Freelance writers quickly create a massive to-do list for themselves when growing their writing business. After all, there is so much to do! Promoting our writing, sending queries, marketing, and networking on Twitter, let alone actually writing. Add in household chores and real life matters and it all becomes completely overwhelming.

How to Put the First Thing First

Where do you begin to tackle your to-do list? How do you really know what matters most, and what can be left by the wayside? Does it really matter what order you put things in, as long as you get things done?

When I find myself wondering what to do first, I try to step outside of my current circumstances. I have literally become swamped with all of my goals, projects, and dreams, and cannot wade through the mire on my own.

Become Your Own Adviser

Imagine that a good friend of yours came to you for advice. She has so many projects, to-do’s, and deadlines, that she doesn’t know where to begin. The longer it takes her to make a decision, the more difficult it will be to meet all her business needs.

What advice would you give her? If you’re anything like me, you might suggest that she pair up her deadlines with all the actions necessary to meet those deadlines, and schedule them throughout the upcoming days to get the job done.

Put that loving, friendly advice to work on your own stifling schedule. Look over all of your tasks with a caring, yet objective eye. Pretend that you were making up such a schedule for a friend, not for yourself.

How to Objectively Prioritize Your Writing

If you were writing a to-do list for a friend, you wouldn’t pile up forty tasks in one afternoon, would you? Yet we effectively do it to ourselves all the time. We put so much pressure on ourselves to succeed, that we smother ourselves and our creativity in the process.

Actual writing time should always have a writer’s highest priority. It may be scheduled first in the day, or during the writer’s peak working times. Writing for clients can be organized by deadline, including false deadlines if you think you are going to encounter roadblocks.

Personal projects also go high on the list, and ought to have their own deadlines so you don’t fall too far behind. Writing what you love is critical for a healthy and happy writer! Also, many personal writing projects can pay off monetarily in the long run, such as books or websites.

Queries, marketing, promotions, and the like can be done in the off hours, when our writing streak has begun to wind down. You can make vital connections while relaxing and Twittering away. Of course, you may want to write those queries when you can still string two words together, and give yourself some leeway time so you can proofread it before hitting send.

Real life tasks are a different breed altogether. You have to deal with others’ hours of operation, your availability, and coordinating with your family. Often, your best writing time has to be shoved aside to get your son to soccer practice on time. As long as you are aware of when these tasks have to be done, you can make concessions in the rest of your schedule.

Review Your Objective Writing Priorities

Before you commit to any of the above tasks, look at the schedule you have set for yourself. Is this a realistic to-do list, one you are able to keep? Would you expect a friend or colleague to work this hard on a daily basis?

If not, rework your priorities yet again. Make sure there are adequate breaks for meals, relaxation, and the inevitable interruptions. Once you find a workable schedule for your writing projects, life will flow a lot more smoothly.

Can you look at your writing priorities with an objective eye? Do you need the outside influence of a friend or mentor to set your business straight? Share your prioritization methods!

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