Organizing Writing Projects
Keeping track of your projects in each stage of development
Any freelance writer will tell you that if you want to be serious about making money as a writer, you need to be organized.
Being organized doesn't come naturally to many people, especially when it comes to organizing work. Keeping track of what projects you've started, where each is in the writing, editing, and publishing stage, and which you've submitted, where, and the response, is a crucial part of maintaining a writing career. With so much going on, how can you identify what is what?
1. Create folders
Whether you prefer paper folders or digital folders, file your projects based on their status. Possible folder titles include:
- In Progress - for projects you've recently started
- Completed - in the final draft stage
- Being Edited - in the editing stage
- Edited - that have been edited
- To Submit - ready to submit to specific places
- Submitted - awaiting a submission reply
- Archived - to be saved for backup
- Abandoned - unfinished business
2. Use sticky notes
Sticky notes are one of the best inventions ever because they allow you to quickly label and identify nearly any object. They work especially well in conjunction with your paper filing system because you can add specific notes to each project.
For example:
- editing notes
- where to submit
- follow up dates
- why it was abandoned
- things to add
- spin-off ideas
3. Card catalog your digital work
Way back when, libraries used a card catalog system to help users search for books. If you can't remember where you saved a file on your computer, create a card catalog system for it. Instead of moving your file from folder to folder on your laptop, you can move the index card. It will fit neatly with its friends in a small, hard-cased box, and any time you have an idea, pull the card, make a note, and refer to it the next time you're editing the file. You won't have to start your computer every time an idea comes to you.
If you manage several types of projects that are very different from each other, such as writing fiction, non-fiction, AND articles, consider using CD-RW disks with drag-and-drop saving capabilities or small flash drives to keep your files separated.
If you already have a well established career, or well established jumble of projects, getting organized can take some time. Don't attempt to do it all at once. It is easy to get frustrated and give up, or lose important pieces of work. Start by gathering all your work into one location and wading through it 15 minutes at a time. Soon you will have a system that enhances your writing productivity instead of distracting you from it.
