Last week you were given Tips 5-8 for time management. Here are tips 9-12 to help you manage your time, so you will be able to find more time for your writing.
9. Organize Your Work
Keep your home office looking professional. Organize each writing project in a file folder. Label each folder as you obtain ideas for articles or books. What may start out as an article file on “Dealing with Stress” may turn into a book five years down the road. Place everything you find regarding that subject in your file folder.
10. Keep Accurate Financial Records
Keep a ledger of expenses and income for your writing. Excel is an excellent Windows computer program for keeping financial records. If you are making a serious attempt to run a business, you can write off the expenses on your tax return. Get receipts for your postage, office supplies, telephone calls, and dinners with editors. Also, if you drive to an interview or other job-related function, mileage can be deducted.
Keep track of your submissions—what is out in circulation, where you sent it, and when you mailed it.
11. Avoid Procrastination
Have you heard people say, “I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I’m going to write when the children grow up, when I retire, when my husband retires… Someday, when I have the time, I’m going to…” If you are going to become a writer, you need to start right now.
12. Touch the Lives of Others
Writing is 99 percent perspiration and one percent inspiration. It takes a little talent, a strong desire, and a lot of hard work. If you manage your time properly, you will find time to write. Remember what I said at the beginning: God gives us enough hours to do all that He wants us to do. We have 86,400 seconds every day. Let’s use this time to glorify God in all we do.