Comments on: Tasks and Projects and Time Management http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 16 May 2012 15:34:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Christophe Desmecht http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1986 Christophe Desmecht Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:11:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1986 I really like that distinction between Task and Project. Thinking about it, I realize I've been making that distinction automatically in the past, though not consistently. I too write down everything I do during the day in my agenda (or planner as you call it), and it has always helped me keep track of how I spend my time. It helps me focus my attention and learn from mistakes in planning or executing that plan. Anyway, about Task and Project: this only shows how subjective the mind is and how a simple technique can turn Disorganized into Organized. Just like mnemonics, for example. Marking certain things as Tasks, instead of parts of a bigger Project, can help you motivate yourself to get it done easier. Excellent post, Randy. Thank you for opening my eyes on that one. I'm sure it will help. I really like that distinction between Task and Project. Thinking about it, I realize I’ve been making that distinction automatically in the past, though not consistently. I too write down everything I do during the day in my agenda (or planner as you call it), and it has always helped me keep track of how I spend my time. It helps me focus my attention and learn from mistakes in planning or executing that plan.

Anyway, about Task and Project: this only shows how subjective the mind is and how a simple technique can turn Disorganized into Organized. Just like mnemonics, for example. Marking certain things as Tasks, instead of parts of a bigger Project, can help you motivate yourself to get it done easier.

Excellent post, Randy. Thank you for opening my eyes on that one. I’m sure it will help.

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1987 Camille Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:23:10 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1987 Got it. [ ] Tylenol and coffee, breakfast of champions (urgent) [ ] go to paying job, reposition pile of work so it looks worked on (task) [ ] pass through my sticky, trash strewn den and resist the urge to pick up (project) [ ] place repeated cell calls to the 3 still sleeping young men who made the mess (Fun) [ ] take fashionable kid to register for high school under strict orders not to speak (task) [ ] keep mouth shut when tempted to be witty while under said gag order (project) [ ] Write, when I’m actually now expected to be fully engaged in conversation with said fashionable kid (ironic) [ ] read e-mails and fiction-writing blog, when I should be writing (uh…) [ ] remember last time I did something Fun with fashionable, trashy family (uh…) [ ] spend the weekend repeating said breakfast every 4 hours as needed to work up a new 15 page chapter by chapter summary, show it to an experienced writer and get a shocking amount of positive feedback (Fun) [ ] resume writing on novel using revised synopsis until 3 or 4am (Fun) [ ] Tylenol and coffee, breakfast of champions Got it.
[ ] Tylenol and coffee, breakfast of champions (urgent)
[ ] go to paying job, reposition pile of work so it looks worked on (task)
[ ] pass through my sticky, trash strewn den and resist the urge to pick up (project)
[ ] place repeated cell calls to the 3 still sleeping young men who made the mess (Fun)
[ ] take fashionable kid to register for high school under strict orders not to speak (task)
[ ] keep mouth shut when tempted to be witty while under said gag order (project)
[ ] Write, when I’m actually now expected to be fully engaged in conversation with said fashionable kid (ironic)
[ ] read e-mails and fiction-writing blog, when I should be writing (uh…)
[ ] remember last time I did something Fun with fashionable, trashy family (uh…)
[ ] spend the weekend repeating said breakfast every 4 hours as needed to work up a new 15 page chapter by chapter summary, show it to an experienced writer and get a shocking amount of positive feedback (Fun)
[ ] resume writing on novel using revised synopsis until 3 or 4am (Fun)
[ ] Tylenol and coffee, breakfast of champions

]]> By: Lynn http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1990 Lynn Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:58:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1990 Camille, you make me laugh. Randy, your point about planning for fun is very good. I'm a very task oriented person - fun for me is completing as many tasks as possible in a day. And I'm one of those planning freaks who would love to take all day to plan. But my family needs me to have fun with them, so planning for that is important - put I realize I never actually write that down on my multiple to do lists. Camille, you make me laugh.

Randy, your point about planning for fun is very good. I’m a very task oriented person - fun for me is completing as many tasks as possible in a day. And I’m one of those planning freaks who would love to take all day to plan. But my family needs me to have fun with them, so planning for that is important - put I realize I never actually write that down on my multiple to do lists.

]]> By: Lynette http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1992 Lynette Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:23:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1992 So, if there's a task or two you don't get done, do you just roll it over to the next day? I find I am more ambitious and end up with more tasks than I can actually finish (which means projects start lagging and here come the late nights). So, if there’s a task or two you don’t get done, do you just roll it over to the next day? I find I am more ambitious and end up with more tasks than I can actually finish (which means projects start lagging and here come the late nights).

