Time Management - 5 Tips For Making Time For Writing

Managing your time. Making time for your writing. Finding time. Whatever you call it, it can be tricky while juggling kids, relationships, job, whatever else you're involved in that you can’t really give up or set aside.

So, in the spirit of my back to basics mood at the moment, here are a few ideas ( 5 tips) to help things along.

1.  I always suggest keeping a notebook or notecards with you. That way you can jot whenever something occurs to you or whenever you observe something that needs to be remembered, even if away from your writing place. 

Or take notes on your phone or record messages to yourself on the phone if you can. 

There are also great tiny recorders you can use to capture notes to yourself then plug into your computer and transfer like the Yoday voice recorder.  Inexpensive too!

   2. Set priorities and do your darndest to stick to them. Talk with your spouse, your kids, whoever is going to be around and work at getting them to understand how important this is to you. 

   You have to let others know that at times you’re going to have to say no to things that drain away your time minute by minute and that you must stick to your ‘to-do’ list to keep things moving. Remember to do the most important first. Plainly, there will be bumps in this road.

  3. Creating goals that are good for you is a great help. Decide perhaps you’re going to create a certain number of pages or words during a session. Maybe go with an amount of time. Or best yet, set a goal of how many words you want to get down on paper during the amount of time you have available. Stick to it! 

    If you do this you’ll minimize distractions and get a lot more done. Remember – the world of social media is out to get you and rob you of all your productive time!

   4. Dedicate a writing space, no matter how small. Even if it has to do double duty. If you have to write on the kitchen table, do it at a time when you can clear the table, set up your laptop and do nothing but write at the table. It helps train the mind that this is the time for writing. If you can convert a closet or set up a small desk somewhere, so much the better. If a sit/stand desk like what I use from Veridesk is good for you and in your budget, go for it. Work with what you have.

   5. Finally, don’t put enormous pressure on yourself. If you’re forcing yourself into doing something you don’t want to do you’re not going to get very far. If this is something you want to do you WILL begin to set your parameters and goals. If that doesn’t happen then perhaps writing isn’t for you and it’s time to move on to other things.

Big New Project coming - Medicare Wars pamphlets

Hi there folks.  I took a bit of a break from the blog throughout the holidays and because I was loaded down with work.  

Something new is coming soon - and it's not our usual fiction!

During our break we began in earnest, work on a major project, a series of pamphlets to explain Medicare, where it came from, where we are, and what the future might hold, in bite-sized bits. 

It's a big project, brand new, geared to help lots of people created by my writing partner on The Egg Chronicles, Planet Of The Eggs comics, Charlene (fondly known as Charlie) Brash-Sorensen and I are working on.

Charlie has a very long history - Twenty-six years in management and executive positions in the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance industry. 

As she tells us, those "twenty-six years is a LONG time.  It takes a toll personally and physically.  It takes a few years to totally drop the stress and move on.  In my particular case shedding my career persona—Director of Strategic Planning, Director of Operations, Associate Executive Director, Executive Director, Vice President of Network Development, Vice President of Operations, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Consultant—has taken 4 years. The last vestige of those years was putting my Brooks Brothers 3-piece suits for sale on eBay." 

So was born, in this political atmosphere, the non-fiction project: MEDICARE WARS! A series of pamphlets clearly titled so people old and young can see which one best fits their need for learning and our guess is most folks will want them all. 

First up is the beginning with info on the history of Medicare, what you, and yes, your employer,  PAY for, what the Medicare Insurance program is all about and some links, tips, and helps to make it clear what each citizen of the United States does in order to be a recipient of this program.  And what everyone should receive because of it. 

Future pamphlets will take individual elements and go into very clear detail. We call it Medicare Wars because, since this most recent election, the program is in danger. together WE THE PEOPLE have the power to defeat the assault being waged on Medicare. This is why we’ve named our series of pamphlets, Medicare Wars.

Charlie is in the process of starting up a blog to go along with it as well as a Facebook page where people can ask questions, briefly describe their own good and bad experiences and come to for breaking information that's clear and up to date. 

So, as work continues, don't hesitate to comment here with questions you may have about how it all works, why younger people should be paying attention and a whole lot more.  

Please leave questions and suggestions for content we can cover in future pamphlets in the comment section and don't forget to tell your friends, family and anyone with any interest. 

Pass it on and let's do this thing!  First pamphlet releasing very soon in Kindle and then paperback editions. Watch my for more info soon. 

And yes, we love our Eggs and they will continue their adventures. Number six (the final in the first Vol.) is under way with a few delays. But, not to worry, it's coming soon!