Tackling Time Management

When I was first asked to be a contributing writer to a new column on time management, at first I groaned a little inside. Me, a super creative, “big idea,” not-that-organized, hate-the-business-end author, short on “time” and not that strong on “management” – more or less like most of us I’m guessing – I was being asked to write about time management!

Still, since I do have a lot of experience juggling a full-time author/ speaker/ book coach business with a marketing director career and blended family of five kids and two grandkids…and since I figured it would help me to help you on this subject, of course I couldn’t’ say no!

If you are a writer who often feels overwhelmed, can’t get everything done in a day, or are losing your “joy” in the busyness of it all, then you’re in the right place! Here are few basic practical pointers – things that have helped me along the way – that I hope will help you get started in better managing your time:

Have a Plan.

Wherever you are on your journey, you need to stop in your tracks and if you haven’t already done so, WRITE DOWN YOUR PLAN (write out your vision, mission, goals and action steps to carry out those goals). Write your plan for one year with 3-5 major “big goals”, 10 goals to accomplish those goals, and action step lists per quarter, month, week and day, being realistic yet aiming high with those lists. If you want a good guide to do this read The Success Principles by Jack Canfield (author of Chicken Soup for the Soul). I’ve heard him speak and he is a great example of how to achieve success by following a plan.

Schedule Your Writing Time.

To write my last novel while juggling all of my other “jobs” and life in general, I scheduled a block of writing time every day (except Sunday) from 7 am to 1 pm. Everything else – cell phone, emails, social media, even all of the people in my life – were turned off, put on hold or put aside. The ONLY THING I allowed myself to do during that time was write. I figured I could usually knock out an average of three pages every two hours – so that meant writing 9-10 pages every day.

If you’re working 6 days a week writing 10 pages a day, or 60 pages a week, you can complete a 300-page novel in five short weeks! (I know this is not feasible for those working day jobs but it should give you hope that if you schedule time and stick to it, you can get that book of yours done in a matter of months.) After the writing was complete, I spent the same blocked-off time in editing until it was good to go!

Don’t be so hard on yourself.

I had a student in my writing class at Cecil College in Maryland named Faith. She was writing a memoir and she was a great student. But I’ll never forget the first class she took (I was actually speaking about time management!). During a break, Faith came up to me and asked, “are you still considered a real writer if you don’t write every day?” I answered, “of course!” and encouraged her to do what worked for her. She broke down in tears of relief. I came to find she was holding back for years on writing her book because she was afraid she wasn’t a “real” writer!

Be Realistic.

There are only so many hours in a day. I usually try to pack in way too many things – I usually have high expectations of myself and others…but often that leads only to disappointment, resentments and frustration. Don’t make promises or to-do lists you can’t possibly keep.

Trust God’s Timing.

Sure you have to do the work here on earth but always try to be where your feet are (stay in today) and do what you can, then let the rest go or give it to God in faith that He has a plan for you too!

Finally, like life, time management is all about balance. My next blog post will be about priorities and choices. Stay tuned!

Michele Chynoweth is the award-winning author of The Faithful One, The Peace Maker and The Runaway Prophet, contemporary suspense/romance novels based on Old Testament stories in the Bible that get across God’s messages to today’s readers through edgy, fast-paced fiction. Michele is also an inspirational speaker, college instructor on book writing, publishing and marketing, and book coach/editor who helps writers become successful authors. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she and her husband have a blended family of five children.

Social Media/Website Links:

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