Last week you were given Tips 1-3 for Time Management. Here are tips 4-6 to help you manage your time, so you will be able to find more time for your writing.
- Set Writing Goals
What do you want to accomplish in your writing? Dream big, and then break those ambitions into small goals that are specific and achievable. I do not recommend that beginners start with books. Writing a book is like eating an elephant, and you don’t want to end up with indigestion. Begin with articles or church school take-home papers.
Writing goals should include three things:
- They must be specific.
- They need to be measurable.
- They must have a time factor.
Perhaps a realistic goal for you would be an article a month. In a year, you would have 12 articles or stories.
Now for those of you who want to write books, at first the thought may seem overwhelming. Lee Roddy is a well-known fiction author and speaker who challenges you to write a page a day. If you do this, in a year you’ll have 365 pages, which is about two trade-size books. Of course, that doesn’t include the time needed for editing.
- Remain Flexible
What are your writing goals for the next five years? Remain flexible. Yet, stretch yourself so you will grow and learn. Step out in faith and allow God to work through you to accomplish goals that will glorify Him.
Sometimes circumstances change, and your goals must change also. Be willing to change. Unforeseen circumstances can creep into your life.
- Set Aside a Regular Time to Write Each Day
Pick a time when you are most creative and efficient. Writing takes a tremendous amount of energy. If you have small children, that might be nap time. If you have school-age children, write while they are gone. You’ll accomplish much more if the house is quiet. If you work, it will need to be in the evenings or early mornings. If you are a night owl, write when everyone else has gone to bed.
Tips 7-9 will be given in next week’s blog.