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Project Managing My Novel
Jul. 21st, 2010 10:46 amStill plugging away at the second draft of The Grunge Novel.
I've set a new deadline to finish it: Scribe Publications are having a competition for unpublished manuscripts by authors over the age of 35. Entries close September 15.
I'm not sure my book is really up their alley. But deadlines are good. They keep you focused.
To combat the "oh god, this revision is never going to end" feeling I've been having lately, I've decided to apply some basic project management techniques.
STEP 1: BREAK PROJECT INTO SMALLER TASKS
I've been making edits and changes as they occur to me. Which explains why I feel like the task is endless.
Let's try a better approach. I've written out a list of things that I know I need to change or fix. It's 8 items long. Some of those items are quite big (rewriting entire chapters, for example).
But it's a list. It's manageable. I can see what sort of progress I'm making.
STEP 2: DRAFT A TIMETABLE
That's a tight timetable, but achievable. The biggest doubt I have about it is will friends be able to read and comment on an 80,000 word manuscript in only two weeks?
You will notice, however, I've allowed a one week slip period, if this project runs into trouble.
STEP 3: DO THE BLOODY WORK
This is the important bit. I have quite a few social and entertainment events on in the next month or two. I need to block out time for writing as well. I know that I can't write at home: there are too many distractions.
But I can take my laptop to the library for an hour after work each night. And there are large blocks of Saturday and Sundays I have free.
So. That's the plan.
Creative work can feel very nebulous and unending. Having a plan makes me feel better, having concrete things I know I need to do.
Although Step 4 is currently to collapse into quivering heap, loudly swearing I'll never write another thing in my life.
I've set a new deadline to finish it: Scribe Publications are having a competition for unpublished manuscripts by authors over the age of 35. Entries close September 15.
I'm not sure my book is really up their alley. But deadlines are good. They keep you focused.
To combat the "oh god, this revision is never going to end" feeling I've been having lately, I've decided to apply some basic project management techniques.
STEP 1: BREAK PROJECT INTO SMALLER TASKS
I've been making edits and changes as they occur to me. Which explains why I feel like the task is endless.
Let's try a better approach. I've written out a list of things that I know I need to change or fix. It's 8 items long. Some of those items are quite big (rewriting entire chapters, for example).
But it's a list. It's manageable. I can see what sort of progress I'm making.
STEP 2: DRAFT A TIMETABLE
| Finish my list of 8 edits: | now - Sun 8 August 8 (3 weeks) |
| Print and read over: | Mon 9 August - Sun 15 August (1 week) |
| Send to friends for comments: | Mon 16 August (2 weeks reading period) |
| Accept comments, make final revisions: | Mon 30 August - Sun 5 September (2 weeks) |
| Submit to competition: | Mon 6 September |
That's a tight timetable, but achievable. The biggest doubt I have about it is will friends be able to read and comment on an 80,000 word manuscript in only two weeks?
You will notice, however, I've allowed a one week slip period, if this project runs into trouble.
STEP 3: DO THE BLOODY WORK
This is the important bit. I have quite a few social and entertainment events on in the next month or two. I need to block out time for writing as well. I know that I can't write at home: there are too many distractions.
But I can take my laptop to the library for an hour after work each night. And there are large blocks of Saturday and Sundays I have free.
So. That's the plan.
Creative work can feel very nebulous and unending. Having a plan makes me feel better, having concrete things I know I need to do.
Although Step 4 is currently to collapse into quivering heap, loudly swearing I'll never write another thing in my life.
