Mastering Your Writing Routine: A Guide to Organizing Topics and Deadlines for Aspiring Writers

Unlock Your Writing Potential with Effective Organization Strategies and Stay Ahead of Deadlines

In my previous article, I discussed building a list of topics based on your interests and experiences to combat writer’s block. It’s important to have a continuously growing list of topics from which to draw so that you are never left wondering what you will write next.

Once you have compiled that list, you must find a method of organization that works for you to track the due dates and publications you wish to submit to. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you first begin writing for publications. When deadlines pile up without clear organization, you could feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of research and writing you must do for each article or story.

Having too many options of topics may add to the feeling of overwhelm, so take stock of what topics you are especially interested in and use that excitement to ease yourself into a consistent writing regimen. Determine which topics resonate the most with you or have the potential to resonate with your audience.

Prioritizing topics based on personal interest or relevance can help you maintain enthusiasm and authenticity in your writing. If any of your topics require a strict due date, like if you wish to cover a local event, note the event date and the day the article must be published.

I suggest organizing your list in Excel, as shown below, as it can be manipulated easily and produce reports if needed. However, this can easily be accomplished in a dedicated journal. Whatever method you use, make sure you commit to sticking to it! Remember, it’s no help if you don’t use it!

This method also prevents you from forgetting important information, which you can add to the “Additional Notes” section at any point. This space is yours to keep all important information in one accessible place, including sources to reference and publications to which you want to submit your article.

This method ensures that time and energy are not lost to poor organization, saving you from future frustrations caused by missing notes or forgetting due dates.

If you’re feeling motivated, you can copy those due dates into your calendar. If you're using your phone, you can set up reminder notifications to ensure you never miss a due date again!

As aspiring writers, it’s crucial to approach writing with the same dedication and commitment as we do with our professional responsibilities and personal obligations. Staying organized helps us stay committed to our writing routine, allowing us to develop good writing habits and improve our skills quickly.

Key Takeaway: By avoiding overwhelm and staying focused on weekly tasks, writers can feel more confident in meeting expectations. Establishing an efficient system is key to managing anxiety and starting a writing career with confidence.