It’s common to keep a to do list, whether on paper, in your phone notes, or using some type of app. And knowing what we need to get done is certainly helpful. But what about things we can’t do because we are waiting for information or a response from someone else?
Productivity Tip: The "Waiting For" List
Sometimes we want to make progress, but we can’t. Say for example, we’re planning a family party. We’ve reached out to a restaurant that might host the group, but need availability and pricing information. I used to find it hard to keep track of these things, because they weren’t technically "to dos." It either cluttered my list because there was no actual action I could take or didn’t make it on the list at all. Then at some point, I’d remember—oops—I never heard back and needed to follow up.
Clearly, this was not a good system.
For something more regular and ongoing, like short story submissions, I keep a spreadsheet with dates and other relevant information. But for more random one-time projects, I've learned to keep a separate "Waiting For" list. I like to use a piece of brightly colored paper where I note in a black marker everything I need to hear back on. This "Waiting For" idea comes from David Allen’s Getting Things Done, and my current list includes the above-mentioned restaurant, feedback from someone else on my manuscript, hearing from an interviewee about available meeting times, and some writing I promised to critique but haven’t received yet. My own to-dos (plan party menu, edit based on comments, schedule interview, provide a critique) can’t happen while I’m waiting for the other people to answer.
Once a week (usually Sundays when I’m planning the days ahead), I check the list. I can cross off the items I’ve heard back about (and the next step becomes my "to do") or decide whether to nudge if I haven’t gotten a response. Either way, I find that keeping the "waiting for" details in a separate place keeps me more organized.
Clearly, this was not a good system.
For something more regular and ongoing, like short story submissions, I keep a spreadsheet with dates and other relevant information. But for more random one-time projects, I've learned to keep a separate "Waiting For" list. I like to use a piece of brightly colored paper where I note in a black marker everything I need to hear back on. This "Waiting For" idea comes from David Allen’s Getting Things Done, and my current list includes the above-mentioned restaurant, feedback from someone else on my manuscript, hearing from an interviewee about available meeting times, and some writing I promised to critique but haven’t received yet. My own to-dos (plan party menu, edit based on comments, schedule interview, provide a critique) can’t happen while I’m waiting for the other people to answer.
Once a week (usually Sundays when I’m planning the days ahead), I check the list. I can cross off the items I’ve heard back about (and the next step becomes my "to do") or decide whether to nudge if I haven’t gotten a response. Either way, I find that keeping the "waiting for" details in a separate place keeps me more organized.
The IWSG Blog Hop
Every month, the Insecure Writers Support Group hosts a blog hop with an optional question meant to inspire and encourage other writers. Special thanks to founder Alex Cavanaugh and to this month’s co-hosts Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages.
This month's questions is about artificial intelligence.
Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses,
or do you refuse to go that route?
How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?
or do you refuse to go that route?
How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?
I dread writing synopses, but I haven’t used AI. Rather than give a personal opinion on this complicated topic, I’ll share two in-depth resources: Martha Brockenbrough’s upcoming book, Future Tense: How We Made Artificial Intelligence and How It Will Change Everything, and The Authors Guild Best Practices for Writers.
One Last Thing....
For your listening pleasure, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite songs, Tom Petty’s "The Waiting".
For your listening pleasure, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite songs, Tom Petty’s "The Waiting".
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