The Relaxed Writer

How to Finish What You Write: Be Your Own Project Manager

Welcome!  This is the first post in The Relaxed Writer's new "How to Finish What You Write" blog series.  Don't miss future installments. If you like what you read, click here to subscribe to this blog.

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Finish What You Write:  Show Up as Your Own Project Manager

It sometimes surprises me how often savvy freelancers overlook the need to direct and manage their own creative projects (and then wonder why their novel, marketing project or book proposal isn't yet done)! 

Are you showing up as your own project manager?  Here's how to get started.

1.  You balance your long-term vision with shorter term (monthly, weekly) goals for your novel-writing, book proposal or other marketing project.

Sounds paradoxical, but many creative types thrive within boundaries and structure.  With no editor, client or boss, it's up to you to create your own project plan and deadlines.  Take time to look at your project's scope and outcomes and plan how you're going to get there.  Doing so will help you relax as you do the day-to-day work.

2.  You "meet" once a week to review your progress and performance.

Keep it simple (15-25 minutes will do), and schedule this meeting for the same time each week if you can.  If you need a model, check out David Allan's "Weekly Review" model (in his seminal book on personal productivity, Getting Things Done).

3.  You invest in R&D.

Don't do your work in a vacuum.  To stay creatively fresh and relevant, each week devote some time dedicated to keeping up with your profession and continuing to develop your craft.  Each month, make some time to learn about and try on some new ideas:  creative, business or both. 

4.  You don't yell at your team.

 No one can work well in an atmosphere of intimidation, belittlement or doubt.  Believe in your writer (that's you).  Treat the writer with respect.  Value his work and believe in his ability to get the job done.  We often rise to the expectations of others. Set yours just high enough to really challenge and motivate your writer-self.  Stretch goals are fine;  unrealistic expectations (read: perfectionism!) are self-generated setbacks.

5.  Every time you sit down to work, you know what you want to accomplish.

Does all this project planning mean there's no room for spontaneity or freedom?  Not at all.  If you need a to spend a work session or two freewriting about your character, by all means, do what you need to do.   Just consciously choose a focus for your work session, and make sure that what you're choosing to spend time on makes sense in the context of your overall project.

Remember to always adjust your definition of "success" to meet that specific day's tasks.  No fair beating yourself up for not adding pages to your manuscript draft when your purpose that day was to deepen your own understanding of a character, 'k?

6.  You expect and learn from setbacks.

Did your writer have an off-day, an off-week?  Keep your writer-self accountable, but help her examine what stymied her progress and brainstorm other options for next time.  They say good organizations are always learning.  Study your setbacks, adapt this model to your writing life and thrive!

photo credit:  "psd" on Flicker

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Stay tuned for post #2 in the "How to Finish What You Write" blog series.   

Got a topic you'd like me to cover?  Please comment below or visit my Facebook Fan Page to leave your ideas on my Wall.    

Thanks for reading,

Marla

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Follow Me on Twitter:  @MarlaBeck

Why That Blog Post Is Not Yet Written

I'm gonna' be honest. Tonight I'm sitting here with some coaching notes and an outline scattered on the couch beside me. My daughter's asleep, my husband's reading and my cat's snuggled on a pile of clean laundry across the room.

You'd think I'd be able to write up a few thoughts for you on how to finish your novel.

Truth is, I lost a dear aunt this week.  And I need to focus on my family for the next few days. 

I'll be back again later this week.  In the meantime, thought you might like to pop over to Write to Done and check out my guest post from last summer, "First Draft Secrets:  Five Simple Steps."

When my head clears, I think I'll be re-reading it myself. :-)

-Marla

A "Take-Action Challenge" for Writers (on MLK, Haiti & Your Novel)

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."  -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm no historian (and certainly no King scholar), but Dr. King's life, to me, is a luminous example of what it's like to really live.  Brave and vibrant, King's empowered engagement in the world sprang from his compassion for others and a deep, personal spirituality.

Music affected King profoundly.  (The Guardian reported that King's last words, spoken to the saxophonist, Ben Branch, were: "Ben, make sure you play "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty.")  Martin Luther King, Jr. left behind a legacy of social change and inspired oratory.

What Writers Can Learn from Dr. King's Example

Like us, each day King made choices. 

Given his accomplishments, King seems to have chosen again and again to "speak out" about what mattered most to him.  Sometimes Dr. King spoke with silent and deliberate actions.  Often he chose to voice himself in conversation, prayer or song. 

He spoke his mind out loud and on the page.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, this week I encourage you to enliven yourself by engaging more fully with what matters most.

Introducing "The MLK Take-Action Challenge"

The MLK Take-Action Challenge is two-fold:

1. "speak out" this week for others' benefit, and
2. "speak out" this week on behalf of yourself

Part One:  "Speak Out" for Others
If you've been stunned into inaction by the aftermath of Haiti's 7.0 earthquake, act now to voice your concern and compassion. If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to donate to Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

Need ideas?

Today on LinkedIn, Randy Hecht, writer and a former consultant with the Points of Light Foundation, offered these suggestions:

Donate money.

Hecht recommends checking out these relief organization and supports their work herself:

• OxFamAmerica
• Doctors without Borders
• Grameen Foundation

According to Hecht, each organization is rated highly by the American Institute of Philanthropy (indicating  that more of your donation goes to direct services vs. funding administrative and overhead costs).

Donate frequent flyer miles.

If you're short on cash, Hecht suggests you consider donating frequent flyer miles to relief organizations.  "Contact the airline for a list of non-profits supported by donations via any given mileage plan," Hecht says.  You might also want to visit the LA Times Travel Blog to learn where to donate your travel miles and hotel award points.

Another option to consider:

Donate proceeds from selling your professional services or creative works.

Consider joining Kelly Diel's "Help Haiti Blog Challenge."  Diel, creator of Cleavage and a weekly contributor to ProBlogger, is asking other bloggers to join her in generating relief contributions in exchange for goods or services. There donating professional service fees or proceeds from the sales of  creative work (crafts, music, art objects or ___[your idea here]__.  To contribute (or get ideas for your own offerings), click here.

Part Two:  "Speak Out" for Yourself

Let's say that you're a busy freelance writer with a novel-in-progress. The manuscript may be perched on the corner of your desk, filed in the filing cabinet or still lodged in your imagination. 

Alternately, let's say you're a busy working writer with a book proposal in-progress.  A day-job holder with a blogging dream.  [Insert Your Project Here]

Part two of your "MLK Take-Action Challenge" is this:  each day this week, take one simple action to reconnect with your creative work and further your dream. 

If the novel's not yet started, a few suggestions:  do a ten-minute freewrite on what entices you and what scares you about writing this story.  Spider-diagram your characters, or sketch your plot. 

If you've got a work-in-progress, a few suggestions:  reread the last few chapters you wrote.  Revise your synopsis. Organize your research.  Sign up for my free "How to Finish What You Write" teleclass.

I'll be offering you lots more tips and thoughts on how to reconnect to--and finish--your writing projects  later this week.  Please subscribe now to be sure you don't miss a thing.

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I'll leave you with a two-minute musical offering, for those who'd like to hear Mahalia Jackson singing Dr. King's favorite hymn:

Enjoy this Martin Luther King, Jr.-inspired "Take-Action Challenge."  I'd love to hear about how things go for you this week.

-Marla (@MarlaBeck on Twitter)