]]> By: Lois Hudson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1993 Lois Hudson Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:59:43 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1993 I remember the delight I experienced when I read in Stephen King's book, ON WRITING, that writers should read, read, read. I've always taken great delight in reading, but sometimes had to fight the phantom "guilt" thinking—knowing I should be doing other things. (And reading a book in one or two sittings does wreck a to-do list.) But it's fun to think of sitting in my big chair, curled up with a good (or even bad) book and telling anyone who inquires that I'm doing research! I've backslidden from the actual written to-do list, but I've discovered that working on several tasks and projects each day results in progress in each area far more satisfactorily than trying to push through on only one. Okay, Camille, you're not only a poet, but a comedian as well. Onward!! I remember the delight I experienced when I read in Stephen King’s book, ON WRITING, that writers should read, read, read. I’ve always taken great delight in reading, but sometimes had to fight the phantom “guilt” thinking—knowing I should be doing other things. (And reading a book in one or two sittings does wreck a to-do list.)

But it’s fun to think of sitting in my big chair, curled up with a good (or even bad) book and telling anyone who inquires that I’m doing research!

I’ve backslidden from the actual written to-do list, but I’ve discovered that working on several tasks and projects each day results in progress in each area far more satisfactorily than trying to push through on only one.

Okay, Camille, you’re not only a poet, but a comedian as well.

Onward!!

]]> By: Paulette Harris http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1994 Paulette Harris Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:33:45 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1994 Hi All, Randy, good ideas, would painting a cat be a task, goal, even, fun? Maybe a some day project. My cats would consider it pretty BIG and my first task would be to catch the two fur balls for their makeover project. I don't think I would get much writing done after that for awhile, but on the other hand, I would have some good writing fodder. I find if I make a list the night before or first thing in the morning, I am apt to get more accomplished. I also feel guilty when I am reading because it is so fun and enjoyable for me, yet I know that is part of this business. I can't even have my book sitting in a place where I can see it, because I toss everything else to the wind to get into reading. However, I have found that if I reward myself with it after I have finished my list then I get more out of the study books.. I am also referring to my writing study books here. I love them as much as other stories. My biggest problem now is that I have many emails and really I have been selective, but if I miss more than one day, it is bad because so many come down. Last night there were about 300 and it is time consuming. Sometimes, I have to skip over a lot that is probably good information. Does anyone have any suggestions of how they handle their emails? Hi All,

Randy, good ideas, would painting a cat be a task, goal, even, fun? Maybe a some day project.

My cats would consider it pretty BIG and my first task would be to catch the two fur balls for their makeover project. I don’t think I would get much writing done after that for awhile, but on the other hand, I would have some good writing fodder.

I find if I make a list the night before or first thing in the morning, I am apt to get more accomplished. I also feel guilty when I am reading because it is so fun and enjoyable for me, yet I know that is part of this business. I can’t even have my book sitting in a place where I can see it, because I toss everything else to the wind to get into reading. However, I have found that if I reward myself with it after I have finished my list then I get more out of the study books.. I am also referring to my writing study books here. I love them as much as other stories.

My biggest problem now is that I have many emails and really I have been selective, but if I miss more than one day, it is bad because so many come down. Last night there were about 300 and it is time consuming. Sometimes, I have to skip over a lot that is probably good information. Does anyone have any suggestions of how they handle their emails?

]]> By: June Varnum http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1996 June Varnum Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:35:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1996 Randy; Thanks for reminding me about time management ans separating tasks and projects. After "retiring" (HAH!)from work away from home,I detested TM projects. I did that for fifteen years. However, it is a crucial need to accomplish what we propose to accomplish. It's so easy to get sidetracked. How great to know you include FUN in your TM. Very important, too! Paulette, Making a to-do list at night works well for me, also. It's like a head start for the next day. Randy; Thanks for reminding me about time management ans separating tasks and projects. After “retiring” (HAH!)from work away from home,I detested TM projects. I did that for fifteen years.
However, it is a crucial need to accomplish what we propose to accomplish. It’s so easy to get sidetracked. How great to know you include FUN in your TM. Very important, too!
Paulette, Making a to-do list at night works well for me, also. It’s like a head start for the next day.

