O is for Organize

This year for the A-Z Challenge, I'm attempting to act like I know what I'm talking about and offering advice about writing.  Let's see how I do!

Also, don't forget to stop by the Parallels blog to see more posts about the upcoming anthology, which will be available on May 3rd!

We all have our own ways of organizing our writing projects.  I think most people I know would label my own organizational scheme as “mildly ordered chaos” or something like that.  Nevertheless, I do actually have ways of keeping track of what I’m doing.  If I didn’t, I’m not sure I’d ever get anything done.

I’m here to share organizational possibilities with you.  At the end of the day, only you can know what organizational tools work for you and your writing.

-Consider using a planner.  This will give you something concrete to look at when you’re trying to remember what you need to finish and when you need to have it finished.

-On your computer, keep separate files for WIPs, finished works, and any stories that you’ve started but subsequently abandoned.  Keeping abandoned stories gives you something to raid when your creative well runs dry.  If you’ve lost these old documents in the shuffle, however, they won’t do you any good.

-Consider organizing your time by setting daily or weekly goals for yourself.

-Above all, use whatever organizational scheme works for you.  Other people may not understand it, but if it suits your needs, that’s what matters.