Does the Getting things done method work for Writers?
Yes... With a few tweaks
For all its creative attributes, the day-to-day life of a writer encompasses many tasks that have nothing whatsoever to do with the act of putting words on paper.
Developing an organizational system that fits your needs is a crucial step to becoming more productive.
Developed by David Allen, Getting Things Done (affiliate link) incorporates a clustering mechanism that is both simple and brilliant, helping you maximize your limited pockets of time. (For more information about adapting your organizational system to suit your needs, be sure to check out The Productive Writer: Accept Who You are Achieve Your Goals.)
The Getting Things Done Premise
The Getting Things Done approach ensures you group similar tasks to compartmentalize effort and save time.
To put this in perspective, consider the traditional to-do list that captures your daily brain dump of outstanding tasks.
How often do you rewrite this list or change the date if using an app variation?
Taking stock of outstanding tasks gets them out of your head, but that’s about it. Not only must you refurbish these lists over time, but you’re capturing tasks with no real plan for execution.
Let’s say you run across a publication seeking writers on a topic you are well-versed in. You write a note to yourself to draft a query letter. Seeing it at the edge of your desk makes you feel better because it represents an outstanding task to complete. But serve as a reminder is all it does, neglecting to account for other variables.
Things like...
• The research needed to formulate a legitimate query
• Style guide parameters
• The submissions process
• Confirmation that no similar articles were recently published.
Until you factor in this additional work, your "reminder" is nothing but a scribble masquerading as a plan.
Be More Productive
Approaching tasks in a more controlled manner boosts productivity and minimizes the tendency to procrastinate. It also conserves energy, which is a precious commodity for introverts or anyone juggling multiple activities. (And, let's face it, how many of us don't operate this way?)
By blocking off your time and tackling similar items together, you manage your energy instead of squandering it dipping in and out of various tasks. For writers who require a more formal setup, blocking off your time this way can help corral those fickle creative states, while also accounting for the best time and place to tackle like tasks.
Think about it. What sense does it make to tackle a series of phone calls when you’re in a busy coffee shop? Nor does it make sense to tackle website updates when your internet access is spotty.
The Getting Things Done approach lets you account for such limitations. We are not static human beings, so learning how to alter your approach when life throws you a few curveballs makes it easier to stay focused and keep yourself moving in the right direction.
Compartmentalize Your Time
Another positive aspect of the Getting Things Done approach is the ability to start it anytime. You don’t need to buy any specialty books or software, although you can if you prefer.
The first step?
Identify the categories you operate within on a regular basis and create a single page for each one. Next, build out lists for your outstanding tasks within these categories. I use Obsidian, but what works for me may not work for you. Experiment with the many available options and customize your system accordingly.
Here are a few categories to integrate Getting Things Done into your writing efforts.
Phone Calls
On this page, note every call you need to make, both personal and professional.
The goal is to create a running list, so the information is easily accessible when you have a block of time to make these calls.
Research & Development
Use this list when you’re in the mood to learn something new or want to give your creative side a break.
List or gather items you’ve saved to read later, such as PDFs, magazine clippings, or bookmarked browser items. (Zotero is a great application for capturing these resources, and tags you create within Obsidian can also be useful here.)
Admin
The Admin list is for all the things you set aside when you are busy writing or working on a project.
Things like...
• Bills to pay
• Invoices to review or send
• Domain registrations and renewals
• Website updates
• Supply needs
• Any other business- or finance-related tasks
Avoid listing repeatable tasks you already do without prompting here, as they will only clutter your list. (The same could be said for complex tasks like annual tax filings.)
Waiting For
This list encompasses items for which you are awaiting someone else’s response.
Example of things to include here include:
• Queries you’ve submitted
• Email inquiries that need follow-up
• Collaboration efforts awaiting a response
Although this list serves as a reminder of open-ended tasks, it can also prevent loss of income by prompting you to follow up on unpaid work or invoicing errors.
Just be sure you don't shuffle everything to the Waiting For list, especially wishful items. If you do, it will become a catch-all, burying those important outstanding items with things better suited for the next category.
Someday
Ever thought you might like to take a trip to Alaska or attend a writing conference? The Someday list is where you will note any tasks or ideas you want to explore later. It’s a great way to capture items of interest so (1) you don't forget them and (2) they don’t consume any of your precious mental energy.
Review this list monthly to weed out those things you’ve decided not to pursue or to move items you are now ready to tackle to another list.
Revisions
This is one of my custom categories, not a part of the traditional Getting Things Done method.
The revision process is the last phase of my writing work (whether that is pre-submission to a client, publisher, or even The Nicheless Writer), so it makes sense to capture anything outstanding here for easy retrieval. Not only does this provide a workable list when the editing mood strikes, but it also keeps those started-but-never-finished projects front and center.
More Info Required
Another custom list (yes, I always adapt things to fit my particular approach), this page is useful for tracking outstanding research elements for my open projects.
I don't know about you, but I find that info tends to come in clusters, especially when it's on my mind. Rather than scatter my various needs about, this list keeps any outstanding items that might prevent me from completing a project front and center.
Note that I do not capture the actual content in this list. If I did, it would quickly become burdensome. Instead, I make use of tools like Obsidian (and Scrivener for fiction) to store the information. I can then tackle each project in time, using the More Info Required list as a guide to what's outstanding.
Create a Customized Approach
For writers, the intrinsic value of any organizational system is its ability to help you be productive and manage your work efforts. When implemented correctly as part of your customized writing system, Getting Things Done eases anxiety over the possibility of forgotten tasks, while simultaneously preventing feelings of overwhelm that further derail your creative efforts.
Whatever approach you choose should give you the freedom to chase your creative pursuits at will. Let go of the fear you'll forget something in all the minutia inherent in the full-time writing life.