]]> By: Helen Ginger http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1997 Helen Ginger Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:47:06 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1997 We have a dog, so I don't know about painting a cat. If I painted my dog, I'd probably give her stripes, like a zebra. But I suspect painting a cat would be a project not a task and not fun. You'd probably have to re-catch her several times and tend to scratches in-between. As to handling emails, I tend to get quite a bit of spam since I have four eboxes. The first thing I do is delete all spam and all mail that I may know the sender but don't intend to read, like some neighborhood group mail that I know from the subject aren't important to me. Once that's done, I open the ones I know I want to read and respond to. Then I move on to senders I recognize but aren't on the top of my importance list, and then move on down the line. If it takes a while to read them all, I may close out and come back at a later time. If I open one, then decide to wait to respond, I mark it so I won't forget about it. Taking care of email can take up a chunk of your day if you're not careful. We have a dog, so I don’t know about painting a cat. If I painted my dog, I’d probably give her stripes, like a zebra. But I suspect painting a cat would be a project not a task and not fun. You’d probably have to re-catch her several times and tend to scratches in-between. As to handling emails, I tend to get quite a bit of spam since I have four eboxes. The first thing I do is delete all spam and all mail that I may know the sender but don’t intend to read, like some neighborhood group mail that I know from the subject aren’t important to me. Once that’s done, I open the ones I know I want to read and respond to. Then I move on to senders I recognize but aren’t on the top of my importance list, and then move on down the line. If it takes a while to read them all, I may close out and come back at a later time. If I open one, then decide to wait to respond, I mark it so I won’t forget about it. Taking care of email can take up a chunk of your day if you’re not careful.

]]> By: Peg Phifer http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1998 Peg Phifer Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:28:19 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1998 Great comments, Randy, and thanks for helping me see where I can improve on my prioritizing. I do make little lists in my Day Timer and tick them off as they get completed. And, as Lynette queried, I DO roll them over to the next day. But I've not gone so far as to make a task/project list such as you outlined. But, I guess it's something I need to teach myself to do. I'm one of those "old dogs" learning "new tricks." Just hope I don't hurt myself! Great comments, Randy, and thanks for helping me see where I can improve on my prioritizing. I do make little lists in my Day Timer and tick them off as they get completed. And, as Lynette queried, I DO roll them over to the next day.

But I’ve not gone so far as to make a task/project list such as you outlined.

But, I guess it’s something I need to teach myself to do. I’m one of those “old dogs” learning “new tricks.”

Just hope I don’t hurt myself!

]]> By: Karla Akins http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1999 Karla Akins Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:35:57 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-1999 I love the distinction between task and project. My problem is having enough clear-headedness after a day of teaching to figure out what the tasks ARE. I will chew on that. And I love the permission to have fun and to READ. I am good at the reading part, but really have to work at the fun part. But once I'm in the thick of fun, I'm glad I participated. You could call me a stick in the mud. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd gladly be a hermit! I love the distinction between task and project. My problem is having enough clear-headedness after a day of teaching to figure out what the tasks ARE. I will chew on that.

And I love the permission to have fun and to READ. I am good at the reading part, but really have to work at the fun part. But once I’m in the thick of fun, I’m glad I participated. You could call me a stick in the mud. If I thought I could get away with it, I’d gladly be a hermit!

]]> By: relevantgirl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2000 relevantgirl Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:32:01 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2000 OK, Mr. Sneaky Pants... I think you should call Project X just that. What a great title! Mary E. DeMuth BTW, I had the pleasure of meeting Marcia, as I mentioned to you. She's the real thing, folks! OK, Mr. Sneaky Pants…

I think you should call Project X just that. What a great title!

Mary E. DeMuth

BTW, I had the pleasure of meeting Marcia, as I mentioned to you. She’s the real thing, folks!

]]> By: Nancy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2001 Nancy Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:25:55 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2001 Randy, I love your blog, it has so much good information. When are we going to get to do our one line summaries again? Nancy Randy,
I love your blog, it has so much good information. When are we going to get to do our one line summaries again?
Nancy

]]> By: Kristen Johnson http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2002 Kristen Johnson Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:00:21 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2002 How timely this blog is, I was agonizing today that there are too many things to do in a day. How am I going to write my book, build a website for future book, market research, write a proposal, research for my book, laundry, grocery shopping, have a clean house, and do the million other things that I can't say no to. A quandary I feared had no solution. But I love your commitment to do something fun. Sometimes I fear there is no time in this world for fun. Thanks Randy for helping me focus on the little pieces that make up a good day. How timely this blog is, I was agonizing today that there are too many things to do in a day. How am I going to write my book, build a website for future book, market research, write a proposal, research for my book, laundry, grocery shopping, have a clean house, and do the million other things that I can’t say no to. A quandary I feared had no solution. But I love your commitment to do something fun. Sometimes I fear there is no time in this world for fun. Thanks Randy for helping me focus on the little pieces that make up a good day.

]]> By: Paul D http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2015 Paul D Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:41:38 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/08/21/tasks-and-projects-and-time-management/#comment-2015 Painting a cat could possibly be painful, and you might even end up with an unplanned trip to the emergency room (such a time waster). I think I would go for the "quick dip" method. Get a big bucket of paint and toss the cat in from a distance. Painting a cat could possibly be painful, and you might even end up with an unplanned trip to the emergency room (such a time waster). I think I would go for the “quick dip” method. Get a big bucket of paint and toss the cat in from a distance.

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