Writers Have to Be Jugglers: Tips for Managing Multiple Projects at Once

Edie here. Today I want to give a shout out to Linda Gilden and her co-author, Linda Goldfarb. Their newest book, LINKED Quick Guide to Personalities: Maximizing Life Connections One Link at a Time, just won first place in the Golden Scroll awards. I want to say, CONGRATULATION!

Writers Have to be Jugglers
by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

Even if writers maintain a strict schedule and finite office hours, part of almost every day will include juggling. Why?

Many writers work at home. That means the household chores beckon. If you get up from your computer just long enough to start a load of laundry but pass an unmade bed on the way or just a few dishes that need to be put in the dishwasher, your few minutes to load and start the washing machine could turn into half an hour or more of housecleaning. If a tidy house is important to you, get up early enough to put things in order before you start your writing day. Or if you are able, hire a housekeeper to keep things in order while you work.

Even though few people have multiple deadlines on any one day, most writers are managing many projects at a time. Some of the things writers may be involved in at the same time include:

• Writing articles for magazines, often to establish their credibility, build their platforms, or bring awareness to their books.
• Writing books
• Creating book proposals
• Updating blogs, either their own or someone else’s
• Working to meet regular ongoing assignments

And just when writers think they’ve got a handle on their writing calendars, a surprise assignment pops up and you know for sure not to turn that one down! Once you have established yourself as a dependable, go-to person with an editor or editors, you will find yourself contacted for short deadline assignments because the editors know they can count on you.

In addition to juggling the duties of writing, many writers also have family schedules to factor into their daily routines. Soccer practice, parent/teacher meetings, family dinners, piano lessons, and whatever else your family is involved in makes its way into the mix.

What’s a writer to do?

1. Pray. As writers who are believers, we have to give our days and our time to God first.
2. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. It may seem like overkill to write the word three times. However, if you know what is the most important project on your schedule, you can make sure to do that first and then move down the line. Realize that some days all the priorities will be in the family or friends category and you won’t spend even a minute at your computer. That’s okay. As long as your priorities are in order, God will redeem the writing time somewhere else.
3. Most people have their own methods of prioritizing duties, responsibilities, and rest. Some have planners, bullet journals, wall calendars, or white boards. Find the method that works for you and use it faithfully.
4. Plan. Nothing helps a writer move along more quickly and efficiently than planning. Know which project needs attention. Outline upcoming projects. Create a timeline for your work. Post it where you can see it every day when you get to your office.

Since a juggler usually just has three pins, balls, oranges, or the like when he learns his craft, I thought we would stop with three tips for juggling your writing life! But many more exist and hopefully you learn new ones as you work at creating balance.

What are your favorite tips for effectively juggling the life of a writer?

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Linda Gilden is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She loves to take one subject and create multiple articles from that information. Linda finds great joy (and lots of writing material) in time spend with her family. Her favorite activity is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing children.

To find out more about Linda, her writing, and her ministry, visit www.LindaGilden.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.