Keeping Updated To-Do Lists
Another technique that many writers use for avoiding deadline overload is keeping updated to-do lists. These are similar to the grocery lists you may keep on your kitchen refrigerator, reminding you of things you need to pick up at the store. In the case of to-do lists for writing, the information starts out in your computer.
Start by creating a Word document that you can save on your desktop or in another location that you visit every day. The idea here is not to make a to-do list that you update from time to time, but instead to create a list that will be a daily, almost constant reminder of the work that needs your attention first.
If you don't have a file location on your computer that you look at every day, then you can print out your to-do list as a Word document and keep it on top of your physical desk, crossing out items as you go and then updating your electronic file once or twice a week.
There are a couple of options for organizing your to-do list. One option is not necessarily better than the next; you simply need to determine which method fits with your particular writing style and schedule.
Listing Assignments by Date
Listing assignments by date can be helpful, even if you already note assignments on the dates they are due on your calendar. Why? Because while the calendar notations will help you ensure that you don't get yourself into a deadline crunch, the to-do list will help you prioritize the work you need to do on any single day.
Here's how a to-do list might look if organized by date:
“Women Who Love Carbs,” for
“Yard Work That Burns Calories,” for
Requested, researched query about fad diets for
“10 Best Butts in Show Business,” 100 words per profile, for
“Raising a Daughter with a Good Body Image,” for
Notice that there isn't much detail in each line. The listings are just the basics, reminders of sorts that will keep you focused on the assignment you have due next. You will be able to update this kind of list easily — simply deleting the line at the top when you finish the work — and you can refer to your assignment letters for specific details about the actual assignments themselves.
Listing Assignments by Publication
Some writers prefer to keep their deadline dates organized by using their calendar, while at the same time keeping a to-do list that helps them see the overall scope of the work they have promised to various magazines at once. Again, this is no better or worse than any other method. It's just a different technique that may work better for you — especially if you typically work for only a few magazines but have several assignments pending with each at any given time.
A to-do list organized by publication might look something like this:
Having a solid understanding of the total workload you have already accepted is just as important as knowing which stories are due first. This is because when good last-minute opportunities arise, you want to be able to jump at them.
