Helpful Tip #5 - Lists, lists and more lists

Check lists are not just for when you are submitting. They are great for when you are writing your story, after you've submitted it and while you are working on your next books while promoting the others.

Lists will save your ass. But you need to chose the method you do. Some people like doing it on a calendar where they can then set it to send them an alert about what is needed to be done that day. This is extremely helpful once you have your first book out and for each subsequent book. Others will put it into an Excel spreadsheet that they check each and every day, others like just putting it in a Word document. It doesn't matter how you do it but you should do it, especially if you have a full time job and writing is your secondary job.

During Writing

• Character name(s), description(s), job(s), key location description(s), and so forth

Prior to Submitting

• As mentioned in Submitting #2, it's pretty much the same as the above, but now your checking off these details for accuracy as well as any extras you may have thought of while writing

After Submitting

• Date of publication, estimated date for first (and second if you get them) edits, date to begin promoting, date to remind people about the book, date to provide link for book if it goes on pre-sale, and so forth
  

If you have more than one book out/coming out and are doing other promotions

• Blog tour dates and when they require their forms filled in and returned
• Advertising on Facebook, Yahoo!, Google, etc sites
• Newsletter promos, dates required to have Cover, Link, etc to the owner
• When are your edits scheduled for other books, required back to the publisher when, etc

For all of the above you need to allow yourself some time between things, especially with edits. Usually your publisher will give you a good chunk of time for round one of edits and, if they do a round two or three, they will tell you very firm dates that these have to be back in their hands. Allow yourself extra time to complete these. In a lot of cases you won't know your editing schedule right up front but you can normally guess, especially once you've done one or two books with the publisher, you start to figure out their rhythm of doing things.

With the advertising, especially on groups of any kind, set your schedule to theirs and stick to it, day, week or month in and out, be consistent. When you join you will have either read their restrictions or received a set of restrictions from them. Abide by it to the letter. If it's a bad day, you've got an appointment or plans, you can usually set up your email to auto send for a specific time. Now, be aware, not all emails have this feature so you will have to look into it. And test it out, oh for the love of god, test it out.

For things like the Blog tours and Promos in Newsletters and such, do that a little ahead of time. Find out what they're last day to receive things are and get it to them early. But not too early, they are human too and may misplace it - you don't need that. But give them time to a) format and; b) read it through to ensure that it meets their specific guidelines for their site. Some like to keep their stuff super clean and other like it naughty, but in most cases they will have already sent you the specifics and you'll know what is required by them personally.

So, there you have it. Lists will make your lives easier. Whether it's a calendar, Excel spreadsheets or scribbles on the wall of your writing space, whatever you do make sure it works for you. And if it doesn't, try something new. But, whatever you do, ensure you give it a could couple of months since it can feel awkward the first little while. Just remember that whatever method you end up going with it's all to ensure your professional life runs smoothly so you can have a private and home life.

The Moderator