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| Melinda Viergever Inman |
Many of us balance writing careers while working full-time,
raising a family, or both. Some writers are working through college, fulfilling
numerous church responsibilities, living with a chronic illness, caring for
elderly family members, or any number of pressing responsibilities or living
circumstances.
Time pressure is one of the most discouraging obstacles to
achieving our writing goals, sustaining focus on our work, and maintaining
inner peace and tranquility. God orchestrates detours, interruptions, and
changes of plan for our good—I wrote about this last month—but what about
organizing our time, so we’re able to flex?
The majority of us aren’t reclining in the sun, ringing for
the butler to bring another drink, and thinking deep thoughts while twiddling
our thumbs. If the only demands upon a writer were these, there would be no
need to discuss time pressure.
Instead, even long before publication, we must build a
website, establish a platform, and gather a tribe. These relationships must be
legitimate, comprised of ongoing interactions, so when that book finally
appears, people will want to read it.
So, for your encouragement, I share with you some free tools
that have enabled me to better manage my time.
The most important timesaving strategies for any writer are:
- To understand our own best working strategies,
- To learn to make and to juggle a schedule,
- To utilize timesaving tools.
Writing requires discipline. We must grab the moments we are
given to write. But how do we clear the way for that to happen?
If you’ve never been published, I encourage you to discover
what kind of environment you need for your best work and what time of day aids
your creativity. After you publish, writing will become even more complicated,
so notice now what works for you and do everything you can to accommodate your
preferences.
Prioritize. Then schedule the priorities. Two task
management tools help.
Google
Calendar allows users to color-code tasks, and it links to our
electronic devices, keeping our schedules handy wherever we go. With schedule
in hand, whenever anything interferes with a planned writing time—and something
will, we’re able to immediately adjust and reschedule. Then our writing isn’t
forgotten. It’s merely bumped to a different timeslot. It’s encouraging to see
that scheduled writing time still awaiting us.
Every time I open a new computer tab, Prioritab displays my goals for the month, week, and day. A running
clock shows how much time is left. This app keeps me focused on my goals and
aware of my deadlines.
Since writers have to utilize social media for our platform
building, even though these sites can rob our time, I use these three tools to
keep my social media time under control: RescueTime,
Buffer, and Hootsuite.
Behind the scenes, RescueTime measures my computer tasks.
Weekly it emails me the exact percentage spent on everything I do, including
social media. This encourages me to guard my time.
Hootsuite and Buffer, which works better with Twitter, both
allow me to schedule many social media posts ahead of time. This is a timesaver
during campaigns. It also helps me avoid the distraction of social media
interaction while I’m writing.
Finding good photos for blog posts and design needs can be
time-consuming. These sites offer free, no-strings attached photographs: LifeofPix.com and Unsplash.com. To create media images with
these professional-quality photos, I use Canva.com,
the easiest free design website.
Don’t forget to secure your documents. One handy security
tool is Dropbox, which allows you to
access your manuscript, even if your computer blows up or accidentally takes a
swim in the Potomac.
There’s a short learning curve for apps and efficiency
tools; but, once utilized, the weight of time pressure will lift. Now that I
have a chronic illness, the fact that I’ve employed these tools enables me to
continue to write and publish.
That’s a win-win situation.
Find the links for most of these tools and many more: http://www.seanogle.com/guest-posts/41-productivity-tools
If you missed the recent article on organization by Jennifer
Hallmark, check it out: http://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-organized-writer-by-jennifer.html
Love
takes action: The Creator God establishes the cosmos and shapes a man. Adam
rises from the dust. Envious, the powerful angel Lucifer despises him.
Oblivious to the threat, Adam is captivated by his strong, intuitive wife Eve.
In the Garden of Eden, they enjoy abundant food, gorgeous vistas, and
intriguing challenges, including their budding love and passion. They have it
all!
But
Lucifer’s deceptive brilliance tricks them into disobeying God. They eat the
one forbidden fruit. Their innocence is shattered. Their unity with one another
and with God is destroyed. Death will follow. Lucifer’s jealousy threatens
mankind’s tenuous beginning. But God is merciful. What astonishing promise does
He make? How will Adam and Eve survive—broken, shattered, and separated from God?
Melinda Viergever Inman was
raised in the tornado capital of the U.S. - Wakita, Oklahoma, of
"Twister" fame. There her parents met. There her roots were sunk in a
storytelling family. During years of relocation, tragedy struck. Wounded and
heartbroken, Melinda forsook her roots and ran from herself and from God. A
journey of trial and heartache brought her home again. A prodigal now returned
to her secure foundation, she writes with passion, illustrating God's love for
wounded people as he makes beauty from ashes. Fallen is her second novel, Refuge
her first. Melinda shepherds women in church and prison ministry and writes
inspirational material on her biweekly blog at http://melindainman.com/blog/ . With
her family she is involved with Mission India, rescuing orphans and providing
theological and job training for impoverished students— http://rimi.org/.
Connections:
