love to have one of these calendars. My organization tip for writers is to use your calendar like a bible. No seriously, if I have an interview due in a month, on my calendar the first week, I write “must contact interview subject.” The second week I write “check in with interviewee.” The third week, I write when the interview is due to me (if it was one of those I send the questions and they send the answers back). And then the fourth week of course the due date is HIGHLIGHTED on my calendar. That’s how I keep track of long term writing projects. I also schedule my creative writing in there, too. Love calendars! 🙂
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It’s so easy for a writer to become overwhelmed with his or her projects — it happens to me all the time. I’ve found I absolutely MUST rely on my calendar for even the smallest detail of my schedule. Then, at the end of the year, that same calendar is stashed in a specific drawer as somewhere along the way, it became somewhat of a journal of my life that year. It kept my life organized, with loose notes paperclipped between the pages, as well as tons of sticky notes. Looking back through it, I find phone numbers and addresses that need to be copied and filed for future use, as well. Yes, without my calendar, I would be totally lost!
This is the greatest list of org tips for writers I’ve seen! I love it!
I swear by my Microsoft Outlook Calendar (Google or Yahoo Calendars are awesome as well). I add a note of any and all details I have going on and put a date and time as an appointment to remind me. It avoids the stacks of post-it notes on my computer, and it allows me to track certain tasks that I may need to do again, so I can make it a re-occurring appointment if needed.
It has kept me on schedule and tasked amazingly.
I use the last business day of the month, no matter what day of the week it is, to take the afternoon and get my office space in order. Desk, floor, walls, files, everything.
I have found that when I write a freelance piece, if I put all my information, resources, pictures, lists of websites into one folder under the title of the piece, I never pull my hair out wondering where I found a bit of information. This is also great if I want to redo a piece I have previously written or I am looking for information similar to the prior article.
Bylines is a great resource for writers. I would love to have one. One thing that helps me get organized is using colored folders. Submissions in blue, rejections in red, etc.
Donna Volkenannt
Throw out the ‘In tray’ and the ‘Out tray’, the ‘pending ‘ and ‘to read’ trays and any other trays – all they do is help you procrastinate and create a bigger job for later. Deal with papers as they come into your hands and life suddenly gets lighter!
Oops, guys, didn’t realize Google was messin’ with me today. 🙂 Keep the great list going!
When I am writing a book and organizing it, I put the chapters on a separate page and list them out. I think about what the best way to organize it and how I can make the chapters flow. It helps me cut chapters and organize them in a format that will flow for the reader.
Whenever I hear about a market of interest, I print out the Guidelines and file the old-fashioned way in a 3-ring-binder. This provides a good visual for me and allows me to sit on my couch to do a bit of research. Of course, I always check the website for updates before actually submitting!
My husband chose two random numbers for the book giveaway– Donna V and Mary L. Send me your mailing address at tapia@msu.edu ladies! Congrats to all, and what a great resource this list is!!
Hi Allena,
All the suggestions for organizing are great, and I’m so excited to have my number selected as one of the winners. Please thank your husband.
Donna Volkenannt
http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.com