It's been awhile since I talked about time management. Sure, I can offer tips and tricks. Management and/or organization is one of my sick hobbies. Case in point: this past weekend I spring cleaned and re-organized my vegan recipe collection. Need some recipes? Shoot me an email. I know right where they are.Organizing your schedule to allow time for writing is a fantabulous idea, but even the best laid plans can go to Hulubulu Land if other people in your life throw hand grenades at you. Don't panic, though, because that's exactly what this post is all about.
3 Tips For When Your Writing Plans Go Awry
Go with the flow.Fighting against valid time interrupters* is like arguing with a mugger. Just hand over the wallet and cut your losses. Sometimes things come up that are unexpected. Instead of getting all bent out of shape about it, remember that the opposite can be true as well. You might have an event planned to attend that gets cancelled...which frees up some writing time.
*(Pinterest, Facebook & Twitter are NOT valid time interrupters).
Open your eyes.
When unavoidable monkey wrenches are thrown into your schedule, look for opportunities to redeem that time for writing advantages. Example: I'd planned on an afternoon of writing yesterday when I had to run down to the impound lot and retrieve my mom's smashed up car. Wow. Talk about a goldmine! I picked up some great mannerisms and speech patterns that will make memorable secondary characters (there weren't any heroes in the bunch).
Live in the moment.
Don't keep fretting about lost time. In fact, the only 'lost' time is that wasted in bitterness and regrets. Instead, live wherever you happen to be. Soak in every 'unplanned' sensation. Who knows...you might acquire a whole new perspective for your current WIP.
The bottom line is no one likes a cranky writer. Next time your schedule takes a direct hit, suck it up and move on. The most important thing to plan is to plan to have a good attitude.
And don't forget...
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana."
~ Groucho Marx
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5 comments:
Ha ha, funny quote. I'll have to remember that. As a mother of a two year old, I have to plan my writing time for the evenings. Day time just doesn't work, unless Tarzan is napping. And even in the late hours of the night, those time grenades sneak up once in a while.
Btw -- I tagged you in a "teaser test" I took from Lynne Gentry's blog. You don't have to participate in if you'd rather not, just wanted to let you know. :-)
What in the world is a teaser test? Is this a hand grenade? Ah well, I suppose I should take my own advice and toodle over to your site, eh?
Okay, figured it out. Fun! I'll tease tomorrow here at Writer Off the Leash!
Im a person who likes planning and sometimes get dissapointed if something get in a way.But as the years go by, i learned to trust God that whatever comes in my way, then there is reason for it and lessons to learn.
You're right, Joy...God's ALWAYS up to something, eh?
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