by Aisling Ashbery

Created on: August 20, 2009

Just one more game of minesweeper, then you'll start writing. Just one more. Oh, but what about those dishes sitting in the sink? There are more distractions in the home than just about any other place possible. Yet that's where many writers try to work, often finding that they don't get much done. Time management is a useful skill for anyone, but it's essential for a writer who wants to be productive. If you find that your points in solitaire are outnumbering the words you're writing, try some of these time-management tips to get you back on track.

[1.] Set a long-term goal.
If you don't know what your eventual goals are, how do you know what you need to complete each day? This would be like a company that wanted to place an order for a product, but didn't know how much of the product they needed or when they'd need it by. Is it your goal to have your novel done by the end of the year? Do you have an article with a deadline next week? Or maybe you've decided that by the end of the month, you want a total of 50 internet articles published. Knowing your long term goals is the only way you'll be able to ...

[2.] Set short term goals.
Once you know what you're eventual goal is, you need to break that up and figure out how much writing every day it will take to accomplish that goal. Knowing only that you're working on a novel can be incredibly overwhelming. Perhaps a chapter a day is right for you, depending on the length of your chapters. Once you have a realistic goal, hopefully you will find it much easier to keep writint.

[3.] Make hours for yourself.
Treat your writing time like you're on the clock. This is your job, so don't give in to the nagging voices telling you what else you should be doing. Designate hours during the day when it is time to write. Since you know your short term goals, you will know how much you need to write during this time and will hopefully be motivated to get it done. Make it a rule that you have to keep writing no matter what, even if you feel it isn't your best work. Practice is the only way to get through those bouts or writer's block.

[4.] Eliminate all distractions.
Even those with the best intentions can still get sidetracked with all the distractions that abound, especially in the home. If you've tried setting hours that you must write, but still find yourself running the vacuum cleaner instead, seriously consider packing up your laptop and going to the local library. A quiet place where you have no responsibilities other than your writing can really help to narrow your focus and keep you on track. Plus, if you write every time you go to the library, you might find that as soon as you enter it you start feeling that you are ready to create.

Time management is not a difficult concept. What it comes down to is knowing what needs to be done and budgeting time in which to accomplish that goal. When you can map your productivity and really think of writing as a job, you can make schedules that will help you stay on task. And who knows, you might just find that you meet your goal faster than you thought you would.

Learn more about this author, Aisling Ashbery.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.