[The following is only a glimpse of the topic … not a transcription]
A heads up: At over 13 minutes, this episode is significantly longer than my usual 3-6 minute podcast episodes.
You sit down to write only to realize you’ve got a long list of tasks necessary to the work of writing, but after you check them off your list, you haven’t the word count to show for it.
Let’s call these: “Non-writing Writing Tasks.”
If you’ve never really thought about this category of tasks or planned for them, you’ve probably felt frustrated. Even though this kind of work is a support or extension of our writing, we can resent it or feel like we’re wasting valuable time.
But if we’re going to be the least bit serious about our writing, we’re going to have to do some non-writing, writing tasks. It’s part of the work. It’s actually good news: You’re a writer—you have non-writing tasks to do associated with your projects and goals and deadlines!
How to approach non-writing writing tasks:
- Acknowledge them
- Accept them
- Record them
- Attack them
- Actually write
If you wonder what are some of your non-writing writing tasks, I offer ideas. In fact, one reason this episode got long is because I review a list of non-writing writing tasks for you to listen through and decide which belong on your own master to-do list. It’s a long list. Grab a pen and paper.
Some of the resources mentioned in this podcast:
- 5 Non-Writing Tasks Writers Need to Master
- 5 Strategies for Writers to Manage Non-Writing Tasks
- Todoist.com for creating a master list
- Bullet Journal
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