I laugh at this because I’m so behind I can’t think straight. 

Normally I’m efficient, a structured plot plan, pages a day and usually meet my deadlines more than a month ahead of schedule.  That gives me the chance to put the book aside and then go back to do the final edit.

That hasn’t been the case lately. 

I use an egg timer to ‘marathon’ write.  I write non-stop for 20 minutes to start, no editing, then break for 5 to 10 to edit.  I set the time for that too.  Then immediately start it again, increasing the time by five minute, and just keep going.  Have I said this before?  It feels familiar.

I use my Alpha Smart around the house or by the pool when I need a change of scenery.  My Sony laptop is terrific, but with hurricane season coming, it’s holding the back up of my PC hard drive.  I use software to keep a book organized, and I’ll admit here and now I’m not a good file clerk.  I’m sure my system will not match the standard in any form. Bob’s not much help, he had a marine ‘admin clerk’ do it for him.  He’s clueless.

A goal without a plan is just a wish, and if you plan, you’ll be efficient.  I have Magic Notes (www.magicnotes.com) and it pops up notes on my computer to remind me to do things.  Yes, I need that.  I write everything down, sometimes several times to get it to sink in.  Which is weird since I can recite the chemical process hair takes during a perm as if I learned it yesterday and not 30 years ago. (I was a cosmetologist in my former life)

If you want to have a well-ordered life, read Rhonda’s post.  She’s the QUEEN of efficiency and organization. 

But let’s face it, writing takes time, it’s all the other stuff  you can streamline.

Amy