Manuscript Organization and the Independent Writer
I wish I could tell you that I have
some amazing and simple organization skills that I can pass on to you.
I don’t.
What I can tell you is what NOT to
do.
I’ve learned everything the hard
way, even making some mistakes more than once. The problem is I write long
books, therefore only using things like editing, proofing, Mail Chimp, uploads
to Amazon, and Author Central, as infrequently as once a year. It is difficult
to establish a learning curve for those things that doesn’t dip into
nothingness in between uses.
Here are a few hints on how to
avoid costly errors.
1.
Slow
down. I know, I know, everyone
tells you to crank out your books as fast as possible and get them uploaded
immediately. But having once uploaded the wrong manuscript, one with errors
still in place, I can assure you that taking time to double check your
manuscript every time you get one back, and before you upload it, will pay off.
2.
Delete
early versions. Develop a system that works for you. Date or number every
version of your work, and get rid of the old ones as soon as possible. Again,
number and/or date them to avoid confusion.
3.
Keep a
writing journal. Devote a notebook just to keep track of your promotions,
your proofing, editing, formatting, reminders, etc. Date entries and list tips
on using things that come up only once in a while. A large planner works great
for this and is worth the investment to keep everything in one place.
4.
Post a
weekly goal list in front of your computer. I use a small index card every week and list about five
things that I’d like to get done that week, then post it in front of my
computer. One of the items is always the number of pages I want to get done
that week in the latest book. Change the list weekly and check off what you’ve
accomplished.
Dear readers,
We are having a very warm weekend here in northwest
Wisconsin as I write this. I’m one of those weird people who love fall and
winter, and I’m eagerly waiting for some cool, crisp days!
I’ve just added my latest book to Amazon, and as usual, made
some serious errors in the process, which inspired this blog. Hopefully, you
will find it helpful.
Have a happy autumn,
Marla
