Eight Tips to Help
Organize Your Writing
By Suzan L. Wiener
Copyright © 2008 by Suzan L. Wiener, All Rights Reserved
Are you submitting work
without keeping track of what you are sending? Or, are you starting work
and then not finishing it? Here are eight tips I have used to avoid
these problems. They should be helpful for you, as well. Organization is
the key to being less stressed and more productive.
1. Buy Notebooks
I suggest buying two
notebooks. Use one to keep track of what you are sending out. One
heading should be the name of your submission, the second, the name of
the publication, and the third, the date when you sent it. This will
prevent you from sending out the same submission twice.
The other notebook should be
used for what you have sold and what was rejected. It will come in handy
for tax purposes. You can see whether your writing is a full-time job or
a hobby.
2. Make a list
After you have written your
manuscript, make a list of those publications you want to send it to.
You can send it simultaneously if the editor has that listed in their
guidelines. If not, send it out one at a time, to the next publication.
Should one editor not accept it, you can immediately send it to another.
3. Seasonal Submissions
Keep a list at your computer
desk showing when seasonal submissions are due. This way, you won't wait
until the last minute or miss the deadline completely. Most publications
want manuscripts for seasonal items sent in six-months to a year ahead
of time. Always check their guidelines to make sure.
4. Research, Research
If you have already
researched a subject and want to do another article with a new slant,
keep your research in a separate file. That way, you will have it handy
when you need it. You won't have to go looking for it or have to repeat
the research process.
5. Make time to write
It is a good idea to set
aside a certain time to write, not just when you feel like it. Although
it is great to have that excitement factor, choosing a definite time,
such as when the kids are asleep, will help you concentrate fully on
your writing. You will be able to stay more focused as well.
6. Keep things close
Make sure you have
everything you need at hand--computer, notebooks, pens, etc. It is
essential to have all your writing tools available in case you have some
spontaneous inspiration.
7. Learn from others
Talk to other writers for
more inside information about being organized. Usually they are only too
happy to give you tips to help you toward your goal of getting
published.
8. Neatness counts
Keep a neat work space. This
eases any tension you might feel if you are a beginning writer, or even
a more experienced one. The proper lighting helps, as does cleaning your
computer screen. Wearing comfortable clothes is a plus, also.
Following the above
suggestions should help you garner more sales. I know it worked for me.
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