I have to compartmentalise so keeping as many projects on the go as you would be fun but stress me out I think. We all have a unique way of working that’s for sure. I’m expecting an email shortly that will either give me two extra projects over the book I’m writing, or none, and I’m excited and dreading the extra work if it comes. But challenges are good aren’t they?
I have never managed to master the slump that comes after a big project is "done", to the extent that I now try to build in a couple of weeks of down time, or at least no pressure admin time afterwards. Even so, I am terrible at compartmentalising things.
I've only written one book - Successful Article Writing, way back in 1999 for the Writers' News library - but I always have several article projects on the go at once so I'm Queen of the Lists! Lists of deadlines. Lists of ideas to pitch. Lists of trips and interviews to arrange. Even the domestic jobs to fit in around them. And there's only one way to make lists - with pen and paper. Then I have the daily thrill of ticking jobs off as I do them - or carrying them over to tomorrow's To Do list!
I have to compartmentalise so keeping as many projects on the go as you would be fun but stress me out I think. We all have a unique way of working that’s for sure. I’m expecting an email shortly that will either give me two extra projects over the book I’m writing, or none, and I’m excited and dreading the extra work if it comes. But challenges are good aren’t they?
I have never managed to master the slump that comes after a big project is "done", to the extent that I now try to build in a couple of weeks of down time, or at least no pressure admin time afterwards. Even so, I am terrible at compartmentalising things.
I've only written one book - Successful Article Writing, way back in 1999 for the Writers' News library - but I always have several article projects on the go at once so I'm Queen of the Lists! Lists of deadlines. Lists of ideas to pitch. Lists of trips and interviews to arrange. Even the domestic jobs to fit in around them. And there's only one way to make lists - with pen and paper. Then I have the daily thrill of ticking jobs off as I do them - or carrying them over to tomorrow's To Do list!
Concentrating on one project and not thinking about the others at the same time is quite a skill to cultivate isn't it