Friday 21 October 2016

A Simple Fix To Getting Everything Done On Your To-Do List


I've recently read Greg McKeown's best selling book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.

And it's not the first time I've read it, but I felt like refreshing my memory.

One of the things the author talks about in the book is about making sure that your to-do list isn't overwhelming.

This is something I suffer from greatly. It doesn't matter if it's a personal to-do list or my writing to-do list, I always manage to cram too much into it or vastly underestimate how much time each task will take me.

But Greg McKeown has a simple fix. So simple in fact, that I slapped my forehead and thought "Why didn't I think of that?"

His simple fix for making sure you get everything done on your to-do list is what he calls a buffer.

He also calls it "the unfair advantage."

Your to-do list (whether it's a daily, weekly or monthly list) should be prepared with planned tasks and activities. This means knowing exactly what steps you need to take to get a job done.

As an example, if you were writing a book, you wouldn't just put "write a chapter each week." Instead you'd list writing out your idea, expanding it into an outline, preparing your character profiles, expanding your character profiles, and so forth.

This means listing each and every task that you need to do to get the project done.

And then you need to create a time buffer to prepare for anything unforeseen that might come up or in case it takes you longer than you think to complete your tasks.

And the buffer he suggests is 50% more time than you think it will take.

So if you list all your tasks you need to do, write how much time each will take, add them up and then add 50% more.

Now I know that 50% sounds huge but, if you're like me, it will be a more realistic time frame, and, if you don't need that much time then you'll have time to do other things or get a jump start on your next writing project.

 So now you can go ahead and write out your next to-do list and add 50% extra time to get it done and then actually do it in time.

And being able to tick off everything in a to-do list, is a great feeling.

And it will help to keep you motivated too.


Wednesday 19 October 2016

Latest Writing News - October 2016

WP Kinsella, whose book became 'Field of Dreams', dies at 81

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37395028?

Aldi is the latest company to branch out into ebooks
http://the-digital-reader.com/2016/10/10/aldi-open-ebookstore-germany/

Harper Lee Announces Third Novel, ‘My Excellent Caretaker Deserves My Entire Fortune’
http://www.theonion.com/article/harper-lee-announces-third-novel-my-excellent-care-50840

He's CFO and CFW: Chief Fortune Writer. Donald Lau has been writing fortunes for 30 years
http://www.localsyr.com/news/hes-cfo-and-cfw-chief-fortune-writer

Kenny Loggins’ Footloose is Now a Children’s Book
http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/kenny-loggins-footloose-is-now-a-childrens-book/126066

The Authors Guild is opening up membership to new and unpublished writers
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2016/authors-guild-opens-membership-new-unpublished-writers/

John Lennon Is Getting a Comic Book Biography
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-lennon-is-getting-a-936643

Salinger’s House is Now an Artist’s Retreat
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/salingers-house-artists-retreat

How Kickstarter became one of the biggest powers in publishing
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/sep/14/how-kickstarter-became-one-of-the-biggest-powers-in-publishing-crowdfunding

Even Stephen King Thinks Those Creepy Clown Sightings Are Scary
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stephen-king-creepy-clown-sightings_us_57d30366e4b03d2d459a545c

Joyce Carol Thomas Has Died
http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/joyce-carol-thomas-has-died/124015

37th Anniversary of The Neverending Story's First Publishing
https://www.google.com/doodles/37th-anniversary-of-the-neverending-storys-first-publishing

15 Expert Hacks for Wannabe Successful New Writers
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yusuff-busayo/15-seriously-important-ex_b_10083562.html



Tuesday 18 October 2016

Latest Products For Writers. Improve Your Craft. Make More Money

I have some amazing books, products and writing courses for you that will really help you to perfect your writing craft and make it possible for you to earn more income from your writing.

Take a look at the list below and see if there's something that can help catapult your writing success.

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You’ll start by creating and discussing funny loglines, and learn the criteria for determining which premise should advance to the outline stage.
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Once each student has a winning story plotted out for a comedy screenplay, we’ll workshop the funniest ways to execute that idea as a feature-length script.
Finally, each student will begin writing a comedy screenplay, which can be completed after the class.

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Whether you are a writer looking to understand the fundamentals of writing for film or a television writer looking to expand your skillset, Beginning Feature Film Writing has invaluable information to offer you. Using detailed analyses of successful scripts, you will discover how film writers maximize the impact of your work using compelling characters and scenes.
The writing critiques in this workshop are tailored to develop specific skills needed to succeed as a feature film writer. You will also gain access to a wealth of creative writing prompts.

Writing Based on a True Story at Writers Store
In today’s marketplace, creative non-fiction and screenplays based on true stories are selling faster than fiction.
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How to Create Memorably Scary Scenes Workshop at Screenwriters University
This one-week intensive course, taught by horror pro Neal Marshall Stevens (13 Ghosts, Hellraiser:Deader), will explore the nuts and bolts techniques that working screenwriters and filmmakers use to create fear on the page and on the screen, using examples from classic and contemporary films ranging from Night of the Living Dead to Paranormal Activity—including examples from his own screenplays.
Students will explore the importance of properly structuring and setting up scares, where and when to use the “boo” moment, and the importance of developing the “sense of dread.”

Mastering the Conventions of Horror Writing at Screenwriters University
Horror has been one of the staples of film ever since the medium was invented. This genre is truly a writer’s medium:
If you can present a new version of an old concept and scare us on the page, your script can sell. Plus, there is always room for innovation and creativity within the field.
That’s why horror is a natural choice for many a screenwriter.

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Story and Character Development Bundle at Writers Store
The story writers ultimate combo. Persona, character development software for Mac and Win, will help you craft your characters and Contour, story development software for Mac and Win, will guide you through developing your story.
With the Story and Character Development Bundle, you can be assured your bases are covered when it comes to creating the best characters and story possible.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer's Lecture Series at Writer's Digest Shop
Do you love exploring new worlds and possibilities? Dive into the diverse universe of science fiction and fantasy writing with this collection.
Study these fantastical genres of writing and learn what you need to create the best first impression, memorable character, and more. Heighten the senses of your readers with unique settings and concepts that you can only find within the realm of fantasy genres.
Learn how to take your fantasy or science fiction novel to the next level!

Travel Writing at Writer's Digest University
When you take this six-week workshop, you'll discover how to become a travel writer by exploring the different types of articles you can write and developing your writing style.
You'll learn travel writing tips such as how to take your own photographs.
Use this workshop to draft an article that keeps readers captivated and garners interest from travel editors.


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