A WRITER’S PLANNER

A planner is one of those things that can make or break a writer. A schedule too loose can be just as bad as one too rigid. Wondering how to organise yours? Curious about where to even begin? This is for you.

First and foremost;

Writing is different for everyone.

What works for Johnny might not work for Susan so remember, the best you can do is learn. Maybe you're 13 and just getting into the world of writing. Maybe you're 46 and want to try something new. Either way, don't get discouraged if something doesn't work for you or you hate the way you feel following someone else's rules. Keep plugging away until you find a system that works for you.

That being said some of us definitely need a kick up the ass. And that's where a planner comes in.

A planner is something almost taboo in the writing world; some people hate them, some can't live without them. It's quite easy to tell which type you are. Are you free-spirited, letting the story unravel as it goes or are you more organised, preferring a nice layout for each piece of work you write. Naturally, if you're the first one you'll start to question if you should even look at a planner full stop.

This is wrong.

I'm here to tell you it doesn't matter which type you are. Who cares if you miss a day or if you're too attached to the deadlines you've set, or even if you want writing to be a hobby, devoid of worry or rules. A planner is what you make of it. You set the rules, you control the game. A planner shouldn't cause you stress, it's there to give you relief. After all, all your deadlines, aspirations, hopes are all written down - now you can focus on the writing.

A final note before we get into the tips;

Your story deserves to be written - and no one can write it for you.

A planner exists to help accommodate this simple fact; your book is yours. Treasure it, make it the best it can be, but most importantly, write it.

Here's a few tips to organise your planner.

1. The more the wearier

Here it is. The bane of so many of our lives, the overgrowing pile of copies and notebooks. A lot far too pristine to ever write in; god knows we've all felt the fear of putting that first word down and seeing its ugliness against the white paper. So, to pretend we’re being productive, we buy more and write less. The worst thing you could do is have multiple plans and dates outlined in ten different planners. Keep it simple, buy one and make the most out of it.

2. It doesn’t matter what it looks like

First and foremost the ‘it needs to be pretty’ kind of mindset needs to be avoided at all cost. It’s so easy to find an excuse not to write that it becomes a habit to avoid the paper. Buy one simple notebook, white paper, with or without ruled lines (its totally up to you, you should definitely experiment to find which one best suits your style). Scribble in it, doodle, keep notes, just remember, how it looks doesn’t matter. It’s a utensil so treat it as such. (And, just between me and you, your hand-writing’s not as bad as you think).

3. Be Kind to Yourself

The final and most important rule. Devoting time to writing always seems good and easy to manage. On paper. Three days in to your schedule and seeing the words ‘Six hours on Wednesday’ is quite possibly the single most demoralising thing, especially if you’re tired or even a little under the weather. ‘Writings not a job!’ You’ll say to yourself and start a new schedule, this time assured in your success, ‘This was meant to be fun!’

Next you’ll decide Wednesdays are now a day off and tomorrow you’ll start. Maybe next week. It never works. I’ve had better luck writing when I simply aim to write one sentence a day. You’ll find the first sentence is always the hardest. Set small goals and you’ll find the whole process much more enjoyable.

Remember, writing should always be a pleasurable experience and you should always strive to keep it so. But let’s be honest, your book deserves to be written and it deserves to be finished. A planner should be your best friend – respect it, respect yourself and get writing!

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