What if I told you there’s a super-easy tool that can amp-up your writing productivity? And best of all, it’s free? I know it’s hard to believe, but that simple secret is making lists – and it can super-charge to your writing efforts.
If you’ve been fighting flickering focus, wandering attention, or maybe a bad case of idea overload in your writing, using lists can be a magic answer. They’re a writer’s productivity “secret-sauce” that can help you:
* Focus
* Prioritize
* Track progress
* Eliminate wasted steps and energy.
But wait, there’s a second secret: There’s a right way and a wrong way to do lists.
Lists are such an importing writing tool – and productivity tool – I’ve written a short previous post about what doesn’t work and even a whole short booklet about the best way to use lists.
Here are a few tips taken from that booklet, “The Power of Lists,” tailored just for writers:
Tired of interruptions and distractions?
Maybe it’s unwanted phone calls, or a buttinsky neighbor who likes to show up unannounced – a million things always seem conspire to interrupt your from memoir writing, right? Or sometimes it’s a fun bright, shiny object – those enjoyable detours that pop up just when you’d planned to work on your memoir for sure this time, luring you off in a completely different direction.
Three simple “list” steps to cut the noise and prevent distractions and interruptions:
2. Mentally prepare for a fleet of glorious Bright, Shiny Objects to appear just when you’d planned to focus on your writing. Acknowledge those tantalizing options when they show up by adding them to your future to-do list – just not at the top of today’s list.
3. Assemble a list of handy phrases you can use to deflect well-meaning but untimely distractions, allowing you to finish more pressing tasks. Spouses and kids are infamous for interruptions like: “Can you just stop what you’re doing for a second –??” Try these on for size, or come up with your own favorites: “I’ll be happy to get to that – I’ll come get you around 4 p.m.” or “I’m in the middle of something right now but I know this is important to you. Let’s work on it together this evening after dinner.” Preparing with a list lets you navigate writing distractions more easily.
