Page Contents
2003 NFPW Conference
Conference Highlights

Site Contents
About NDPC
Awards & Contests
Join NDPC
Events
Leadership
Members' Area
Contact Us

2003 NFPW Conference

Time management for creative people

John Riddle, author of more than 30 books and many Web sites, has apparently learned to manage his time, considering all that he has accomplished. Here are a few tips from Riddle:

• Pile instead of file – or the other way around.
• Daydream.
• Be indecisive, easygoing, flexible and oblivious to time.
• Juggle several things at once.
• Be a last-minute person, freewheeling and fun to be around.

Oh, no, that’s the wrong list! Here are the tips he meant to give us:

• Stop procrastinating – it wastes time.
• Focus on the project at hand.
• Reward yourself with whatever motivates you.
• Surround yourself with visuals that inspire and excite you – writers need toys.
• Keep clutter at bay – you can’t work in it and ultimately need a neat desk to work on.
• Get help – share tips with other creative people.
• Once each month, go through some clutter and throw something.
• The Internet is a real timesaver.
• Resell/reuse articles and research materials.
• Use e-mail for contacts.
• Keep a freelance log so you know whom you’ve already contacted.
• Identify the time sharks in your life – eliminate or reduce those you can (start out by figuring out where you spend your time).

Riddle suggested several useful Web sites:

www.profnet.com
www.myownbusiness.org
www.flylady.com
www.willwrite4food.com
www.writersweekly.com
www.writersdigest.com
www.publishersweekly.com

– Cathy A. Langemo